Anyone tried this? It required a bit of editing of some files, mainly to use PyQt5 instead of PyQt4 since that is no-longer available, some resulting syntax changes, some symlinking and installation of some dependencies that were not listed in the INSTALL instructions but I find it works OK. I can't get the workspace switcher to work so you don't get the buttons in the middle of the panel (unless someone can figure it out) but the dev said that even though this is made for Linux it has been tested on FreeBSD. It looks almost pixel for pixel like CDE with the added bonus of being able to use fullscreen and xft fonts.
NsCDE install instructions for FreeBSD
NsCDE github
Requirements:
Fvnm built from source: Fvwm github
The workspace switcher does not work with Fvwm from pkg/ports
Dependencies:
Install Fvwm:
(uninstall existing fvwm if you have it)
Install dependencies:
Get NsCDE:
Install NsCDE:
Create symlinks for NsCDE, python and ksh binaries (WARNING, you may have to redo these if there's a system upgrade. This is easier than editing all the shebang in every script in my opinion and causes no problems):
If you want to edit the files you can use a command like this:
Set the QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME environment variable in your shell's profile:
Log out and then log in for this to take effect.
Set your $TERM variables as well if not set already.
FIXES for FreeBSD:
1) For the application menu to work, you have to edit /opt/NsCDE/libexec/nscde-fvwm-menu-desktop and change the paths from /etc/xdg/menus to /usr/local/etc/xdg/menus:
2) To get the clock to show on the panel, use the provided FreeBSD compiled version in the src folder:
3) If you decided to use the gkrellm2 system monitor, to get the theme changer to work with that, copy the necessary files as follows:
4) Finally create an .xinitrc to launch nscde. I choose to use a separate one from my other wms:
5) Exit your wm and launch:
or
If the wm loads successfully you will be greeted with a terminal that will run the first launch setup. Follow the instructions, logout and then log back in.
KNOWN ISSUES:
1) When you change the colors using the style manager you may not be able to logout of the wm. Go into another console (Ctrl+Alt+F2), log in and then kill X.
2) This window manager doesn't really work too well with a multimonitor setup. The panel will load halfway between the first and second monitor. Follow this workaround:
And edit this line...
...To a geometry that is in the centre of the screen you want. For example, on my monitor:
3) When you edit some settings using the Style Manager your changes may not stick. It is best to copy the relevant config files from /opt/config to your ~/.NsCDE folder and edit from there. For a detailed explanation of the config files see this link that is provided in your installation or click on the icon with the question mark:
file:///opt/NsCDE/share/doc/html/NsCDE-Configuration-Files.html
4) The developer updates this on almost a daily basis. Keep checking the Github link for commits. This may fix some issues you may have. Follow the steps over again if any of your config files have been updated.
5) To diagnose errors launch NsCDE like this. it will create a file named "error" in your home directory that you can have a look at yourself:
6) Some of the buttons on the panel do nothing or don't work. The icon installer doesn't work for me either. The best way to edit this is to copy the relevant config file from /opt/NsCDE/config to your ~/.NsCDE folder and edit. NsCDE will read the configs in ~/.NsCDE first before it reads the ones in /opt/NsCDE/config
7) Desktop compositing can be hit or miss. Compton can be a problem. There is a custom compton.conf located in the /opt/NsCDE/share/doc/examples/compton-integration folder. I find the only thing that doesn't work is opengl compositing especially vsync. It will cause your desktop background to become distorted. As always, your mileage may vary.
Enjoy an up-to-date Common Desktop Environment in FreeBSD!
GitHub - NsCDE/NsCDE: Modern and functional CDE desktop based on FVWM
Modern and functional CDE desktop based on FVWM. Contribute to NsCDE/NsCDE development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
NsCDE install instructions for FreeBSD
NsCDE github
Requirements:
Fvnm built from source: Fvwm github
The workspace switcher does not work with Fvwm from pkg/ports
Dependencies:
Code:
ksh93
xorg
xdotool
ImageMagick6
xscreensaver
py36-yaml
py36-qt5
qt5ct
qt5-style-plugins
open-motif
stalonetray
xterm
python36
python27 (some scripts needs this)
py36-xdg
libstroke
p5-File-Mimeinfo
gkrellm2 (optional but a very useful system monitor)
Install Fvwm:
(uninstall existing fvwm if you have it)
Code:
git clone https://github.com/fvwmorg/fvwm.git
cd fvwm
./autogen.sh
make
sudo make install
Install dependencies:
Code:
sudo pkg install ksh93 xorg xdotool ImageMagick6 xscreensaver py36-yaml py36-qt5 qt5ct qt5-style-plugins open-motif stalonetray xterm python36 py36-xdg libstroke p5-File-Mimeinfo gkrellm2
Get NsCDE:
Code:
git clone https://github.com/NsCDE/NsCDE.git
Install NsCDE:
Code:
cd
sudo mkdir /opt
cd NsCDE
cp -rp NsCDE /opt
Create symlinks for NsCDE, python and ksh binaries (WARNING, you may have to redo these if there's a system upgrade. This is easier than editing all the shebang in every script in my opinion and causes no problems):
Code:
sudo -i
ln -s /opt/NsCDE/bin/nscde /usr/local/bin/nscde && ln -s /usr/local/bin/ksh93 /bin/ksh && ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3.6 /usr/local/bin/python3 && ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3.6 /usr/bin/python3 && ln -s /usr/local/bin/python2.7 /usr/local/bin/python && ln -s /usr/local/bin/python2.7 /usr/bin/python
exit
If you want to edit the files you can use a command like this:
Code:
find . -type f -name "*" -print0 | xargs -0 sed -i.bak 's/bin\/ksh/usr\/local\/bin\/ksh93/g'
Set the QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME environment variable in your shell's profile:
Code:
export QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME="qt5ct"
Set your $TERM variables as well if not set already.
