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All the Fluxbox config files are stored in the .fluxbox dir in your /["home"] directory.

In ["Unix"] computing, Fluxbox is a ["GTK +"] ["window manager"] for the ["X Window System"] based on ["Blackbox"] 0.61.1. and compatible with it. Because is GTK based, it can use DebianGnome files too.

Unlike the heavy weights, Gnome and KDE which take 15-30 seconds to get up and running, Fluxbox is up and running as soon as you hit the enter key. Its menu and configuration is done by simple files located in the user directory under the name .fluxbox.

Fluxbox has a slick tabbing mechanism for windows. You can combine multiple windows into one window with tabs across the top by simply middle-clicking the tab of one window (and holding it down) and dragging and dropping on the tab of another window. This is very nice for cleaning up a desktop without exiling applications to other virtual windows (it has those too).

Another nice feature is Fluxbox's support for docking applications. Basicially a docking app runs as sort of an icon with minature display or controls. But not like an icon, more like small controls on a walkman (for example) as opposed to a big dial face of a home stereo. It aims to be lightweight and highly customizable, with only minimal support for graphical icons, and only basic interface style capabilities. The basic interface has only a TaskBar and a menu accessible by right-clicking on the desktop. Fluxbox also supports user created ?KeyboardShortcut s.

Fluxbox is an amazing piece of software that does not depend on other WMs. It is small, fast and almost a sure thing for pleasing the eye. (Source < 500K) . It can be stored in a 64 M UsbKey (see DamnSmallLinux).

In accordance with fluxbox's goal of simplicity, the main menu, the keyboard shortcuts and the basic configuration are all changed by editing text files. Fluxbox's themes are 100% compatible with those of blackbox. Colors, gradients, borders, and several other basic appearance attributes can be specified; recent versions of fluxbox support rounded corners and graphical elements. Fluxbox also has several features which blackbox lack, including ?TabbedWindow s, a feature familiar from ["PWM"], and configurable titlebar.

Installation

When you install ["fluxbox"] in ["Debian"] a right-click desktop menu is automagically generated.

# apt-get install fluxbox

Fluxbox session

You can use ["xdm"] to go to fluxbox. Install xdm

# apt-get install xdm

Enter as ["root"] user and in the ["xterminal"] type

  • startfluxbox

or simply

  • fluxbox

If you close the xterminal, fluxbox finish.

To finish ["X Window System"] pres CTRL + ALT + DELete

If ["GNOME"] is installed to used it when fluxbox is not running, type

  • ["gnome-session"]

or

  • ["startx"]

All the Fluxbox config files are stored in the .fluxbox dir in your /["home"] directory.

See also ["xinitrc"], ?FluxboxMenu, ["Free Desktop"] .

*[http://fluxbox.sourceforge.net/ Fluxbox homepage]. *[http://www.fluxbox.org/docbook.php Fluxbox documentation in different languages]. *[http://www.fluxmod.dk/ Fluxbox User Community].