The status of Mint Fluxbox CE

[Mindhunter2202]

tuluse please post the solution. I would be interessted in testing both, marchfluxbox and menumaker. Maybe we'll find a favorite...

[Mindhunter2202]

I have just tried menumaker and I like the menu structure very much. It is more comfortable and now I find apps faster because of the new structure of the menu. For my person this is a very interessting tool. But unfortunatly I couldn't force menumaker to refresh the menu on the fly without running it manually.
At next I'll give marchfluxbox a try...

The best solution would be an app that adds menu entries on the fly AND give the menu a comfortable structure.

[shane]

I was looking into the original problem, and I think I found a solution. Put the auto generated menu in it's own file and include it in the menu file. I can post the solution, but if you are going to use menumaker instead of marchfluxmenu (this is a weird name), then I won't bother.

that is such a simple solution!!! now why didnt i think of that?!? i've done a bit of editing and it seems to work... thanks for the idea

marchfluxmenu... well this friend of mine has his own little spin of arch linux which he calls march linux... hence, marchfluxmenu (mfm)... he is the one who got me interested in fluxbox in the first place, though he uses openbox in march linux at the moment.... i think... for those interested: http://marchlinux.wikidot.com/

has anyone got menumaker working? documentation is not this project's forte for now, since i have an idea or two about mfm i will stick with this... it would be nice if some could test menumaker and let us know their views... especially on autogeneration and automatic updating of the menu... which is the whole reason for deviating from the 'fluxbox way'

coming to AntiX... i have downloaded the ISO... for starters, it is a really small ISO... would be nice if we could get Mint FB as small. on RAM usage in Mint FB... at startup with the standard setup, the most RAM is taken up by mintUpdate which itself uses about 30MB... if you do not run mintUpdate at startup, 30-40MB should be about how much RAM will be in use (this is based on the Daryna beta). i think clem would rather have mintUpdate running at startup to keep things 'minty'. of course i will try to make the ISO as small as possible without losing functionality, sacrificing ease of use or aesthetics (I am really not aiming for another DSL) when the beta is out for testing you can always let me know if there is something i can get rid of to make it smaller and lighter.

[shane]

I have just tried menumaker and I like the menu structure very much. It is more comfortable and now I find apps faster because of the new structure of the menu. For my person this is a very interessting tool. But unfortunatly I couldn't force menumaker to refresh the menu on the fly without running it manually.
At next I'll give marchfluxbox a try...

The best solution would be an app that adds menu entries on the fly AND give the menu a comfortable structure.

could you please post a screenshot of the menu that is created? and the menu file that is generated... so i can have an idea of the differences between the menumaker and mint-mfm (as i will call it). also have a look if it is running any kind of process in the background.

the original marchfluxmenu is run by the user... and so will not detect changes in installed applications while the user is not logged in the system... mfm does this by means of a daemon that watches for these changes. so i changed mfm by having the main daemon run at boot by root and this daemon 'tells' another daemon which is run by the user to update the menu. the message to the user daemon is sent to all users and the user's menu is updated when he/she logs in or immediately if he/she is logged in. i can imagine that this is not the most elegant way to do this... but that is what my limited coding knowledge would let me think up

here is a screenshot of my current menu generated with mint-mfm.



and here is the part of the menu that is auto generated (this is not on Mint FB but rather Xubuntu converted to Mint FB):