FIXES for FreeBSD:
1) For the application menu to work, you have to edit /opt/NsCDE/libexec/nscde-fvwm-menu-desktop and change the paths from /etc/xdg/menus to /usr/local/etc/xdg/menus:
Code:
sudo -i
sed -i.bak 's/\/etc\/xdg\/menus/\/usr\/local\/etc\/xdg\/menus/g' /opt/NsCDE/libexec/nscde-fvwm-menu-desktop
exit
2) To get the clock to show on the panel, use the provided FreeBSD compiled version in the src folder:
Code:
cd
sudo cp /opt/NsCDE/pclock-0.13.1/pclock-bin.FreeBSD-12 /opt/NsCDE/bin/pclock
3) If you decided to use the gkrellm2 system monitor, to get the theme changer to work with that, copy the necessary files as follows:
Code:
cd
mkdir -p .NsCDE/libexec && mkdir -p .gkrellm2/themes/NsCDE
cp /opt/NsCDE/share/doc/examples/colormgr.local.example .NsCDE/libexec/colormgr.local
cp -rp /opt/NsCDE/share/doc/examples/Gkrellm ~/.gkrellm2/themes/NsCDE
4) Finally create an .xinitrc to launch nscde. I choose to use a separate one from my other wms:
Code:
cd
echo $'#!/bin/sh \nexec nscde' > .xinitrc
5) Exit your wm and launch:
Code:
startx
or
Code:
xinit ~/.xinitrc (or whatever name you chose if you made a separate xinitrc)
If the wm loads successfully you will be greeted with a terminal that will run the first launch setup. Follow the instructions, logout and then log back in.
KNOWN ISSUES:
1) When you change the colors using the style manager you may not be able to logout of the wm. Go into another console (Ctrl+Alt+F2), log in and then kill X.
2) This window manager doesn't really work too well with a multimonitor setup. The panel will load halfway between the first and second monitor. Follow this workaround:
Code:
cd
cp /opt/NsCDE/config/NsCDE-FrontPanel.conf ~/.NsCDE
And edit this line...
Code:
PipeRead 'echo "*FrontPanel: Geometry 1015x79+$(($[vp.width] / 2 - 1019 / 2 - 2))-0"'
...To a geometry that is in the centre of the screen you want. For example, on my monitor:
Code:
PipeRead 'echo "*FrontPanel: Geometry 1015x79+777-0"'
3) When you edit some settings using the Style Manager your changes may not stick. It is best to copy the relevant config files from /opt/config to your ~/.NsCDE folder and edit from there. For a detailed explanation of the config files see this link that is provided in your installation or click on the icon with the question mark:
file:///opt/NsCDE/share/doc/html/NsCDE-Configuration-Files.html
4) The developer updates this on almost a daily basis. Keep checking the Github link for commits. This may fix some issues you may have. Follow the steps over again if any of your config files have been updated.
5) To diagnose errors launch NsCDE like this. it will create a file named "error" in your home directory that you can have a look at yourself:
Code:
xinit ~/.xinitrc.nscde > error 2>&1
6) Some of the buttons on the panel do nothing or don't work. The icon installer doesn't work for me either. The best way to edit this is to copy the relevant config file from /opt/NsCDE/config to your ~/.NsCDE folder and edit. NsCDE will read the configs in ~/.NsCDE first before it reads the ones in /opt/NsCDE/config
7) Desktop compositing can be hit or miss. Compton can be a problem. There is a custom compton.conf located in the /opt/NsCDE/share/doc/examples/compton-integration folder. I find the only thing that doesn't work is opengl compositing especially vsync. It will cause your desktop background to become distorted. As always, your mileage may vary.
Enjoy an up-to-date Common Desktop Environment in FreeBSD!
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