Endeavour OS Allows Multiple Desktop Environments?

General system Newbie
42

Phew all this talk about DE’s and WM’s and no one mentioned the one and only that every one would be happy to use as their main driver.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Window_Maker

Running Window Maker in Arch is easypeasy and is very stable and easy to backup.

Window Maker (https://windowmaker.org/) itself has been around since 1997. It is an X11 window manager originally designed to provide integration support for the GNUstep Desktop Environment, a free adaptation of Cocoa (formerly OpenStep).

WML’s user interface can bring you a productivity boost without the excessive GUI bloat of modern-day Linux desktop environments.

The window manager is loaded with features and speed. It is easy to configure. It is easy to use.

In theory, WML is not bent on providing an alternative to today’s leading graphical user interfaces, but it certainly can serve that purpose.

Big surprise! Window Maker Live really is worth trying. I was expecting the UI to be not much different than Xfce or Openbox, but it is much different. In fact, Window Maker’s UI has features galore, and the ability to configure and tweak seemingly without end.

https://www.linuxinsider.com/story/84768.html

All of the above relates to a Debian Based Live os which I have never tried, it may be a quick and easy way to see what WM is all about though.

Also in the article there is mention of workspaces which may be of interest to you,

Working With Spaces

A major advanced feature I did not expect to find is virtual workspaces. You can open as many virtual desktops as your system can handle with memory.

A rudimentary workplace switcher sits in the upper right corner of the computer screen. Move forward or backward by clicking the tiny right or left arrow within the workplace switcher icon.

Right-click on the title bar of any window to send that application window to another workspace. You easily can navigate among all workspaces without taking your fingers off the keys. Just press the Alt + number key to jump to that workspace.

I do use the feature and have set up my mouse wheel to swap workspaces.

1919×1199 536 KB

:pirate_flag:

3 Likes
43

lol I tried it back in my manjaro days - so maybe 6-7 years ago. Never liked it. And all wm’s have workspaces or tags or monitors or whatever they are called. I have 10 set up and just switch with mod +1-9,0. This is the normal way in all tiling wm’s where it’s all about taking advantage of whatever space there is. This is the cool thing with Linux IMO - there’s something for everyone. You don’t like one wm try another - it might be IT :wink:

44

Thanks for all of your advice.

Right now, I’m starting to learn all I can with Openbox for starters. Did you know there’s also Enlightenment? However, from what I understand, that’s a DE not a WM? In fact, I believe it’s a floating WM. And no programming knowledge involved!

45

Enlightenment is actually a weirdo. It’s a wm who thinks it’s a DE :laughing:

Ob is a great place to start. And yes both those are stacking (floating) wm’s

1 Like
46

Wow…really? That’s interesting. What does that mean “who thinks it’s a DE”?

Also, I’ve done alot of research on WM based distros, if you can call it that, and based on the research I’ve been finding is that somehow Bunsenlabs Linux came up, which is based on the old Crunchbang distro. I’ve learned that the competitor to it was "ArchBang’, however that was known to have bugs (i.e. at least, according to the author. I have the article, if you’re interested for details)! I suppose, in this case, we’re looking at Debian vs Arch based here, essentially. In fact, the article stated the Archlabs distro has quite some WMs. Hopefully, what I’ve read is right on this!

47

It is arch you can do whatever you want with it. So that archbased distros comes with several editions is no surprse at all.

but the bugs part is kinda a myth from Arch’ earlier days. Yes - it is rolling so things CAN happen - doesn’t mean they do. Just like ywhen you’re driving a car - you CAN get in an accident - doesn’t mean you will though. Just know what you’re doing and everything is fine. Usually it’s pebkac but instead of admitting it - they blame the “unstable Arch”. lol arch own servers is not run by debian and hw often have you seen 'eem go down? Al this is just personal opinions from people that have screwed up.

And that is MY opinion :wink:

edit:
I meant that E is actually just a wm - but it behaves kinda like an full DE in every way

edit 2: I think one quickly can get lost in all the “research”. One have to decide for oneself if this is rightt or not. There’s always Ubuntu or Fedora - or Suse - etc.

Just give arch a little love and she won’t bite

48

The creator of Enlightenment is the great RASTERMAN, even today he is still an advanced window manager.

http://www.rasterman.com/resume.pdf
https://www.enlightenment.org/

2 Likes
49

Oh no. I meant researching distros, in general. I’m already on an Arch based distro until my VM experience is done! And yes, one could get lost in all of the options. Don’t get me wrong…I love researching everything Linux! Many are opinionated, however I believe every bit of truth counts. Actually, maybe flooded is a better word to use for researching! There are lots of thoughts and opinions out there. One won’t know the real truth until one experiences it for himself. I’m just a research kind-of-guy, as well. Like, I don’t buy big things without researching things about it…that kind of thing!

Concerning Enlightement, you said it is advanced? Is it advanced as BWSPM?

1 Like
50

I just realized you stated “creator of Enlightenment” and not Enlightenment itself. The great RASTERMAN, as you indicated, is advanced in his knowledge of windows management. My apologies for my misunderstanding!

51

and you told me that break- learn - fix - repeat takes time :wink:

To be clear here - the only reason IIMHO Bspwm is considered advanced - is the lack of documentation. Personally I think it’s more intuitive than most wm’s out there. And the config is more undestandable than i3’s config. But all the possibilities are not in there from get go - and without docs. unless you’re a script wiz - well that’s the reason I believe.

eited

52

That’s awesome. It would take some time, however I’d love to eventually work my way up to that WM. I’ve seen some great screenshots of setups!

By the way, I know I was talking about Archlabs earllier. Here’s an article I’ve just read and it seems an interesting article concerning the history of that distro:

53

No need to apologize, I’m not advanced at all, I try to learn like everyone, every day!
I leave a capture of my Enlightenment.
shot-2019-09-08_17-45-35

1 Like
54

And you didn’t have to program it to look like that? I’m starting to love WMs more than DEs now. My path to minimalism and speed!

Update: I should add productivity and workflow to the mix, as I’m a developer and it’s important in my choice of window manager(s). As @anon77235960 eloquently stated about the progression of WMs, these are something I want to build up to, including BWSPM and XMonad.

55

Absolutely NOT, just sudo pacman -Syu enlightenment and voila!
It will only ask you at the beginning for some keyboard and region settings

56

I installed EndeavourOS earlier today. I am running XFCE and also Gnome. I select which desktop I want on the login screen.

If the desktop environment you want is in the AUR then there is a good chance you can install it in EndeavourOS.
:wink:

57

you want to say at the Repository… there are some in the AUR (Archlinux User Repository) but most ones are available from normal Repositories without the need to build packages on your own…

https://endeavouros.com/docs/pacman/how-to-install-desktop-environments-offline-install-users/