Code: Select all

[separator] (tag start)
   [submenu]  (Accessories)
   [exec]  (Archive Manager)  {file-roller }
   [exec]  (Calculator)  {gcalctool}
   [exec]  (Character Map)  {gucharmap}
   [exec]  (Dictionary)  {gnome-dictionary}
   [exec]  (Disk Usage Analyzer)  {baobab}
   [exec]  (File Browser)  {nautilus --no-desktop --browser }
   [exec]  (Manage Print Jobs)  {/usr/bin/system-config-printer-applet --no-tray-icon}
   [exec]  (Mousepad)  {mousepad }
   [exec]  (Panel)  {gnome-panel}
   [exec]  (Take Screenshot)  {gnome-screenshot --interactive}
   [exec]  (Terminal)  {xfce4-terminal}
   [exec]  (Text Editor)  {gedit }
   [exec]  (Thunar File Manager)  {Thunar }
   [exec]  (Tilda)  {tilda}
   [exec]  (Xfce 4 Print Dialog)  {xfprint4}
   [exec]  (Xfce 4 Print Manager)  {xfprint4-manager}
   [end]
   [submenu]  (Games)
   [exec]  (AisleRiot Solitaire)  {/usr/games/sol}
   [exec]  (Blackjack)  {/usr/games/blackjack}
   [exec]  (Chess)  {/usr/games/glchess}
   [exec]  (Five or More)  {/usr/games/glines}
   [exec]  (Four-in-a-Row)  {/usr/games/gnect}
   [exec]  (FreeCell Solitaire)  {/usr/games/sol --freecell}
   [exec]  (Gnometris)  {/usr/games/gnometris}
   [exec]  (Iagno)  {/usr/games/iagno}
   [exec]  (Klotski)  {/usr/games/gnotski}
   [exec]  (Mahjongg)  {/usr/games/mahjongg}
   [exec]  (Mines)  {/usr/games/gnomine}
   [exec]  (Nibbles)  {/usr/games/gnibbles}
   [exec]  (Robots)  {/usr/games/gnobots2}
   [exec]  (Same GNOME)  {/usr/games/same-gnome}
   [exec]  (Sudoku)  {/usr/games/gnome-sudoku}
   [exec]  (Tali)  {/usr/games/gtali}
   [exec]  (Tetravex)  {/usr/games/gnotravex}
   [end]
   [submenu]  (Graphics)
   [exec]  (Document Viewer)  {evince }
   [exec]  (GIMP Image Editor)  {gimp-2.4 }
   [exec]  (Inkscape Vector Graphics Editor)  {inkscape }
   [exec]  (KToon)  {ktoon}
   [exec]  (OpenOffice.org Drawing)  {ooffice -draw }
   [exec]  (Ristretto Image Viewer)  {ristretto }
   [exec]  (Synfig Studio)  {synfigstudio }
   [end]
   [submenu]  (Internet)
   [exec]  (Firefox Web Browser)  {firefox }
   [exec]  (Mozilla Thunderbird Mail/News)  {thunderbird }
   [exec]  (Pidgin Internet Messenger)  {pidgin}
   [exec]  (Remote Desktop Viewer)  {vinagre -f }
   [exec]  (Remote Desktop Viewer)  {vinagre }
   [exec]  (Sun Java 6 Web Start)  {/usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun-1.6.0.06/bin/javaws }
   [exec]  (Transmission BitTorrent Client)  {transmission }
   [exec]  (Wicd)  {/opt/wicd/gui.py}
   [exec]  (XChat IRC)  {xchat}
   [end]
   [submenu]  (Office)
   [exec]  (AbiWord Word Processor)  {abiword}
   [exec]  (Gnumeric Spreadsheet)  {gnumeric }
   [exec]  (OpenOffice.org)  {oofromtemplate }
   [exec]  (OpenOffice.org Database)  {ooffice -base }
   [exec]  (OpenOffice.org Formula)  {ooffice -math }
   [exec]  (OpenOffice.org Presentation)  {ooffice -impress }
   [exec]  (OpenOffice.org Spreadsheet)  {ooffice -calc }
   [exec]  (OpenOffice.org Word Processor)  {ooffice -writer }
