Confusion about WM and DE

chrystz · 2013-04-06 13:11:16

Hello #! Users,
I am new to linux and that makes me new to Crunchbang too. I wanted to try Linux and this OS is what everyone suggested me.
I have been googling about Windows Manager and Desktop Environment, and got some information.

Though I have a little confusion about the difference between windows manager and Desktop Environment.

Since I am from windows, I pretty much like something with a start button sorta thing. So I wanted to know how to get it on linux and saw KDE can do it.
There are for example Ubuntu which is GNOME and Kubuntu which is KDE but what Crunchbang is?
If Crunchbang is using something else apart from these, what is that and how do I install KDE Environment?
I tried kde-core and kde-full but the installation requires around 1 GB of data to be downloaded. Why does a DE require 1gb of installation file?
Well that is everything I can think of now. Thanks in advance for your replies.
P.S English isn't my native language, so sorry about the grammar errs.

Cheers

dura · 2013-04-06 13:16:29

Crunchbang uses OpenBox window manager. The menu you require is accessed via right clicking outside of an app. Or alt + f3 brings up dmenu. Another solution could be to install xfce-panel which has a click menu like Windows' Start.

chrystz · 2013-04-06 13:28:19

Oh thanks, I could see XFCE already installed, should I remove openbox to enable XFCE?
or can I launch XFCE along with Openbox?

Last edited by chrystz (2013-04-06 13:36:16)

Bradi · 2013-04-06 15:05:46

Here is how I understand it (I'm still new to Linux so this might not be 100% accurate):

A Window Manager is the program that controls how your applications are displayed and placed in windows. Additionally, many WMs provide basic applets like a panel, an application launcher and some sort of menu.

A Desktop Environment is a more comprehensive suite of programs, designed to provide a unified GUI interface for controlling your computer. These can include a file manager, a control panel, a network manager, even a web browser and many many others. Every DE includes a window manager, but not every window manager has to be part of a desktop environment.

This is why you get a 1GB download when trying to install KDE - it includes a whole set of GUI tools for everything you may or may not need, just like the default Windows shell.

Crunchbang is a distribution designed around Openbox, which is a fairly simple window manager. It controls your windows, lets you assign some keyboard shortcuts and autostart applications and provides a powerful right-click menu. For everything else, Crunchbang relies on programs that need to be installed separately. It comes with tint2 as a panel, gmrun as a launcher, Iceweasel as a web browser, Thunar as file manager etc.

It also includes some components of XFCE: the xfce4-panel, xfce4-power-manager, xfce4-screenshooter etc. You can use as many of these as you like along with openbox, you should try launching xfce4-panel because it features a start-like menu which you asked for. You can also install the whole XFCE4 dekstop environment and use Openbox as the window manager within it, if that's what you prefer.

Hope this helps.

johnraff · 2013-04-06 15:54:26

Hi chrystz, welcome to CrunchBang, and welcome to Linux!

Coming from Windows, like most of us here, you'll probably find things confusing at first.
* Many things are done differently from what you've got used to up to now.
* More than that, there are many, many different ways of doing the same thing, depending on your preference!

There are versions of Linux which are a little easier than CrunchBang for people coming from Windows to adjust to, but CrunchBang, once you get used to it, is simple, elegant and can be changed in whatever way you want. It is based on Debian Linux, which is very solid and reliable, so I'd recommend staying here! smile

There are perhaps two approaches you could take:
1) Find ways of making the operating of CrunchBang more similar to the Windows you are used to. Some things have already been suggested. You'll need to spend a little time and effort learning about things like window managers, panels, etc, but you can get a system you feel comfortable with.
or
2) Spend time learning how to use the CrunchBang system as it is. In time, you might find the new ways of doing things are actually easier that what you had been used to up to now.

There are pluses and minuses to each, so which way you go is up to you. In fact, my own path to Linux was perhaps a mixture of both.

Good luck! And don't be afraid to ask questions - people will be happy to help. vZ21wNg

chrystz · 2013-04-06 16:00:07

True, I should learn #! the way it is..
I installed XFCE and removed it lol.. Kinda like the default UI..
Thanks for the advice

DebianJoe · 2013-04-07 07:22:03

I don't want to overload you with info, as there is a lot to learn about how GNU/Linux differs from Windows. Part of the confusion and benefit of Linux-based distributions is that they are HIGHLY configurable. In the case of your question about having to uninstall Openbox to add XFCE, you don't have to remove either. You could potentially use pieces from both together, or set up a way to quickly switch from one to the other. I honestly think that you'll be much happier if you do exactly like you said above and simply adjust to Openbox, but some people do not like it at all...so it's worth your time to read as much as you can on configuring Openbox (since you already have it and sound pretty new to the GNU/Linux file structures, interfaces, etc), and then try out other options. You'll learn a great deal this way. I'll echo Johnraff: If you have questions, simply search for answers or ask. I can assure you that we'll do what we can to help.

codingman · 2013-04-07 13:02:41

Docky is also very useful if you are new to #!. Just run something in dmenu and pin it to the bar. You can also just install KDE or something, but I find large scale DE's to be "bloated". Although I find KDE without most junk is nice, and there is a package that does a fresh install without most other stuff. Personally I'd suggest getting used to OpenBox, as it is simple and easy to learn. Right clicking is the way to go in any *Box.

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#1 2013-04-06 13:11:16

Confusion about WM and DE

#2 2013-04-06 13:16:29

Re: Confusion about WM and DE

#3 2013-04-06 13:28:19

Re: Confusion about WM and DE

#4 2013-04-06 15:05:46

Re: Confusion about WM and DE

#5 2013-04-06 15:54:26

Re: Confusion about WM and DE

#6 2013-04-06 16:00:07

Re: Confusion about WM and DE

#7 2013-04-07 07:22:03

Re: Confusion about WM and DE

#8 2013-04-07 13:02:41

Re: Confusion about WM and DE

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