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6. Fluxbox

created : 2010-02-14   updated : 2010-02-14
 
Fluxbox-1.1.1
(Note : BLFS 6.3 is still using Fluxbox-0.9.15.1 , but that version doesn't work in LFS 6.5 because of the newer GCC compiler, so I use Fluxbox-1.1.1 here)
 
The Fluxbox package contains a window manager.
‧ Download (HTTP): http://downloads.sourceforge.net/fluxbox/fluxbox-1.1.1.tar.bz2
‧ Download MD5 sum: fa9fa8fe9a44f86522de5754f8b285ca
‧ Download size: 760 KB
‧ Estimated disk space required: 62 MB
‧ Estimated build time: 1 SBU
 
Fluxbox Dependencies
Required
X Window System
Optional
Imlib2-1.4.0 Image display library
 
Unpack source :
cd /blfs
tar xvf fluxbox-1.1.1.tar.bz2
cd fluxbox-1.1.1
 
Build and install :
time {
./configure --prefix=/usr &&
make &&
make install ;
}
 
real    7m34.730s
user    1m18.597s
sys     5m58.910s
 
Configuration Information
If Fluxbox is the only Window Manager you want to use, you can start it with an .xinitrc file in your home folder.
Be sure to backup your current .xinitrc before proceeding.
Backup :
cp ~/.xinitrc ~/dot-xinitrc-twm
 
Create .xinitrc :
cat > ~/.xinitrc << "EOF"
export DISPLAY=:0
startfluxbox
EOF
 

If you don't have which-1.19 installed, create a 'which' script :
cat > /usr/bin/which << "EOF"
#!/bin/bash
type -pa "$@" | head -n 1 ; exit ${PIPESTATUS[0]}
EOF
chmod -v 755 /usr/bin/which
chown -v root:root /usr/bin/which
 
 
Now create the Fluxbox configuration files:
mkdir -v ~/.fluxbox &&
cp -v /usr/share/fluxbox/init ~/.fluxbox/init &&
cp -v /usr/share/fluxbox/keys ~/.fluxbox/keys
 
 
Generate menu :
cd ~/.fluxbox &&
fluxbox-generate_menu
Menu items are added by editing ~/.fluxbox/menu. The syntax is explained on the fluxbox man page.
 
Clean up :
 
cd /blfs
rm -rf fluxbox-1.1.1
 
 
VirtualBox Guest Additions
Since I am using VirtualBox to build my BLFS system,  it is time to install VBox Additions to make better GUI performance.
 
In VirtualBox setting, add the Guest Additions ISO to the Virtual Machine.
Boot into the virtual machine (BLFS), mount the cd rom :
mount /dev/cdrom /media/cdrom
 
Start fluxbox :
startx
 
 
Run xterm in fluxbox.
 
Do a favour to tell virtualbox what distro you are using :
cat >/etc/lfs-release <<EOF
DISTRIB_ID=LFS
DISTRIB_RELEASE=6.5
DISTRIB_CODENAME=LFS
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="LFS 6.5"
EOF
 
 
Install guest addition :
 
cd /media/cdrom
sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run
 
Reboot, and enjoy !
 
Changing Resolution
 
Edit X config file :
vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf
 
My screen section look like :
Section "Screen"
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      24
    Modes      "1024x660" "1024x768" "800x600"
  EndSubSection
  Device       "Device[0]"
  Identifier   "Screen[0]"
  Monitor      "Monitor[0]"
EndSection
 
VirtualBox will try to pick the first resolution if it is available. The second and the third one will be picked if none of the preceding resolutions are available.  "1024x768" and "800x600" are suggested to be included in the list because they are widely available.
 
End
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