   [exec]  (Orage)  {orage}
   [end]
   [submenu]  (Others)
   [exec]  (About GNOME)  {gnome-about}
   [exec]  (About Me)  {gnome-about-me}
   [exec]  (About Ubuntu)  {yelp ghelp:about-ubuntu}
   [exec]  (AcetoneISO2)  {acetoneiso2}
   [exec]  (Add/Remove...)  {/usr/bin/gnome-app-install}
   [exec]  (Appearance)  {gnome-appearance-properties }
   [exec]  (Assistive Technologies)  {gnome-at-properties}
   [exec]  (CD/DVD Creator)  {nautilus --no-desktop burn:///}
   [exec]  (CD/DVD Creator)  {nautilus-cd-burner --source-iso}
   [exec]  (Computer)  {nautilus --no-desktop computer:}
   [exec]  (Control Center)  {gnome-control-center}
   [exec]  (Default Printer)  {/usr/bin/my-default-printer}
   [exec]  (File Management)  {nautilus-file-management-properties}
   [exec]  (Fluxbox mintConfig)  {mintConfig-fluxbox}
   [exec]  (GTK Change Theme)  {gtk-chtheme}
   [exec]  (Help)  {yelp}
   [exec]  (Home Folder)  {nautilus --no-desktop}
   [exec]  (Keyboard)  {gnome-keyboard-properties}
   [exec]  (Keyboard Shortcuts)  {gnome-keybinding-properties}
   [exec]  (Login Photo)  {gdmphotosetup}
   [exec]  (Main Menu)  {alacarte}
   [exec]  (mintDesktop)  {/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintDesktop/mintDesktop_frontend.py}
   [exec]  (Mouse)  {gnome-mouse-properties}
   [exec]  (Multimedia Systems Selector)  {gstreamer-properties}
   [exec]  (Network)  {nautilus --no-desktop network:}
   [exec]  (Network Proxy)  {gnome-network-preferences}
   [exec]  (onBoard)  {onboard}
   [exec]  (onBoard Settings)  {onboard-settings}
   [exec]  (Power Management)  {gnome-power-preferences}
   [exec]  (Preferred Applications)  {gnome-default-applications-properties}
   [exec]  (SCIM Input Method Setup)  {scim-setup}
   [exec]  (Screen Resolution)  {gnome-display-properties}
   [exec]  (Screens and Graphics)  {gksu displayconfig-gtk}
   [exec]  (Screensaver)  {xscreensaver-demo}
   [exec]  (Screensaver)  {gnome-screensaver-preferences}
   [exec]  (Search for Files...)  {gnome-search-tool}
   [exec]  (Sessions)  {gnome-session-properties}
   [exec]  (Sound)  {gnome-sound-properties}
   [exec]  (Sun Java 6 Plugin Control Panel)  {/usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun-1.6.0.06/bin/ControlPanel}
   [exec]  (Sun Java 6 Policy Tool)  {/usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun-1.6.0.06/bin/policytool}
   [exec]  (Theme Installer)  {gnome-appearance-properties -i }
   [exec]  (Wallpaper Chooser)  {mint-fbsetbg}
   [exec]  (Windows)  {gnome-window-properties}
   [end]
   [submenu]  (Programming)
   [exec]  (Python (v2.5)  {/usr/bin/python2.5}
   [end]
   [submenu]  (Sound & Video)
   [exec]  (Ario)  {ario}
   [exec]  (Audacious)  {audacious }
   [exec]  (BMPx)  {beep-media-player-2}
   [exec]  (BMPx (Offline Mode)  {beep-media-player-2 --no-network}
   [exec]  (Creox c)  {creox}
   [exec]  (Ex Falso)  {exfalso}
   [exec]  (Exaile Music Player)  {exaile}
