<strong>since OS X is based on unix architecture, I was wondering if I could use different window mangers on it, such as KDE</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well, you can, sort of. OS X's kernel is UNIX based, but OS X uses a totally different windowing system called Aqua. Traditional UNIXes use the X Window System. If you want to use the X Window System, you need to install an X Server. XDarwin is open sourced, and is the most popular X Server for Mac OS X. There are a few different ways to install XDarwin. From what I understand, using a tool called <a href="http://fink.sourceforge.net/" target="_blank">fink</a> is the easiest.
After installing an X Server, you'll need to install KDE. I'm not a big fan of KDE, but AFAIK there aren't any precompiled OS X ports of KDE. You'll probably have to grab the source and compile it yourself. KDE is huge, so it probably wouldn't be easy. If you want to try, start with a FreeBSD configuration...
If my memory serves me correctly, KDE doesn't run on OSX/Darwin. See this: <a href="http://fink.sourceforge.net/faq/usage-fink.php#kde" target="_blank">fink FAQ</a>. You can't use a WindowManager that replaces the aqua gui, but you can either run one in parallel, or at the same time, with XDarwin. I recommend fink (fink.sourceforge.net) for getting X, as well as a bunch of other packages.
Also, not to split hairs, but KDE is hardly just a 'window manager', its a full-blown 'Desktop Environment'.
Hmm, I thought Mac OS X exits the Aqua enviroment when you type >console in the login panel. Can't you start up XWindows or something similar in there without running Aqua aswell?
<strong>Hmm, I thought Mac OS X exits the Aqua enviroment when you type >console in the login panel. Can't you start up XWindows or something similar in there without running Aqua aswell?</strong><hr></blockquote>Yup. Look around for xfree86. I've got IceWM, WindowMaker, Enlightenment, and BlackBox on my Mac. :cool: They can be loaded from the >console as you mentioned or in the rootless app called XDarwin.
btw, here's a snapshot of me loading GIMP in WindowMaker through XDarwin:
I've downloaded X free 36 and installed it. I've also downloaded window maker except when I try to install, the computer gives me an error message that I'm missing some kind of file.
Can anyone give me the specific steps to what to do?
<strong>when I try to install, the computer gives me an error message that I'm missing some kind of file.</strong><hr></blockquote>How are you installing it? Are you using Fink?
how would I? do you have any links to step-by-step tutorials on doing this? The error I get is that I'm missing the symbol __xSetLocale or something like that...
After installing you can open a new terminal window (dselect is 'active' in that window) or type [code]source .login</pre><hr></blockquote> in the terminal window that is already open.
Here's some info from the package notes: [quote]Usage Notes: Before you can use Window Maker, you must run 'wmaker.inst' to set up the preferences files for your account. That script can also create an appropriate .xinitrc file to start Window Maker as your default window manager.
To use Window Maker with GNOME, leave .xinitrc alone and instead select Window Maker in the Window Manager panel of the GNOME Control Center.<hr></blockquote>Just read and follow the instructions.
If you want to edit .xinitrc by hand, simply put "exec wmaker" in there, save, and restart XDarwin
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<strong>since OS X is based on unix architecture, I was wondering if I could use different window mangers on it, such as KDE</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well, you can, sort of. OS X's kernel is UNIX based, but OS X uses a totally different windowing system called Aqua. Traditional UNIXes use the X Window System. If you want to use the X Window System, you need to install an X Server. XDarwin is open sourced, and is the most popular X Server for Mac OS X. There are a few different ways to install XDarwin. From what I understand, using a tool called <a href="http://fink.sourceforge.net/" target="_blank">fink</a> is the easiest.
After installing an X Server, you'll need to install KDE. I'm not a big fan of KDE, but AFAIK there aren't any precompiled OS X ports of KDE. You'll probably have to grab the source and compile it yourself. KDE is huge, so it probably wouldn't be easy. If you want to try, start with a FreeBSD configuration...
Also, not to split hairs, but KDE is hardly just a 'window manager', its a full-blown 'Desktop Environment'.
<strong>Hmm, I thought Mac OS X exits the Aqua enviroment when you type >console in the login panel. Can't you start up XWindows or something similar in there without running Aqua aswell?</strong><hr></blockquote>Yup. Look around for xfree86. I've got IceWM, WindowMaker, Enlightenment, and BlackBox on my Mac. :cool: They can be loaded from the >console as you mentioned or in the rootless app called XDarwin.
btw, here's a snapshot of me loading GIMP in WindowMaker through XDarwin:
[ 03-04-2002: Message edited by: starfleetX ]</p>
I wrote an article on it that you can find <a href="http://www.themacaddress.com/news.php?nid=23726500" target="_blank">here</a>.
I've downloaded X free 36 and installed it. I've also downloaded window maker except when I try to install, the computer gives me an error message that I'm missing some kind of file.
Can anyone give me the specific steps to what to do?
<strong>when I try to install, the computer gives me an error message that I'm missing some kind of file.</strong><hr></blockquote>How are you installing it? Are you using Fink?
thanks in advance
i get to the part where you type in "sudo dselect" and all i get is a message that says "sudo: dselect: command not found" help
Dselect isn't installed.
You must install dselect.
After installing you can open a new terminal window (dselect is 'active' in that window) or type [code]source .login</pre><hr></blockquote> in the terminal window that is already open.
hth?
grtz,
mk1rvenge
Also, I tried to compile windowmaker by performing a ./install but it did no work. Am I missing something?
Thanks
make
make install
should work on most unixes.
i can't find out how (i cant start any of them)
To use Window Maker with GNOME, leave .xinitrc alone and instead select Window Maker in the Window Manager panel of the GNOME Control Center.<hr></blockquote>Just read and follow the instructions.
If you want to edit .xinitrc by hand, simply put "exec wmaker" in there, save, and restart XDarwin
If the answer is yes, how is the performance of them?