desktop with Icewm

[HonkIfTouLikeLinux]

Hi I like the features of XFCE4 and other desktop-environments but my favorite windows-manager is Icewm and so it got me wondering if any desktop-environment can use Icewm as its WM.

[reed9]

Yup, you can use icewm, or any other window manager, in any distro you like.

su -
apt-get install icewm && apt-get install icewm-themes

If you're using GDM (or KDM) as a login manager, you can log out or reboot, and then select an icewm session at the log in screen.

If you're not using GDM, then it gets a little (but not much) more complicated.

IceWM configuration in Debian themes screenshots howto download

[Dapper Dan]

Hi I like the features of XFCE4 and other desktop-environments but my favorite windows-manager is Icewm and so it got me wondering if any desktop-environment can use Icewm as its WM.

Are you asking if you can use IceWM as the window manager for Gnome, KDE or XFCE? You can use IceWM in place of Gnome's standard Metacity window manager or in place of KWin, the default for KDE. I don't think it is possible in XFCE as it is its own WM and DE.

I can't remember how to change window manager configuration in KDE but in Gnome it's pretty easy. Provided IceWM is already installed, open the Gconf editor. From the command line:

gconf-editor

Go to apps > desktop > gnome > applications > window-manager. Right click on "default" and click on "edit key." Under "value," input /usr/bin/icewm. Click "ok" and exit the editor. Re-log into X and IceWM should now be your default WM for Gnome.


I'm with reed9 though on having it as a straight WM. IceWM is very fast and easy to use by itself.

[HonkIfTouLikeLinux]

yes I am asking about Icewm as the window manager for Xfce. I know that in any WM you have a menu item for switching to a different WM but no option exist in Xfce4 so my guess is that you are correct in that Xfce is not going to support this. I did check though and Xfwm is the WM for Xfce so that could mean that a hack may work like symlink from Icewm's run file to Xfwm or something.




P.S.
I would be ok with just about any DE thats Xfce's size or smaller and has a good handle on Gnome tools like Xfce has.

[reed9]

You might check out LXDE for something lighter than XFCE.

Debian - LXDE.org

[HonkIfTouLikeLinux]

Will LXDE work with Icewm?
My dream is to use Icewm on a DE. I will for a DE for the background tools and ability's that a WM as great as Icewm is still does not have, and I yearn for Icewm as it like JWM can operate Gnome and KDE applications. I also love Icewm for all the great themes that as of yet I don't see on any other WM even with a DE.
Do you know of any thing to help in this?

[Dapper Dan]

I've never encountered a Gnome or KDE application or utility that IceWM wouldn't run! Why not run straight IceWM and set the apps and utilities you want to run in the IceWM menu? Nautilus and Konqueror will both run famously from IceWM just to name a few. I haven't tried it but would imagine XFCE apps and utilities will run as well.

As far as utilities for running background images... all are easily accomplished by editing your menu and preferences. See this post for more.

[HonkIfTouLikeLinux]

I have seem background services on Gnome that fail without a DE to run them on and will only run with a port of the Gnome api like the one JWM and Icewm use. I also add that a DE offers some tools that may be able to run alone but are written for a DE and should run best in that way. I am not looking down on Icewm but I don't wont to spend so much time looking for the things I need, setting them up to work and then still lacking the controls to manage them. As I see it I would end up building a DE from within a WM by hand just to do what a DE like Xfce already can do.
So Will LXDE work with Icewm, or should I try symlink from /usr/bin/icewm file to /usr/bin/xfwm or something?

[Dapper Dan]

So Will LXDE work with Icewm, or should I try symlink from /usr/bin/icewm file to /usr/bin/xfwm or something?

I don't know. I guess you could try it and see what happens. It sounds like you have a love/hate relationship with IceWM and are secretly slipping around with XFCE.

Based on what you've said, it sounds like XFCE is what you're looking for. Good luck on whatever you wind up with!

[reed9]

Here's a guide on using openbox is XFCE. Seems like you could do it just the same with icewm.

Using Openbox window manager with Xfce Tux Training