   [exec]  (Gimmix)  {gimmix}
   [exec]  (Gnome Music Player Client)  {gmpc}
   [exec]  (GOPchop)  {gopchop }
   [exec]  (gtkGuitune)  {gtkguitune}
   [exec]  (JACK Control)  {/usr/bin/qjackctl}
   [exec]  (Movie Player)  {totem }
   [exec]  (Movie Player (Gstreamer)  {totem-gstreamer }
   [exec]  (Open project)  {brasero -p }
   [exec]  (Quod Libet)  {quodlibet}
   [exec]  (Recording Level Monitor)  {vumeter -r}
   [exec]  (Sonata)  {sonata}
   [exec]  (Sound Recorder)  {gnome-sound-recorder}
   [exec]  (VLC media player)  {vlc }
   [exec]  (Volume Control)  {gnome-volume-control}
   [exec]  (Volume Monitor)  {vumeter}
   [end]
   [submenu]  (System Tools)
   [exec]  (Add/Remove...)  {/usr/bin/gnome-app-install}
   [exec]  (Authorizations)  {polkit-gnome-authorization}
   [exec]  (Configuration Editor)  {gconf-editor}
   [exec]  (Floppy Formatter)  {gfloppy}
   [exec]  (GDebi Package Installer)  {gdebi-gtk}
   [exec]  (Hardware Drivers)  {gksu -D /usr/share/applications/jockey-gtk.desktop /usr/bin/jockey-gtk}
   [exec]  (Hardware Testing)  {gksu /usr/bin/hwtest-gtk}
   [exec]  (Language Support)  {/usr/bin/gnome-language-selector}
   [exec]  (Language Support)  {gnome-language-selector-mint}
   [exec]  (Login Window)  {gksu /usr/sbin/gdmsetup}
   [exec]  (mintBackup)  {/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintBackup/mintBackup.py}
   [exec]  (mintBackup)  {mintBackup}
   [exec]  (mintDesktop)  {/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintDesktop-fluxbox/mintDesktop-fluxbox_frontend.py}
   [exec]  (mintInstall)  {/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintInstall/mintInstall.py}
   [exec]  (mintInstall)  {mintInstall}
   [exec]  (mintUpdate)  {gksu /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintUpdate/mintUpdate.py show 0 &}
   [exec]  (Network)  {network-admin}
   [exec]  (New Login)  {gdmflexiserver}
   [exec]  (New Login in a Window)  {gdmflexiserver --xnest}
   [exec]  (Open Folder with Thunar)  {Thunar }
   [exec]  (Printing)  {/usr/bin/system-config-printer}
   [exec]  (Reconstructor)  {sudo /usr/bin/reconstructor}
   [exec]  (Report a problem...)  {/usr/share/apport/apport-gtk -c }
   [exec]  (Restricted Drivers Manager)  {restricted-manager-mint}
   [exec]  (Root Terminal)  {gksu /usr/bin/x-terminal-emulator}
   [exec]  (Services)  {services-admin}
   [exec]  (Shared Folders)  {shares-admin}
   [exec]  (Software Sources)  {gksu --desktop /usr/share/applications/software-properties.desktop /usr/bin/software-properties-gtk}
   [exec]  (Synaptic Package Manager)  {gksu /usr/sbin/synaptic}
   [exec]  (Synaptic Package Manager)  {synaptic}
   [exec]  (System Log)  {gnome-system-log}
   [exec]  (System Monitor)  {gnome-system-monitor}
   [exec]  (Time and Date)  {time-admin}
   [exec]  (Update Manager)  {/usr/bin/update-manager}
   [exec]  (Users and Groups)  {users-admin}
   [exec]  (VirtualBox OSE)  {virtualbox}
   [end]
[separator] (tag end)
[end]

