dwm
dwm is a dynamic window manager for X. It manages windows in tiled, monocle and floating layouts.
This guide covers:
- Installing dependencies for the suckless tools and installing firefox
- Installing from source or from repository dwm (dynamic window manager), dmenu (dynamic menu), st (simple terminal)
- Configuring the new profile to run dwm at login.
Prerequisites
- Install AlpineLinux
- Create a user account (optional but recommended)
- Enable the Community repository
- Install Xorg
Installing from binary repository
# apk add dwm dmenu st
This will install dwm, dmenu and st
Installing from source
Installing dependencies
git make gcc g++ libx11-dev libxft-dev libxinerama-dev ncurses is needed to install suckless tools from source.
dbus-x11 is needed for the dbus system (enables firefox running in dwm to open in a tile)
The last three adwaita-gtk2-theme adwaita-icon-theme ttf-dejavu are optional, but recommended for a nicer looking firefox.The command to install the dependencies:
# apk add git make gcc g++ libx11-dev libxft-dev libxinerama-dev ncurses dbus-x11 firefox-esr adwaita-gtk2-theme adwaita-icon-theme ttf-dejavu
Change to the /tmp directory.
$ cd /tmp
then execute:
# git clone https://git.suckless.org/dwm
Once downloaded, go to the dwm directory
# cd dwm
To install, run:
# make clean install
Next, go up one directory level
# cd ..
to install dmenu:
# git clone https://git.suckless.org/dmenu
# cd dmenu
# make clean install
Finally, go up one more directory level
# cd ..
to install st:
# git clone https://git.suckless.org/st
# cd st
# make clean install
Setting up your profile
Change to your home directory:
$ cd /home/<yourusername>
Create .xinitrc:
$ vi .xinitrc
Add this line:
Contents of ~/.xinitrc
Save the file and exit vi.
Next, create .profile.:
$ vi .profile
Add this line:
Contents of ~/.profile
Contents of ~/.profile
Log out or reboot. dwm will run the next time you log in. Press Alt+p to launch dmenu. Type firefox then press enter. Firefox will load and run in tile 9.
See Also
- https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/contents?file=dwm
- "dwm is only a single binary, and its source code is intended to never exceed 2000 SLOC. dwm is customized through editing its source code"
- AwesomeWM
- Raspberry Pi 3 - Browser Client - A guide which omits dwm, but uses similar steps to install firefox in a diskless install on ARM. dwm is not used on the RPI3, due to tmpfs limitations.