How To Install Openbox On Ubuntu

Openbox is a lightweight and highly configurable window manager. It's perfect for lightweight distros like minimal Ubuntu. However, getting used to it tin can be a chip daunting for new users. For starters, when you first install information technology, you lot volition be greeted with a black screen. While this tin be intimidating, with a few pointers, you'll become used to the setup and will be able to configure it then that yous aren't greeted with a black screen every time you log in to your figurer. Here we show yous how to install and configure Openbox on your Linux PC.

Installing Openbox

On Debian/Ubuntu based distros, use the following command:

            sudo            apt            install            openbox obconf

For Fedora:

            sudo            dnf            install            openbox obconf

For OpenSUSE:

            sudo            zypper            install            openbox obconf

For Arch Linux, apply the following:

            sudo            pacman            -S            xorg-xdm openbox xorg obconf

Note: we will be using Ubuntu for this tutorial. Yet, the commands and steps can be adjusted to adjust other distros.

Applications Menu and Openbox Configuration Managing director

This was mentioned before, but you will come across a blank screen when you first log in.

Have no fear, though – all of your applications are still at that place. You can admission them from the Openbox Applications menu. To access this menu, but right-click on the desktop and hover over Applications.

Openbox Install Customize Applications Menu

If you want to change the theme, you tin can do and then past correct-clicking and selecting Obconf to open the "Openbox Configuration Manager."

There are a number of themes bachelor, and you fifty-fifty have the pick of installing new themes.

In addition to a Themes tab, y'all volition also have admission to the following tabs :

Advent: hither you tin can modify the appearance of your windows and fonts.
Windows: this tab lets you change settings related to your windows.
Move & resize: here you can adjust how your windows are resized.
Mouse: this tab lets you change settings related to your mouse. For case, you can choose whether to focus windows when the mouse pointer moves over them.
Desktops: this allows you to modify settings related to managing multiple desktops.
Margins: here you can ready screen margins if desired.
Dock: this lets you adjust the appearance of your dock app.

Dock and Wallpaper Manager

Your desktop probably looks quite weird now without a dock, then let's get that sorted out. Go to your terminal and install Cairo Dock with the following command:

            sudo            apt            install            xcompmgr cairo-dock

You lot will demand to make Cairo Dock autostart now. You lot tin do that with the following commands:

            cd            ~/.config            mkdir            openbox            cd            openbox            nano            autostart

The last command will open up the nano editor. Add together the post-obit entries to nano and salvage the file (using Ctrl + O).

Log out and back in, and you'll be able to see the dock.

Cairo Dock adds shortcuts such equally an applications carte du jour and a browser shortcut. You'll also have access to a desktop switcher.

With the dock in place, the next major matter that'southward missing is wallpaper. Y'all tin can get started with this procedure by installing Nitrogen. Exercise this with the following control:

            sudo            apt            install            -y            nitrogen

After installing nitrogen, open the app's preferences and choose locations where you have wallpaper stored. You tin select them, and the images in these folders will be made available equally wallpapers. You can then choose to ready the wallpaper of your choice.

Openbox Install Customize Nitrogen Wallpaper

Wrapping Up

As yous tin can see, it is easy to install Openbox, but information technology might initially be difficult to come across why it's then proficient. However, as y'all add together familiar layers, such as the dock and wallpaper, you lot become to capeesh how versatile and customizable this window director is. You may also want to bank check out some of the best Openbox themes to spice upward your desktop. If Openbox does not appeal to you, y'all can as well try another lightweight window manager like LXQT. Feel complimentary to check out the Openbox Wiki for more information related to tweaking Openbox.

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