[Mindhunter2202]

Of course, shane.

The file is very very good structured!

Code: Select all

[begin] (FluxBox)
   [submenu] (Development)
      [exec] (BeanShell [text]) {xterm -e bsh}
      [exec] (BeanShell [windowed]) {xbsh}
      [exec] (GDB) {xterm -e gdb}
      [exec] (Python [v2.4]) {xterm -e python2.4}
      [exec] (Python [v2.5]) {xterm -e python2.5}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Editors)
      [exec] (Mousepad) {mousepad}
      [exec] (Vi) {xterm -e vi}
      [exec] (Vim) {xterm -e vim}
      [exec] (xdialog) {Xdialog}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Graphics)
      [exec] (GNU Paint) {gpaint}
      [exec] (GPicView Image Viewer) {gpicview}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Multimedia)
      [exec] (ALSA mixer) {xterm -e alsamixer}
      [exec] (Brasero Disc Burning Application) {brasero}
      [exec] (Exaile Music Player) {exaile}
      [exec] (Gmplayer) {gmplayer}
      [exec] (Gnormalize) {gnormalize}
      [exec] (VLC media player) {wxvlc}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Network)
      [exec] (FireFox) {firefox}
      [exec] (FTP) {xterm -e ftp}
      [exec] (FuseSmb Tool) {fusesmbtool}
      [exec] (LFTP) {xterm -e lftp}
      [exec] (Pidgin Internet Messenger) {pidgin}
      [exec] (Sun Java 6 Web Start) {javaws -viewer}
      [exec] (Thunderbird) {thunderbird}
      [exec] (Transmission) {transmission-gtk}
      [exec] (W3m) {xterm -e w3m}
      [exec] (w3m) {xterm -e w3m /usr/share/doc/w3m/MANUAL.html}
      [exec] (Wicd) {/opt/wicd/gui.py}
      [exec] (XChat-GNOME IRC Chat) {xchat-gnome}
      [exec] (xvncviewer) {xrealvncviewer}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Office)
      [exec] (AbiWord Word Processor) {abiword}
      [exec] (Evince) {evince}
      [exec] (Gnumeric Spreadsheet) {gnumeric}
      [exec] (innotop) {xterm -e innotop}
      [exec] (OpenOffice.org Word Processor) {ooffice}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Other)
      [exec] (Help) {yelp}
      [exec] (NTFS Configuration Tool) {gksu ntfs-config}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Shells)
      [exec] (Bash) {xterm -e bash --login}
      [exec] (Dash) {xterm -e dash -i}
      [exec] (Rdesktop) {rdesktop}
      [exec] (Sh) {xterm -e sh --login}
      [exec] (Terminal) {xfce4-terminal}
      [exec] (Thunar File Manager) {Thunar}
      [exec] (Tilda) {tilda}
      [exec] (Xterm) {xterm}
   [end]
   [submenu] (System)
      [submenu] (Settings)
         [submenu] (GNOME)
            [exec] (Hardware Information) {hal-device-manager}
            [exec] (Keyring Manager) {gnome-keyring-manager}
            [exec] (Network) {gksu network-admin}
            [exec] (Network Proxy) {gnome-network-preferences}
            [exec] (Network Tools) {gnome-nettool}
            [exec] (PalmOS Devices) {gpilotd-control-applet}
            [exec] (Partition Editor) {gksu gparted}
            [exec] (Remote Desktop) {vino-preferences}
            [exec] (Screens and Graphics) {gksu displayconfig-gtk}
            [exec] (Services) {gksu services-admin}
            [exec] (Shared Folders) {gksu shares-admin}
            [exec] (Time and Date) {gksu time-admin}
            [exec] (Users and Groups) {gksu users-admin}
            [exec] (Xfce 4 mintConfig) {xfce4-mintConfig}
         [end]
         [submenu] (Xfce)
            [exec] (Xfce 4 Panel Manager) {xfce4-panel -c}
            [exec] (Xfce 4 Preferred Applications) {exo-preferred-applications}
         [end]
         [exec] (Default Printer) {my-default-printer}
         [exec] (HPLIP Toolbox) {hp-toolbox}
         [exec] (Language Support) {gksu /usr/bin/gnome-language-selector}
         [exec] (mintAssistant) {mintAssistant}
         [exec] (mintInstall) {/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintInstall/mintInstall.py}
