HOWTO: Basic Ratpoison (rp) Configuration

macondo123 · 2011-04-26 23:00:49

HOWTO: Ratpoison (rp) Basic Configuration

This howto is based on the fine blog article written by Dione Moult. Please read it.
http://thinkmoult.com/2009/05/13/ratpoi … malist-wm/

I use #! Wheezy, here's my /apt/sources:

SOURCES LIST

## DEBIAN
deb http://ftp.ca.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.ca.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free

## DEBIAN SECURITY
deb http://security.debian.org/ testing/updates main
deb-src http://security.debian.org/ testing/updates main

## Multimedia
deb http://www.debian-multimedia.org testing main non-free

#Testing Proposed Updates
deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ testing-proposed-updates main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ testing-proposed-updates main contrib non-free

SUDO
I also edited the /etc/sudoers file:

# This file MUST be edited with the 'visudo' command as root.
#
# Please consider adding local content in /etc/sudoers.d/ instead of
# directly modifying this file.
#
# See the man page for details on how to write a sudoers file.
#
Defaults        env_reset

# Host alias specification

# User alias specification

# Cmnd alias specification

# User privilege specification
root    ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

# Allow members of group sudo to execute any command
#%sudo  ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

#includedir /etc/sudoers.d

macondo ALL = NOPASSWD : ALL
giovi ALL = NOPASSWD: /sbin/halt, /sbin/reboot

Now i don't need a password to sudo (a matter of choice)

BIND KEY
Following the article's instructions, i created the file: .xmodmaprc

$ touch .xmodmaprc

And then added these lines (save/exit)

remove lock = Caps_Lock
keycode 66 = F13

Now the bind key is the Caps_lock instead of Ctrl+t

GDM
I try to keep it simple, no DMs, i only use Linux, no Windows. I get rid of gdm:

$ sudo dpkg -P gdm gdm-themes

Then i edit the /etc/inittab and leave it like this:

# The default runlevel.
id:2:initdefault:

Also the # of ttys, i only need 2:

1:2345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty1
2:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty2
#3:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty3
#4:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty4
#5:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty5
#6:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty6

I create a .xinitrc in order to boot rp when i'm back from rebooting:

$ touch .xinitrc

Then add these lines to it:

#!/bin/sh

setxkbmap -option terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp
xsetroot -solid black
xrdb -merge .Xdefaults
unclutter -idle 2 &
numlockx &
xmodmap .xmodmaprc
conky &
ratpoison

CONKY
I create the .conkyrc file:

$ touch .conkyrc

Then copy/paste the following lines:

alignment top_left
background no
border_width 1
cpu_avg_samples 2
default_color white
default_outline_color white
default_shade_color white
draw_borders no
draw_graph_borders yes
draw_outline no
draw_shades no
use_xft yes
xftfont Terminus :size=10
gap_x 22
gap_y 2
minimum_size 5 5
net_avg_samples 2
no_buffers yes
out_to_console no
out_to_stderr no
extra_newline no
own_window no
own_window_class Conky
own_window_type desktop
stippled_borders 0
update_interval 1.0
uppercase no
use_spacer none
show_graph_scale no
show_graph_range no

TEXT
${color green}RAM:$color $memperc${color lightgrey}% ${color green}Swap:$color $swapperc${color lightgrey}% ${color green}Processes:$color $running_processes${color lightgrey}/ $color$processes ${color green}CPU: $color$cpu${color lightgrey}%  ${color yellow} ${time %a.%d.%m.%Y  %R}

RATPOISON CONFIG
I create the file .ratpoisonrc

$ touch .ratpoisonrc

Then i enter it:

$ nano -w .ratpoisonrc

And paste this:

alias term exec xterm
escape F13

exec xrdb -merge "$HOME"/.Xdefaults
warp off
startup_message off
set winname class
defborder 0
set padding 0 14 0 0
defbarpadding 0 0
exec xsetroot -solid black -cursor_name left_ptr
bind semicolon colon
set bargravity sw
set winfmt %n %s %t
set fgcolor yellow
set bgcolor black
set font "Terminus-12"


alias showroot exec ratpoison -c fdump; ratpoison -c 'select -' -c only
alias unshowroot exec ratpoison -c "frestore at $HOME/.rpfdump"

### Escritorios virtuales/Workspaces
exec rpws 1
exec /usr/bin/rpws init 6 -k

## bind = F13
bind F1 exec rpws 1
bind F2 exec rpws 2
bind F3 exec rpws 3


#Focus
bind J exchangedown
bind K exchangeup
bind L exchangeright
bind H exchangeleft

bind j focusdown
bind l focusright
bind h focusleft

##Alt-tab
definekey top M-Tab next
definekey top M-ISO_Left_Tab prev


### Atajos de teclas/Keybindings
bind e exec xfe
bind f exec iceweasel
bind m exec sylpheed
bind u exec xchat
bind l exec leafpad
bind r restart
bind Pause exec sudo /sbin/shutdown -h now
bind w windows
bind space exec xterm
bind k kill
bind Escape abort
bind o only

rudeness 13

## Las teclas de de la fila de arriba no precisan de bind (F13)
# Para lanzar un Run box/To launch a Run box (Ctrl+Space bar):
definekey top C-space exec

# Para hacer un screenshot/To make a screenshot (Press the Print key)
definekey top Print exec xterm -e scrot -cd 10


# Sound Volume
bind KP_Multiply exec amixer set Master 5%+
bind KP_Divide exec amixer set Master 5%-

Now i reboot, when i comeback i'm in the console, type my username (Enter), my user password (Enter) and then type startx (Enter)
and you should be in with rp.

