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Thread: Linux Window Managers and Keyboard Friendly Applications

  1. #1
    Orca Whisperer
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    Linux Window Managers and Keyboard Friendly Applications

    So, I've started getting sick of point-and-grunt user interfaces, so I started finding cli-based replacement apps.

    It was helped by our corporate email system being migrated away from Microsuck to Zimbra, which is a standards-compliant email system. Now, I can use Alpine for email, calcurse for calendaring, and finch for chat.

    But, this wasn't enough! Sure, inside of each app, I could live on the keyboard, but to switch required pointing-and-grunting!

    So, I started checking out WM's (Window managers). I tried Ratpoison. It's nice, but relies on screen bindings (The application "screen", a terminal multiplexing app). I don't really like those bindings.

    Tried plain jane TWM. Slick. Light. But... dreary. I test drove AwesomeWM. It was ok, but, just didn't fit well for me.

    Finally landed on i3wm! How nice! Easily customizable! Keybindings are easy to change, add, etc. People have done pretty much everything for it! And, if you're feeling spunky, you can build i3gaps, which adds the ability to add gaps between windows, which is easy on the eyes (Especially for multi-terminals).

    I tried a really bare-bones install, but realized I did. in fact, miss some of the things provided by a real Desktop Environment. But, that fix is easy: install MATE, and use parts of MATE!

    Eventually, the system I'm settled on is thus:

    * Ubuntu MATE
    * i3-gaps by Airblader
    * i3-gaps configured to execute nm-applet, mate-settings-daemon, mate-volume-applet
    * Xombrero for Web Browsing (Vim based graphical browser)
    * Alpine for email
    * Finch for chat
    * mate-terminal for default terminal

    With that, you've got a fully-modern, fully keyboard driven UI interface. If anyone would like pointers on setting it up, let me know, post here, whatever. Love to help :)
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  2. #2
    Forum Addict n6hcm's Avatar
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    i'm loving this. this is part of why i do so much on my mac--even though it is obviously GUI-oriented, it has enough keyboard savvy to make me happy.
    "... and another thing about you democrats ... you all believe in science!" -- denny crane

  3. #3
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    For Ubuntu MATE, these are the packages I installed after the base:
    Code:
    alpine
    ansible
    bind9utils
    build-essential
    calcurse
    chromium-browser
    conky-all
    filezilla
    finch
    git
    htop
    i3lock
    i3status
    libev-dev
    libpango1.0-dev
    libstartup-notification0-dev
    libxcb1-dev
    libxcb-cursor-dev
    libxcb-icccm4-dev
    libxcb-keysyms1-dev
    libxcb-randr0-dev
    libxcb-util0-dev
    libxcb-xinerama0-dev
    libxcb-xkb-dev
    libxkbcommon-dev
    libxkbcommon-x11-dev
    libyajl-dev
    network-manager-openconnect
    network-manager-openconnect-gnome
    network-manager-vpnc
    network-manager-vpnc-gnome
    nmon
    pcmanfm
    pidgin
    remmina
    screen
    scrot
    suckless-tools
    vim
    virtualbox
    vpnc
    xautolock
    xcompmgr
    xutils-dev
    Doesn't include i3-gaps, as that has to be built from source.
    Big Giant Meteor 2020 - We need to make Earth Great Again

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  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by n6hcm View Post
    i'm loving this. this is part of why i do so much on my mac--even though it is obviously GUI-oriented, it has enough keyboard savvy to make me happy.
    I test-drove a Mac, and the gestures + bindings + UI just didn't make sense to me. Likely, because I'm brain damaged from the PC world. I just can't wrap my brain around metaphor used for interaction.
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  5. #5
    Whacker Knot WØTKX's Avatar
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    I've found bash in Windows 10 amusing, but odd. At least it is there.

    I'm pretty fluent on the odd command line Winders stuff.
    "Where would we be without the agitators of the world to attach the electrodes
    of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance?" ~ Professor "Dick" Soloman



  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by WØTKX View Post
    I've found bash in Windows 10 amusing, but odd. At least it is there.

    I'm pretty fluent on the odd command line Winders stuff.
    Not sure how well it would work, but you might be able to get i3 running on Ubuntu for Windows 10.
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    Orca Whisperer n2ize's Avatar
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    C Shell.
    I keep my 2 feet on the ground, and my head in the twilight zone.

  8. #8
    Orca Whisperer W3WN's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by n2ize View Post
    C Shell.
    Hey, I saw that at a little software shop in OCMD. Cute girl behind the counter.

    Which means, of course...

    She sells C Shell by the seashore.
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  9. #9
    Mystical Drummer NM5TF's Avatar
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    Corey,

    any reason you went with buntu other than some other, more customizable distro ???
    my personal web page http://users.gilanet.com/~tfrost
    Arch Linux OS
    "If you're not living on the edge, then you're taking up too much space"--Unknown

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by NM5TF View Post
    Corey,

    any reason you went with buntu other than some other, more customizable distro ???
    Familiarity. Only reason. I've been kicking the tires with Manjaro, though as well as of late.

    In addition, I've switched from mate-terminal to xterm (With some customizations).
    Last edited by KC2UGV; 01-21-2017 at 03:06 PM.
    Big Giant Meteor 2020 - We need to make Earth Great Again

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