         [exec] (mintUpdate) {gksu /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintUpdate/mintUpdate.py show 0 &}
         [exec] (Orphaner [libs]) {xterm -e su-to-root -c /usr/sbin/orphaner}
         [exec] (pppconfig) {xterm -e su-to-root -p root -c /usr/sbin/pppconfig}
         [exec] (Printing) {system-config-printer}
         [exec] (Remove orphaned packages) {gksu gtkorphan}
         [exec] (Restricted Drivers Manager) {gksu -D /usr/share/applications/restricted-manager.desktop /usr/bin/restricted-manager}
         [exec] (SCIM Input Method Setup) {scim-setup}
         [exec] (Synaptic Package Manager) {gksu /usr/sbin/synaptic}
         [exec] (User accounts Admin) {users-admin}
         [exec] (Windows Wireless Drivers) {gksu /usr/sbin/ndisgtk}
         [exec] (XFCE 4 mintDesktop) {/usr/lib/linuxmint/xfcemintDesktop/xfcemintDesktop_frontend.py}
      [end]
      [exec] (Aptitude) {xterm -e aptitude}
      [exec] (Bulk Rename) {/usr/lib/thunar/ThunarBulkRename}
      [exec] (Catfish) {catfish}
      [exec] (DSL/PPPoE configuration tool) {xterm -e pppoeconf}
      [exec] (Envy) {envy -g}
      [exec] (GDM flexiserver) {gdmflexiserver}
      [exec] (GDM flexiserver in Xnest) {gdmflexiserver -n}
      [exec] (GDM Photo Setup) {gdmphotosetup}
      [exec] (GDM Setup) {su-to-root -X -p root -c /usr/sbin/gdmsetup}
      [exec] (GNOME partition editor) {gparted}
      [exec] (GtkOrphan) {gksu /usr/bin/gtkorphan}
      [exec] (idesk) {idesk}
      [exec] (Manage Print Jobs) {system-config-printer-applet --no-tray-icon}
      [exec] (Network Admin) {network-admin}
      [exec] (Pstree) {xterm -e pstree.x11}
      [exec] (Services Admin) {services-admin}
      [exec] (Shares Admin) {shares-admin}
      [exec] (Sun Java 6 Plugin Control Panel) {ControlPanel}
      [exec] (Sun Java 6 Policy Tool) {policytool}
      [exec] (Synaptic Package Manager) {synaptic}
      [exec] (Task selector) {xterm -e su-to-root -c tasksel}
      [exec] (Time Admin) {time-admin}
      [exec] (Top) {xterm -e top}
      [exec] (Windows Wireless Drivers) {su-to-root -X -c /usr/sbin/ndisgtk}
      [exec] (X-Terminal as root [GKsu]) {gksu -u root /usr/bin/x-terminal-emulator}
      [exec] (Xfce 4 Task Manager) {xfce4-taskmanager}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Utilities)
      [exec] (Activate ScreenSaver [Next]) {xscreensaver-command -next}
      [exec] (Activate ScreenSaver [Previous]) {xscreensaver-command -prev}
      [exec] (Activate ScreenSaver [Random]) {xscreensaver-command -activate}
      [exec] (bbrun) {bbrun}
      [exec] (Calculator) {gcalctool}
      [exec] (Character Map) {gucharmap}
      [exec] (Conky) {xterm -e conky}
      [exec] (Demo Screen Hacks) {xscreensaver-command -demo}
      [exec] (Disable XScreenSaver) {xscreensaver-command -exit}
      [exec] (Enable XScreenSaver) {xscreensaver}
      [exec] (fbpager) {fbpager}
      [exec] (fbpanel) {fbpanel}
      [exec] (fluxconf) {fluxconf}
      [exec] (fluxkeys) {fluxkeys}
      [exec] (fluxmenu) {fluxmenu}
      [exec] (GTK+ 2.0 theme manager) {gtk-chtheme}
      [exec] (HPLIP Fax address book) {hp-fab}
      [exec] (HPLIP Fax utility) {hp-sendfax}
      [exec] (HPLIP File printing) {hp-print}
      [exec] (Info) {xterm -e info}
      [exec] (Reinitialize XScreenSaver) {xscreensaver-command -restart}
      [exec] (ScreenSaver Preferences) {xscreensaver-command -prefs}
      [exec] (Take Screenshot) {gnome-screenshot --interactive}
      [exec] (Thunar) {thunar}
      [exec] (Xarchiver) {xarchiver}
      [exec] (xfprint4) {xfprint4}
   [end]
   [separator]
   [submenu] (FluxBox)
      [workspaces] (Workspaces)
      [submenu] (Styles)
         [stylesdir] (~/.fluxbox/styles)
      [end]
      [config] (Configure)
      [reconfig] (Reconfig)
      [restart] (Restart)
      [separator]
      [exit] (Exit)
   [end]
[end]



