XIGE (XIlicius Graphical Environment) window manager ============================================================================== Last Update: 15-11-05 Contents: 1. Introduction 1.1 What is XIGE ? 1.2 Exist many similar programs, that it can offer me XIGE different to other programs ? 1.3 How I can know the XIGE handling ? 1.4 Which the hardware requirements are for XIGE ? 1.5 Does XIGE depend of external software libraries ? 2. using XIGE 2.1 How I can personalize the graphic environment quickly ? 2.2 Does 'xigeconfig' depend of external software libraries ? 2.3 'xigeconfig' 0.1 did have many problems, what's going on ? 2.4 Does XIGE offer support for other languages (i18n) ? 2.5 How I can configure the background screen ? 2.6 I like XIGE but I want to establish an image in the background screen, Can I do this ? 2.7 I want to modify the XIGE appearance, how can I do it ? 2.8 The '.xigerc' file doesn't exist in my local directory, How I get it ? 2.9 My favorite programs are terminal applications, how I can invoke them from the XIGE menu ? 3. Installation tips 3.1 How I can install XIGE ? 3.2 I want to install XIGE but I don't have super-user access, I can do it ? 3.3 How I can contribute to XIGE ? ============================================================================== 1. Introduction 1.1 What is XIGE ? XIGE is a powerful but simple window manager for the X window system that it works on POXIS platforms (Linux, Unix, Solaris, etc) and Win32 on Cygwin. XIGE follows the ICCCM compliant and it's compatible with GNOME and KDE and other graphic application systems. 1.2 Exist many similar programs, that it can offer me XIGE different to other programs ? XIGE has been optimized in its speed, therefore the user can enjoy of an environment with very beautiful graphics that don't consume big memory and processor resources. The keyboard is complete, being able to have absolute control without mouse. XIGE presents a new modality of Menus, which display on a single window, avoiding this way to travel all the screen with the pointer. The traditional window buttons (to Minimize, To maximize, to Close) have been eliminated, and this functions can be executed by means of the keyboard or Mouse. The icons doesn't exist inside the XIGE philosophy and these they have become items of a special Icon Menu. The last versions offers full configuration of Mouse without external programs. Other additional features: - Appearance setting (Themes, cursors, etc). - Customizable keyboard. - Customizable menus. 1.3 How I can know the XIGE handling ? The installation package has all ducumentación in HTML format HTML, you can be access the manuals from the main Menu. The manual pages (man) are not still available. 1.4 Which the hardware requirements are for XIGE ? XIGE has tested in a Pentium I 150Mhz, 16 Mb Ram, with excellent results, on a linux system (Linux Slackware). 1.5 Does XIGE depend of external software libraries ? No, the implementation has been done in "C" on Xlib only, you will need a C compiler (gcc) and the X server installed. 2. using XIGE 2.1 How I can personalize the graphic environment quickly ? The 'xigeconfig' tool is available. Initially it was very simple, with terminal dialogs, but now xigeconfig is graphic tool and it offers the all options for the quick and effective customization. 2.2 Does 'xigeconfig' depend of external software libraries ? No, xigeconfig only uses the "Xpm" library (images handling). Xpm it's always included with the X window system standard distribution. Xigeconfig doesn't need a widgets Tool Kit, this with the purpose of to free the package totally of external applications. 2.3 'xigeconfig' 0.1 did have many problems, what's going on ? The first version was preliminary and its objective was not to let alone XIGE in the feature configuration. For this reason was elaborated in a quick way and without keeping in mind many aspects. The new version is free of BUGS and it offers complete support to configure the window manager. 2.4 Does XIGE offer support for other languages (i18n)? Actually XIGE supports i18n complete in 0.1.2 beta version (Xlib rutines updated) and 20 translates available now! xigeconfig supports complete i18n regarding the font handling, but it has been translated for 2 languages only. 2.5 How I can configure the background screen? This one can make with the "XIGEsetRoot" program included in the standard XIGE distribution, which offers beautiful gradients and solid textures. 2.6 I like XIGE but I want to establish an image in the background screen, Can I do this? Yes, but it's possible with some external program (Esetroot, wmsetbg, etc). since "XIGEsetRoot" doesn't support the most known images formats (gif, png, etc.) NOTE: If you want to make it, see the XIGE documentation. 2.7 I want to modify the XIGE appearance, how can I do it? The XIGE directory contains a directory call 'Themes' which contains several pre-defined Themes. But if you want a personalized appearance, you can create their own Theme and to indicate it by means of the xigeconfig program. 2.8 The '.xigerc' file doesn't exist in my local directory, How I get it? xigeconfig make it this file automatically and it puts the HOME directory. 2.9 My favorite programs are terminal applications, how I can invoke them from the XIGE menu ? The XIGE menu is done by a text file, which consists of syntax to specify the labels, the menu branches and one field for each command line program. If you want to execute an application created for console (Without X window) you will should to make the following thing: - to invoke the terminal where you can execute the program - by means of the terminal to execute the program Example: Executing the 'vi' program with xterm xterm offer an option that allows to execute the terminal with an additional process , this is the option ' -e ' where it's the commands for the program to execute. navegar@darkstar: ~ $xterm -e I vi & It executes a terminal with the 'vi' program. navegar@darkstar: ~ $xterm -fn 9x15 -sb -ls -e vi & It executes a terminal with some personalized features and 'vi' program. 3. Installation tips 3.1 How I can install XIGE? The standard distribution exist a INSTALL.lang file included, where lang it makes reference to specific language. This Files it includes the steps for the process installation. If the XIGE version offers a certain of pre-compiled package, this works with the package manager default in your system. 3.2 I want to install XIGE but I don't have super-user access, I can do it ? XIGE can be installed without super-user's access but you will have a user normal access and the XIGE source package. The script 'configure' offers the option of installing the components in any another wished directory. Before executing this script it's recommended to create the respective directories, one for the binaries, and another for the extra data files Example: (NOTE: the following examples for bash shell and POSIX plataform) navegar@darkstar: ~ $mkdir bin share doc Explanation: bin - XIGE binaries share - Data doc - Documentation files Next the system will have to recognize its new directory of executable programs (XIGE binaries) that is done with the following order: navegar@darkstar: ~ $cd bin/ navegar@darkstar:~/bin $export PATH=$PATH:$PWD Once made that, you will be able to execute configure script and to specify the created directories previously to make the installation. Configuring X Server. If the installation was sucessfully the binarie and other files they will have been placed in your local directory in the specified paths. If you use the script 'startx' will copy the file '.xinitrc' installed together inside the XIGE data directory: navegar@darkstar: ~ $cp share/XIGE/.xinirc $HOME Now you can begin with: navegar@darkstar: ~ $startx --:N (N: 0, 1, 2... wished number of display) If you use a session manager like XDM, GDM, KDM, etc. and you have super-user access, you can specify to these programs or to use their directories habitual to offer the beginning with XIGE. In the XIGE directory also its includes the suitable 'xinitrc.xigewm' file for this purpose. 3.3 How I can contribute to XIGE ? Well, the XIGE project is open to any contribution. The project waits additional programs, Themes, cursors, ideas, suggestions, patches, packages for specific distributions, translates, etc, etc.