Installing a lightweight linux desktop environment with openbox and dwm

These are my installation notes for creating a lightweight linux desktop environment from scratch, which contains only the most necessary applications. I’ll probably update it slightly in the future, when I realize I have missed some application. It will contain both openbox and dwm, as I’m always torn between using a tiling versus a floating window manager. Mostly I prefer tiling ones, but with some applications, they simply don’t work well.

Scripts are here

Install the base distro

I prefer the Debian mini ISO. Make sure to not install anything which is not required.

Add sudo

su - root
apt install sudo
visudo

# Add the row and save
iix    ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

Change terminal resolution

# /etc/default/grub

GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

sudo update-grub
sudo reboot

Install base configuration

sudo apt install git
cd $HOME
git clone https://github.com/lollek/dotfiles.git
dotfiles/install dotfiles lite-de

Log out and login again

Configure openbox and friends

Start openbox with startx-openbox.
Right click background and run ObConf. Set theme to FlatSlate.
Configure tint2 with tint2conf.
Don’t forget to set correct background image in $HOME/.config/openbox/autostart later.

Configure dwm and friends

Start dwm with startx-dwm.
All styling should already be applied through patches, and then running make && sudo make install. I have some in the patches subfolder.