You still haven't answered my PM...



Edit: I forgot to Tell: The first level Menu is by me. Only the rest (titled Mint Menu) is from menumaker. So you can still customize the menu to your own needs

[shane]

Code: Select all

[begin] (FluxBox)
   [submenu] (Development)
      [exec] (BeanShell [text]) {xterm -e bsh}
      [exec] (BeanShell [windowed]) {xbsh}
      [exec] (GDB) {xterm -e gdb}
      [exec] (Python [v2.4]) {xterm -e python2.4}
      [exec] (Python [v2.5]) {xterm -e python2.5}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Editors)
      [exec] (Mousepad) {mousepad}
      [exec] (Vi) {xterm -e vi}
      [exec] (Vim) {xterm -e vim}
      [exec] (xdialog) {Xdialog}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Graphics)
      [exec] (GNU Paint) {gpaint}
      [exec] (GPicView Image Viewer) {gpicview}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Multimedia)
      [exec] (ALSA mixer) {xterm -e alsamixer}
      [exec] (Brasero Disc Burning Application) {brasero}
      [exec] (Exaile Music Player) {exaile}
      [exec] (Gmplayer) {gmplayer}
      [exec] (Gnormalize) {gnormalize}
      [exec] (VLC media player) {wxvlc}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Network)
      [exec] (FireFox) {firefox}
      [exec] (FTP) {xterm -e ftp}
      [exec] (FuseSmb Tool) {fusesmbtool}
      [exec] (LFTP) {xterm -e lftp}
      [exec] (Pidgin Internet Messenger) {pidgin}
      [exec] (Sun Java 6 Web Start) {javaws -viewer}
      [exec] (Thunderbird) {thunderbird}
      [exec] (Transmission) {transmission-gtk}
      [exec] (W3m) {xterm -e w3m}
      [exec] (w3m) {xterm -e w3m /usr/share/doc/w3m/MANUAL.html}
      [exec] (Wicd) {/opt/wicd/gui.py}
      [exec] (XChat-GNOME IRC Chat) {xchat-gnome}
      [exec] (xvncviewer) {xrealvncviewer}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Office)
      [exec] (AbiWord Word Processor) {abiword}
      [exec] (Evince) {evince}
      [exec] (Gnumeric Spreadsheet) {gnumeric}
      [exec] (innotop) {xterm -e innotop}
      [exec] (OpenOffice.org Word Processor) {ooffice}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Other)
      [exec] (Help) {yelp}
      [exec] (NTFS Configuration Tool) {gksu ntfs-config}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Shells)
      [exec] (Bash) {xterm -e bash --login}
      [exec] (Dash) {xterm -e dash -i}
      [exec] (Rdesktop) {rdesktop}
      [exec] (Sh) {xterm -e sh --login}
      [exec] (Terminal) {xfce4-terminal}
      [exec] (Thunar File Manager) {Thunar}
      [exec] (Tilda) {tilda}
      [exec] (Xterm) {xterm}
   [end]
   [submenu] (System)
      [submenu] (Settings)
         [submenu] (GNOME)
            [exec] (Hardware Information) {hal-device-manager}
            [exec] (Keyring Manager) {gnome-keyring-manager}
            [exec] (Network) {gksu network-admin}
            [exec] (Network Proxy) {gnome-network-preferences}
            [exec] (Network Tools) {gnome-nettool}
            [exec] (PalmOS Devices) {gpilotd-control-applet}
            [exec] (Partition Editor) {gksu gparted}
            [exec] (Remote Desktop) {vino-preferences}
            [exec] (Screens and Graphics) {gksu displayconfig-gtk}
            [exec] (Services) {gksu services-admin}
            [exec] (Shared Folders) {gksu shares-admin}
            [exec] (Time and Date) {gksu time-admin}
            [exec] (Users and Groups) {gksu users-admin}
            [exec] (Xfce 4 mintConfig) {xfce4-mintConfig}
         [end]
         [submenu] (Xfce)
            [exec] (Xfce 4 Panel Manager) {xfce4-panel -c}
            [exec] (Xfce 4 Preferred Applications) {exo-preferred-applications}
         [end]
