Since Canonical decided to ship Ubuntu with Unity as opposed to GNOME as the default desktop in their next release, I decided to take a look at StumpWM again.
Although I like keyboard driven apps like emacs, conkeror, and screen, GNOME with Tracker + deskbar-applet (similar to Mac OS X’s Spotlight) has been sufficient; I think any stable Linux desktop is sufficient for me since they’re all very configurable by default (keyboard shortcuts!). The need for a tiling window manager doesn’t apply to me since 1) I work on my laptop/netbook (10in-13in), so I usually have windows maximized; 2) I’m pretty fast with Alt-Tab; and 3) non-minimal window manangers have certain services all set up, such as sound/video control (with shortcuts), network manager, etc. Basically, having convenient applets, a quick way to move between windows, and a quick way to launch apps (think Mac OS X’s Spotlight) makes me happy.
Nonetheless, I toyed with StumpWM again but decided I’m not ready for it yet. Maybe I will be ready the next time when I’m using a bigger screen. I’ll outline my trial for documentation.
I followed this to set up StumpWM on Ubuntu. This screencast gives a good overview of the powers of StumpWM.
Compile
sudo apt-get install sbcl sbcl-doc ## common lisp compiler sudo sbcl ## enter following in sbcl prompt ## select [SKIP-GPG-CHECK] when asked. Have to do this a few times (require 'asdf) (require 'asdf-install) (asdf-install:install 'clx) (asdf-install:install 'cl-ppcre) (quit) ## more install sudo apt-get install xorg-dev git clone git://git.savannah.nongnu.org/stumpwm.git ## use latest version cd stumpwm autoconf ./configure make sudo make install sudo make install stalonetray ## for docking applets from GNOME
Add StumpWM as an entry in GDM Sessions Menu
sudo emacs -q -nw /usr/share/xsessions/stumpwm.desktop ## add following [Desktop Entry] Encoding=UTF-8 Name=StumpWM Comment=This session logs you into StumpWM (a minimalistic window manager) Exec=/usr/local/bin/stumpwm Icon= Type=Application
Restart computer and choose StumpWM when logging in.
~/.stumpwmrc
;; -*- lisp -*- (in-package :stumpwm) ;mode line (stumpwm:set-fg-color "green") (stumpwm:set-bg-color "black") ;startup apps (stumpwm::run-shell-command "stalonetray") (stumpwm::run-shell-command "nm-applet") (stumpwm::run-shell-command "gnome-volume-control-applet") (stumpwm::run-shell-command "gnome-power-manager") (stumpwm::run-shell-command "system-config-printer-applet") (stumpwm::run-shell-command "dropbox start -i") (stumpwm::run-shell-command "gnome-power-manager") ;; (stumpwm::run-shell-command "") ;; (stumpwm::run-shell-command "") ;keybinding (define-key *top-map* (kbd "M-Tab") "pull-hidden-next") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "M-ISO_Left_Tab") "pull-hidden-previous") ;; shift (define-key *top-map* (kbd "M-]") "pull-hidden-next") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "M-[") "pull-hidden-previous") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "s-Tab") "fnext") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "s-]") "gnext") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "s-[") "gprev") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "s-b") "move-focus left") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "s-n") "move-focus down") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "s-p") "move-focus up") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "s-f") "move-focus right") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "M-F4") "kill") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "s-s") "fullscreen") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "M-F2") "exec") (define-key *top-map* (kbd "s-SPC") "exec") (define-key *root-map* (kbd "M-F") "fullscreen")
I want to try xmonad next when I have time. My verdict now is to stay with GNOME.