Xorg
Xorg is an open source implementation of the X Window System. It used to be the de-facto standard way to launch graphical applications. Wayland is its recent alternative. Wayback is a X11 compatibility layer which allows for running full X11 desktop environments using Wayland components.
Installation
Xorg can be installed automatically by running the setup-xorg-base script as follows:
# setup-xorg-base
The above command installs the following packages xorg-server, xf86-input-libinput, xinit, eudev, mesa-dri-gallium and Sets up eudev
Install atleast one X11 based desktop before proceeding further.
Configuration
You may also want per-user configuration. Create the ~/.xinitrc file to start the window manager with startx or xinit. If you installed cwm desktop, the ~/.xinitrc file should be as follows:
Contents of ~/.xinitrc
If D-Bus is installed and enabled along with cwm desktop, the ~/.xinitrc file should be as follows:
Contents of ~/.xinitrc
Xorg sessions can be started via display manager or manually with command:
$ startx
Video drivers
Most basic X features should work fine with just using the default kernel video-modesetting drivers. For better performance or in case of errors, install legacy Xf86 Video drivers or graphics drivers.
Input packages
You probably at least want xf86-input-libinput or xf86-input-evdev. The former is for Wayland with wrapper for Xorg and is installed by the setup-xorg-base script. The xf86-input-evdev package is Xorg only.
For touchpad tapping support on many laptops:
# apk add xf86-input-synaptics
If the Numlock settings are not working, or getting 'setleds not found' errors:
# apk add kbd
If some input device is not working at all, the available xf86-input drivers can be listed with:
$ apk search xf86-input
The following legacy drivers are not packaged at least as of 2/2022:
- xf86-input-mouse
- xf86-input-keyboard
Configure xorg-server (optional)
On most systems, xorg should be able to autodetect all devices. However you can still configure xorg-server by hand by launching:
# Xorg -configure
This will create a /root/xorg.conf.new file. You can modify this file to fit your needs. When finished modifying and testing the above configuration file, move it to /etc/X11/xorg.conf for normal usage.
Keyboard Layout (optional)
If you use a keyboard layout different than "us", and you are using a window manager or desktop environment that does not support to configure the keyboard layout itself, then you need to install setxkbmap package:
# apk add setxkbmap
Then try
# setxkbmap <%a language layout from /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/xorg.lst%>
In order to make it persistent add this section to /etc/X11/xorg.conf:
Section "InputClass" Identifier "Keyboard Default" MatchIsKeyboard "yes" Option "XkbLayout" "<%a language layout from /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/xorg.lst%>" EndSection
Another way to change the keymap when logging into X is to use ~/.xinitrc. The following example loads a British keymap, simply add this line to the beginning of the file as follows :
Contents of ~/.xinitrc