Gnome

[The Mad Rapper]

Is there a way to install Gnome with next to nothing in the menus, adding only what I want?

Like a minimal Gnome install if that makes sense?

I know I can hide stuff in the menus and uninstall stuff I don't want, but I'd rather not install it in the first place of that makes sense.

 

[The Mad Rapper]

What distro?

Debian

Seeing how everyone was raving I thought I'd try it and see if I could make 'my' perfect Linux install. It's just a shame the default Gnome install under Debian comes with so much added I don't want.

 

[The Mad Rapper]

I think apt-get install gnome-base will do it.

However, if you're worried about bloat why use Gnome/KDE at all? Roll something yourself like I used to do. Install X and a WM of your choice. BlackBox is quite nice for this.

I'm still learning Billy

I've used Ubuntu for a while, so am fairly comfortable with the terminal etc. I thought it would be good to push myself a little, but am not sure whether I could do what you've suggested at the moment.

I do like Gnome as well, I'd just like a base install which I can then add to and tweak then image.

How involved is installing X?

 

[The Mad Rapper]

apt-get install xserver-xorg



That'll give you X which doesn't really do much by itself. You'll want a WM on top of that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_window_manager#Popular_X_window_managers

Thanks fella

So if I reinstall Debian, choose the minimal install, then X, then a WM that should work?

 

[The Mad Rapper]

Billy,

I have logged in as root, installed X but can't install gnome-base. I get the following error:

E: Couldn't find package gnome-base

Help!

*Edit* Until you read this I have installed Blackbox to give that a go

*Edit* Hmmm...I can't make Blackbox start! Do I need to be root?

 

[The Mad Rapper]

startx should boot it

That doesn't work - I get an error message saying something about not being able to initialise the display.

Do you have to configure X once it's installed? If so, how?

 

[The Mad Rapper]

hmm, maybe I'm forgetting my Debian packages. There certainly is one.

In the end, I did this:

apt-get install xorg gnome-session gnome-panel gdm metacity gnome-terminal


Which works just about perfectly, with the exception of Gnome themes which don't seem to want to install properly.

 

[The Mad Rapper]

I've just realised the problem may lay with my use of Metacity. Will try Compiz instead.