Press the Cap_lock key (bind key) with your pinky, an X will appear on the screen and then i press f key and iceweasel will come up if that's what you installed, otherwise, chromium.

To shut off rp press bind + Pause key.

To close an applicatin, bind key + k,

alt-tab works as always,

press the Print key to take a snapshot,

Ctrl key + Space bar will give you a run box to launch an application,

bind + spacebar will launch the terminal,

bind + s key will split the screen in two horizontally,

bind + S, splits the screen vertically.

To go back to an undivided screen: bind+ o

To go to a different workspace: bind + F2,F3,F4,F5,F6

To see the windows you got open: bind + w
To go to a specific window: bind + window #

Just play with it smile

Screenie:

Ratpoison is really easy on ram usage (3 mb), my desktop uses an Atom processor, 1 gig of ram, the hd is 160 gigs, and the monitor is an old Samsung crt.

Ratpoison is not for everybody, is not pretty, there are no frills, just speed. The object of the game is speed, to keep your hands on the keyboard, by the time you grab the mouse and look for that icon, i'm already in like Flynn, it took me a day playing with it to master it smile
Your wrists will be grateful.

EDIT 07May11
I forgot to mention that if you want the debian menu, just press the bind key + period (.)

Last edited by macondo123 (2011-05-18 12:06:23)

d2ogch3n · 2011-04-27 09:31:58

Thanks for posting this.

One thing I noticed is that you didn't mention what you are using for internet connectivity, how are you approaching it with ratpoison? I use wicd-curses for my set-up as I connect with an encrypted wi-fi though I have used the /etc/network/interfaces method in the past. I guess both would be ok and one could add an up/down monitor to the status bar if necessary.

macondo123 · 2011-04-27 11:31:19

d2ogch3n wrote:

Thanks for posting this.
One thing I noticed is that you didn't mention what you are using for internet connectivity, how are you approaching it with ratpoison? I use wicd-curses for my set-up as I connect with an encrypted wi-fi though I have used the /etc/network/interfaces method in the past. I guess both would be ok and one could add an up/down monitor to the status bar if necessary.

I use an old box so DHCP is all i know, if you check their site, channel on IRC, and mailing lists you could ask them, i don't use a laptop, sorry. For me is just a window manager.
http://www.nongnu.org/ratpoison/

servingwater · 2011-04-27 18:04:33

Nice how-to!
Worked pretty well, thanks!
Never tried ratpoison before but it's better than I expected.
The bare minimum of a wm I guess! big_smile
I do miss tray support though.......

macondo123 · 2011-04-27 18:28:40

You're welcome!

macondo123 · 2011-05-13 16:09:36

Update:
In my .ratpoisonrc, i changed my keybind for time and date to:

bind t time

and my volume control binds to:

bind KP_Multiply exec amixer set Master 5%+
bind KP_Divide exec amixer set Master 5%-

this is my latest apps keybindings:

### Atajos de teclas/Keybindings
bind e exec xfe
bind f exec swiftfox
bind m exec sylpheed
bind u exec xchat
bind l exec leafpad
bind r restart
bind Pause exec sudo /sbin/shutdown -h now
bind w windows
bind space exec xterm
bind k kill
bind Escape abort
bind q only
bind t time

it's easier for me with this new binds due to the fact that i use a desktop and the keypad on the right, is faster for me, if you use a lappy any of the Fn keys should do.

This line specifies where you want the time/date info should be displayed:

set bargravity se

In my case, on the lower right side of the screen:

Same for when you launch the Run box (e.g. grun) with Ctrl+Space bar:

lower right = SE
lower left = SW
upper right = NE
upper left = NW

the colors of the backgroun and foreground is configged here:

set fgcolor green
set bgcolor black

You can change the colors to your liking.

PS: in order for the changes to take effect, you have to restart rp, i.e. "bind+r"

Last edited by macondo123 (2011-05-13 17:59:23)

macondo123 · 2011-05-15 21:52:14

Update: i changed my sound volume keybinds:

# Sound Volume
bind KP_Multiply exec amixer set Master 5%+
bind KP_Divide exec amixer set Master 5%-

Press the bind key + the multiply key (*) in the numpad to my right, to lower it: bind key + diagonal slash (/) also in the numpad.

Also changed the colors in Runbox to yellow (bottom right)

Last edited by macondo123 (2011-05-15 21:59:49)

rich · 2011-05-16 18:41:08

I can't believe it! After how many years? and I see the master of Ratpoison and lightweight setups on the Crunchbang forums!

Great to see you macondo wink

macondo123 · 2011-05-17 10:16:22

The links are ok now...

macondo123 · 2011-05-20 22:13:07

Downloaded Firefox 4.0.1 from mozilla.org, extracted it in my /home (i'm not an expert on this kind of thing). Changed the path on my keybind in .ratpoisonrc to this:

bind f exec ~/firefox-4.0.1/firefox/firefox

Restarted rp and got out of the Xs just in case, went back in, and it worked fine smile
FF4 flies!

Last edited by macondo123 (2011-05-20 22:15:05)

macondo123 · 2011-05-24 20:20:53

I added this keybind in my .ratpoisonrc to reboot my box:

bind p exec sudo /sbin/shutdown -r now

Now i press the keybind + p and it reboots.

hauberg · 2011-08-16 22:13:20

Concerning caps lock and xmodmap, specifically removing lock.

Followed the tips on this, but it failed to remove the lock.

Using xkeycaps I removed the lock and added F13 on the same keysym (same line), wrote the outputfile and altered the .xinitrc file accordingly to xmodmap .xmodmap-xxx.
After a :restart, it worked!!! \o/

This is really a relief. Even on this hp mini 2133 i had to use both hands to reach the two default keys wink

Last edited by hauberg (2011-08-18 18:37:03)

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