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Converting antiX to an XFCE4 based Distro (a tutorial)

Note: this tutorial is generally applicable as a tutorial to almost any Debian based distro you might wish to convert or build into a tailored xfce installation. You will need to customize the removals from your original base installation to remove any unwanted desktop setup(s)

Note: This is a learning tool. Not for ‘production’.

As with all my open source work, no guarantees are expressed or implied. If you break things you get to keep all the pieces. :lipsrsealed: Practice safe computing! :crossfingers:.

Bug fix list:

  • I decided to leave wicd on the install and have changed to the scripts accordingly. – date: 26 May 2019
  • I forgot to include the following thunar app in my initial release, they are added below: thunar-volman, thunar-archive-plugin,tumbler, tumbler-common, tumbler-plugins-extra
  • Pulseaudio ‘fix’

    $ sudo apt update
    $ sudo apt-get –yes install pulseaudio pavucontrol pasystray paman
    $ sudo killall pulseaudio
    $ pulseaudio -D
    $ pavucontrol

    If things work and Pulse Audio Control center comes up go to the next step.

    Use the following to start Pulseaudio after making certain the above are installed (in Autostart).
    pulseaudio -D

To begin, install a recent antiX per normal procedure (I used and tested this tutorial on antiX19alpha2 version; this may work with previous 17.4 versions, as well).

Once you have the basic antiX version installed, log in to one of the traditional window manager setups. I prefer using the space-icewm environment.

To initiate the xfce4 build, begin by adding the following applications to create an xfce4 install with whiskermenu. You will need to add other xfce4-goodies later, if you want them. (To start, cut & paste the following into a terminal window)

Code:

sudo apt-get update -y;sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg x11-xserver-utils xfonts-base x11-utils lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter xfce4 xfce4-power-manager xfce4-power-manager-plugins xfce4-taskmanager blueman bluez-tools pulseaudio pulseaudio-module-bluetooth pavucontrol -y --allow-unauthenticated gvfs gvfs-backends light-locker lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings lxpolkit desktop-profiles greybird-gtk-theme catfish xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin kupfer xfce4-terminal thunar-volman thunar-archive-plugin tumbler tumbler-common tumbler-plugins-extra pulseaudio pavucontrol pasystray paman

You will be asked if you want to replace ‘slim’ with lightdm, answer ‘yes’ when the script ‘pops up.

Next run kupfer and set it up to start on login; you can set a unique launch key as well from the kupfer preferences settings. I like having a tool like this to make accessing and running apps quicker/ easier. kupfer is certainly optional.

Next: Use the following to start Pulseaudio after making certain the above are installed (in Autostart). Disable the original pulseaudio autostart command.

pulseaudio -D

Once the above installs are completed and kupfer is installed, restart and Login into xfce4 Desktop. Be certain to log in to the correct Desktop (xfce)!

Once you are logged into your new xfce Desktop Environment (ugly though it may be), you will be asked if you want a 2 panel setup (I recommend the 2-panel choice in order to quickly get functional, albeit incomplete, panels.)

The next thing you need to do is to remove the undesired antiX standard window managers and related software run (Note: to clean almost everything ‘out’ cut & paste the following into a terminal window):

Code:

sudo apt remove fluxbox desktop-defaults-fluxbox-antix fluxbox-themes-antix jwm desktop-defaults-jwm-antix herbstluftwm desktop-defaults-hlwm-antix slim icewm desktop-defaults-icewm-antix icewm-common icewm-icons-numix-bevel-antix icewm-themes-antix icewmcc-antix numix-bevel-antix papirus-antix lxterminal

Now to clean ‘residual’ cruft up a bit (Cut & paste the following terminal commands.):

Code:

sudo apt autoclean
sudo apt autoremove --purge

Optionally you may remove the following file managers. I remove both because I am happy using thunar exclusively, and I am also ‘not’ a fan of either rox-filer/ spacefm. Just a two of my accumulated personal preferences and biases.

Code:

sudo apt remove rox-filer desktop-defaults-rox-antix spacefm desktop-defaults-spacefm-antix spacefm-common

Next I recommend, you log out and back in… you should have a nice, standard, and ugly xfce layout! You are now running xfce exclusively on antiX without any vestige of systemd, or the original window managers, if you removed them. Yay, you!

If you feel like taking a plunge and installing some xfce apps I like, you may cut & paste the following into a terminal window (this will provide a few nice tools & a few easy on the eyes themes (icon & windows):

Code:

sudo apt install keepassx grsync gnome-disk-utility gcolor2 viewnior fonts-roboto-hinted filezilla clamav clamtk clamassassin chromium zim baobab ristretto greybird-gtk-theme blackbird-gtk-theme xfce4-terminal papirus-icon-theme faba-icon-theme moka-icon-theme numix-icon-theme-bevel numix-icon-theme

At this point you should have a setup that looks and works like most standard out of the box ‘clean’ xfce installs.

I’ll provide another tutorial on how-to further tweak xfce, to add conkies, misc eye-candy, etc. while being frugal with the addition of additional cpu consumption- cycles.