Re: Filesystem and replacing the window manager
> If you don't want any of the gnome environment, then you may be able to > select "failsafe with xterm" or similar. This will drop you into a plain > xterm where you can run your WM of choice. I'd recommend putting a copy > in your home folder since your usb drive won't work nicely without > gnome/dbus/etc. > > Cheers, > sV > > On 17 February 2010 07:48, Aidan Gauland wrote: > > Solor Vox wrote: > > > The problem is (gnome|kde)-session is the parent that spawns all > > > sub-processes, including metacity/compiz/etc WM that you want to > > > replace. Furthermore, the login manager, usualy gdm, spawns the > > > session inside an xinit process. So you'll most likely end of up > > > killing your X server and everything else after login. What you can > > > do is use "--replace" to gracefuly replace the WM instead of killing > > > the session. If your window manager supports that it of course, but > > > many do. > > > > With which program do I use "--replace"? On Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:36:45 Solor Vox wrote: > Your WM of choice. So it would be something like compiz --replace &, > metacity --replace &, twm --replace &, etc. Adding the & to run in the > background. Be aware if you close the shell it will kill the WM. To > prevent this you should run "disown %1" after running your WM command. > That way the shell doesn't kill your WM when if close the terminal > window. > Check the WM's manual for the --replace option first however. If you're trying to run blackbox for instance, the above won't work. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part.
Re: Filesystem and replacing the window manager
Your WM of choice. So it would be something like compiz --replace &, metacity --replace &, twm --replace &, etc. Adding the & to run in the background. Be aware if you close the shell it will kill the WM. To prevent this you should run "disown %1" after running your WM command. That way the shell doesn't kill your WM when if close the terminal window. If you don't want any of the gnome environment, then you may be able to select "failsafe with xterm" or similar. This will drop you into a plain xterm where you can run your WM of choice. I'd recommend putting a copy in your home folder since your usb drive won't work nicely without gnome/dbus/etc. Cheers, sV On 17 February 2010 07:48, Aidan Gauland wrote: > Solor Vox wrote: > > The problem is (gnome|kde)-session is the parent that spawns all > > sub-processes, including metacity/compiz/etc WM that you want to replace. > > Furthermore, the login manager, usualy gdm, spawns the session inside an > > xinit process. So you'll most likely end of up killing your X server and > > everything else after login. What you can do is use "--replace" to > > gracefuly replace the WM instead of killing the session. If your window > > manager supports that it of course, but many do. > > With which program do I use "--replace"? > > > The recommended way is to change your prefered DE/WM using the gdm. Look > > for the options button on the login screen. However, I don't know if > they > > enabled that on their systems. > > I am pretty sure they are using GDM, and there is a choice between GNOME > and > KDE, but no way (that I am aware of) to specify anything else. > > Thanks, > Aidan Gauland > >
Re: Filesystem and replacing the window manager
Aidan Gauland wrote, On 16/02/10 21:01: I am about to start university next week, and I do not like either KDE or GNOME, which is all that is available in Canterbury's C.S. computer labs. I would like to put my favourite window manager on my memory stick, and run it in place of the one into which I login. This raises two problems: how do I switch window managers within an X session (without terminating the X session)? And what filesystem can I put on my memory stick that is more UNIX friendly than FAT, but that does not have the ext filesystems' problem of confusing the system that mounts it when moving between systems with different UIDs? These are, of course, not huge issues, but I would like to figure this out at some point. Buy a laptop and use that instead. You can do whatever you want on your own box. Of course, you might not be allowed to connect it to the cosc network. Better check the aup. I vaguely remember running afterstep as a window manager on the old sun 3/50. I had the binary statically compiled in my home directory and it worked fairly well. Depends how much of your profile is automatically generated. (mush!) -- Craig Falconer
Re: Filesystem and replacing the window manager
Solor Vox wrote: > The problem is (gnome|kde)-session is the parent that spawns all > sub-processes, including metacity/compiz/etc WM that you want to replace. > Furthermore, the login manager, usualy gdm, spawns the session inside an > xinit process. So you'll most likely end of up killing your X server and > everything else after login. What you can do is use "--replace" to > gracefuly replace the WM instead of killing the session. If your window > manager supports that it of course, but many do. With which program do I use "--replace"? > The recommended way is to change your prefered DE/WM using the gdm. Look > for the options button on the login screen. However, I don't know if they > enabled that on their systems. I am pretty sure they are using GDM, and there is a choice between GNOME and KDE, but no way (that I am aware of) to specify anything else. Thanks, Aidan Gauland signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature
Re: Filesystem and replacing the window manager
That is a bad idea to kill the session of either of those DE. (Desktop Environment, not just Window Managers) The problem is (gnome|kde)-session is the parent that spawns all sub-processes, including metacity/compiz/etc WM that you want to replace. Furthermore, the login manager, usualy gdm, spawns the session inside an xinit process. So you'll most likely end of up killing your X server and everything else after login. What you can do is use "--replace" to gracefuly replace the WM instead of killing the session. If your window manager supports that it of course, but many do. The recommended way is to change your prefered DE/WM using the gdm. Look for the options button on the login screen. However, I don't know if they enabled that on their systems. Cheers, sV On 16 February 2010 22:10, Aidan Gauland wrote: > Volker Kuhlmann wrote: > > Kill the window manager process, start a new one. > > OK, I'll try that. I tried that once on my system, and it terminated my X > session, but I'll fiddle around with this again. GNU Screen will make > experimentation with this easier than just an xterm. > > > UIDs are a fact of Unix, there's no way around. You missed the point > > that this has nothing to do with ext. You could try to make all > > files/directories writable by everyone. Decent Linux distros will assign > > the logged-in users UID as owner to FAT filesystems on removable > > storage, again, the no-frills-no-functions wms you're after probably > > won't do that. > > I realise that it is not ext specific, but a UNIX thing. I'll just go with > FAT, then. > > Thanks, > Aidan Gauland > >
