//This page groups information on Window Managers, desktops and their support on various Unix operating systems.//

====== Gnome ======

^ Solaris ^ OpenSolaris 2008.11 ^ Debian ^ Ubuntu ^
| Provided in the Java Desktop Environment || Yes | Yes |

Gnome is a major Unix desktop, probably as famous as KDE. Depending on operating systems and versions, its default look may be a bit "strict". The main problem I see with it is that it is heavy.

One of my former desktops used the following:

    * Theme: BlackGarden theme. You have to install the theme with Preferences > Desktop Preferences > Display > Themes. Fetch the tar.gz, then close and reload the theme manager to see BlackGarden. The install procedure actually untars the theme in ~/.themes.
    * Gnome-terminal: transparency's throttle is set to the middle.
    * Icon bar: with weather, sticky notes, log out, two launchers (terminal & firefox). The bar's properties are set to: don't expand, show hide buttons.

To launch an application as root: **gksu**

====== Enlightenment ======

^ Solaris 10 ^ OpenSolaris 2008.11 ^ Debian ^ Ubuntu ^
| Tested both on x86 and Sparc. [[http://www.blastwave.org|Use Blastwave's DR16 package]]: pkg-get install enlightenment. Then add at the end of your .dtprofile: exec /opt/csw/bin/enlightenment. See [[http://www.lildude.co.uk/howto-build-and-install-e17-on-solaris-10/|for details]] | Not tried (but should work) || Yes |

You can download Enlightenment themes from [[http://themes.freshmeat.net/browse/60/|Freshmeat]] or [[http://www1.get-e.org/Themes/E17/|Get-E]].
My favorite themes are :
  * Bevelfree: coloured, simple with no 3D.
  * Dufrenite: nice, but a bit 'gray'.
  * Thingradient
  * XaquaX: an Apple look

Enlightenment shows customizable menus. To edit the menus, look for a file called files.menu in ~/.enlightenment. Buttons are configured in the theme as buttons.cfg. Usually, you set action classes (actionclasses.cfg). Make sure they use the right path.

====== FVWM ======

I like FVWM because it is quite lightweight. However, the look and feel of FVWM 2.4 is a bit 'old' (to my opinion), so I wanted to use FVWM 2.5. 

^ Solaris 10 ^ OpenSolaris 2008.11 ^ Debian ^ Ubuntu ^
| No pre-compiled package: I managed to compile it from sources though I remember I had a few problems | No pre-compiled package. Compiles easily from sources: ./configure --disable-dmalloc --disable-efence --disable-debug-msgs --disable-xinerama --disable-nls | Not tried | There's a package |

I currently use **fvwm 2.5.26**.

A screenshot of my current desktop. It is very much taken from [[http://pemarchandet.free.fr/|PEM]].
{{:os:solaris:fvwm-screenshot.jpg|}}

===== Vertical pager =====

To set up a vertical pager, do:
<code>
*FvwmPager: Columns	    1
</code>

===== IIIM Properties =====

On OpenSolaris, I kept on having a silly and ugly small tab next to my Xterms, this tab showing various locales/encodings. To remove this, launch **iiim-properties**, and set Input Method and switcher placement to "None". Apply.