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

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.

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.

Traditional Menu Generation

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

# apt-get install fluxbox

However, if you would prefer to create a menu using the traditional method for more of a standard look, then you should follow the basic process that is outlined below.

Fist extract the needed file and copy it to /usr/bin.

 # cd /usr/share/doc/fluxbox
 # gzip -d fluxbox-generate_menu.gz
 # cp fluxbox-generate_menu /usr/bin

Now, make the file executable:

 # chmod a+x /usr/bin/fluxbox-generate_menu

Next, it's time to generate the menu. Issue the command below as a user.

 $ cd /home/username
 $ fluxbox-generate_menu

This will also create a ~/.fluxbox/menuconfig file that can be customized to your preferences. You can, for example, add ["GNOME"] or kde support to the menu, or change the default browser, terminal, etc.

Finally, you need to edit the init file & change the menuFile path. Change the 'session.menuFile' entry to reflect the desired user name.

$ nano -w /home/username/.fluxbox/init

session.menuFile:       /home/username/.fluxbox/menu

Log back in and enjoy your new menu.

See also ["xinitrc"] .

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