Re: Filesystem and replacing the window manager
Steve Holdoway wrote: > The only workable option I can see is to use a boot USB if allowed. I > know the latest 10.04 ubuntu allows for your own data area. I want to avoid that, if I can, and if it comes to that, I'll just settle for what's already there. > In reality, you seem to be creating a lot of extra work for yourself. I > expect the course will be hard enough without this! Oh, almost certainly, which is why I am only considering this, and will only make attempts to find a solution when I have spare time. Kind Regards, Aidan Gauland signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature
Re: Filesystem and replacing the window manager
Nick Rout wrote: > you really want to see if this is within the uni's t&c. Just cos they > allow you to login doesn't permit you to run anything you like on > their system. I have already thought about this, and I have read through a document on the university's website titled "Computer Use: Policy and Procedures", which states nothing about what software is allowed, aside from the usual forbidding of anything for malicious or illegal purposes (and some things pertaining to network traffic). With that, I think that as what I wish to install is to allow me to work more comfortably, and will not interfere with anyone else or the university's system in any way, I see no reason not to run my own window manager. If you have a reason for me not do so, I would very much like to hear it. I may have overlooked something important. Kind Regards, Aidan Gauland signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature
Re: Filesystem and replacing the window manager
Volker Kuhlmann wrote: > Kill the window manager process, start a new one. OK, I'll try that. I tried that once on my system, and it terminated my X session, but I'll fiddle around with this again. GNU Screen will make experimentation with this easier than just an xterm. > UIDs are a fact of Unix, there's no way around. You missed the point > that this has nothing to do with ext. You could try to make all > files/directories writable by everyone. Decent Linux distros will assign > the logged-in users UID as owner to FAT filesystems on removable > storage, again, the no-frills-no-functions wms you're after probably > won't do that. I realise that it is not ext specific, but a UNIX thing. I'll just go with FAT, then. Thanks, Aidan Gauland signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature
Re: Filesystem and replacing the window manager
The only workable option I can see is to use a boot USB if allowed. I know the latest 10.04 ubuntu allows for your own data area. In reality, you seem to be creating a lot of extra work for yourself. I expect the course will be hard enough without this! Steve On Tue, 2010-02-16 at 21:02 +1300, Aidan Gauland wrote: > Hello, > > I am about to start university next week, and I do not like either KDE or > GNOME, which is all that is available in Canterbury's C.S. computer labs. I > would like to put my favourite window manager on my memory stick, and run it > in place of the one into which I login. > > This raises two problems: how do I switch window managers within an X session > (without terminating the X session)? And what filesystem can I put on my > memory stick that is more UNIX friendly than FAT, but that does not have the > ext filesystems' problem of confusing the system that mounts it when moving > between systems with different UIDs? > > These are, of course, not huge issues, but I would like to figure this out at > some point. > > --Aidan Gauland >
Re: Filesystem and replacing the window manager
On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 9:02 PM, Aidan Gauland wrote: > Hello, > > I am about to start university next week, and I do not like either KDE or > GNOME, which is all that is available in Canterbury's C.S. computer labs. I > would like to put my favourite window manager on my memory stick, and run it > in place of the one into which I login. > > This raises two problems: how do I switch window managers within an X session > (without terminating the X session)? And what filesystem can I put on my > memory stick that is more UNIX friendly than FAT, but that does not have the > ext filesystems' problem of confusing the system that mounts it when moving > between systems with different UIDs? > > These are, of course, not huge issues, but I would like to figure this out at > some point. you really want to see if this is within the uni's t&c. Just cos they allow you to login doesn't permit you to run anything you like on their system. remember that linux is based heavily on respect for terms of use. without that the gpl would not be worth the bits and bytes it's written in!
Re: Filesystem and replacing the window manager
> This raises two problems: how do I switch window managers within an X session > (without terminating the X session)? Kill the window manager process, start a new one. Warning: once killed, you won't be able to e.g. change input focus any more. Some wms allow to change wms as a menu option, but the barebones ones you;re after probably not. > And what filesystem can I put on my > memory stick that is more UNIX friendly than FAT, but that does not have the > ext filesystems' problem of confusing the system that mounts it when moving > between systems with different UIDs? UIDs are a fact of Unix, there's no way around. You missed the point that this has nothing to do with ext. You could try to make all files/directories writable by everyone. Decent Linux distros will assign the logged-in users UID as owner to FAT filesystems on removable storage, again, the no-frills-no-functions wms you're after probably won't do that. Have fun, Volker -- Volker Kuhlmann is list0570 with the domain in header http://volker.dnsalias.net/ Please do not CC list postings to me.