         [exec] (Default Printer) {my-default-printer}
         [exec] (HPLIP Toolbox) {hp-toolbox}
         [exec] (Language Support) {gksu /usr/bin/gnome-language-selector}
         [exec] (mintAssistant) {mintAssistant}
         [exec] (mintInstall) {/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintInstall/mintInstall.py}
         [exec] (mintUpdate) {gksu /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintUpdate/mintUpdate.py show 0 &}
         [exec] (Orphaner [libs]) {xterm -e su-to-root -c /usr/sbin/orphaner}
         [exec] (pppconfig) {xterm -e su-to-root -p root -c /usr/sbin/pppconfig}
         [exec] (Printing) {system-config-printer}
         [exec] (Remove orphaned packages) {gksu gtkorphan}
         [exec] (Restricted Drivers Manager) {gksu -D /usr/share/applications/restricted-manager.desktop /usr/bin/restricted-manager}
         [exec] (SCIM Input Method Setup) {scim-setup}
         [exec] (Synaptic Package Manager) {gksu /usr/sbin/synaptic}
         [exec] (User accounts Admin) {users-admin}
         [exec] (Windows Wireless Drivers) {gksu /usr/sbin/ndisgtk}
         [exec] (XFCE 4 mintDesktop) {/usr/lib/linuxmint/xfcemintDesktop/xfcemintDesktop_frontend.py}
      [end]
      [exec] (Aptitude) {xterm -e aptitude}
      [exec] (Bulk Rename) {/usr/lib/thunar/ThunarBulkRename}
      [exec] (Catfish) {catfish}
      [exec] (DSL/PPPoE configuration tool) {xterm -e pppoeconf}
      [exec] (Envy) {envy -g}
      [exec] (GDM flexiserver) {gdmflexiserver}
      [exec] (GDM flexiserver in Xnest) {gdmflexiserver -n}
      [exec] (GDM Photo Setup) {gdmphotosetup}
      [exec] (GDM Setup) {su-to-root -X -p root -c /usr/sbin/gdmsetup}
      [exec] (GNOME partition editor) {gparted}
      [exec] (GtkOrphan) {gksu /usr/bin/gtkorphan}
      [exec] (idesk) {idesk}
      [exec] (Manage Print Jobs) {system-config-printer-applet --no-tray-icon}
      [exec] (Network Admin) {network-admin}
      [exec] (Pstree) {xterm -e pstree.x11}
      [exec] (Services Admin) {services-admin}
      [exec] (Shares Admin) {shares-admin}
      [exec] (Sun Java 6 Plugin Control Panel) {ControlPanel}
      [exec] (Sun Java 6 Policy Tool) {policytool}
      [exec] (Synaptic Package Manager) {synaptic}
      [exec] (Task selector) {xterm -e su-to-root -c tasksel}
      [exec] (Time Admin) {time-admin}
      [exec] (Top) {xterm -e top}
      [exec] (Windows Wireless Drivers) {su-to-root -X -c /usr/sbin/ndisgtk}
      [exec] (X-Terminal as root [GKsu]) {gksu -u root /usr/bin/x-terminal-emulator}
      [exec] (Xfce 4 Task Manager) {xfce4-taskmanager}
   [end]
   [submenu] (Utilities)
      [exec] (Activate ScreenSaver [Next]) {xscreensaver-command -next}
      [exec] (Activate ScreenSaver [Previous]) {xscreensaver-command -prev}
      [exec] (Activate ScreenSaver [Random]) {xscreensaver-command -activate}
      [exec] (bbrun) {bbrun}
      [exec] (Calculator) {gcalctool}
      [exec] (Character Map) {gucharmap}
      [exec] (Conky) {xterm -e conky}
      [exec] (Demo Screen Hacks) {xscreensaver-command -demo}
      [exec] (Disable XScreenSaver) {xscreensaver-command -exit}
      [exec] (Enable XScreenSaver) {xscreensaver}
      [exec] (fbpager) {fbpager}
      [exec] (fbpanel) {fbpanel}
      [exec] (fluxconf) {fluxconf}
      [exec] (fluxkeys) {fluxkeys}
      [exec] (fluxmenu) {fluxmenu}
      [exec] (GTK+ 2.0 theme manager) {gtk-chtheme}
      [exec] (HPLIP Fax address book) {hp-fab}
      [exec] (HPLIP Fax utility) {hp-sendfax}
      [exec] (HPLIP File printing) {hp-print}
      [exec] (Info) {xterm -e info}
      [exec] (Reinitialize XScreenSaver) {xscreensaver-command -restart}
      [exec] (ScreenSaver Preferences) {xscreensaver-command -prefs}
      [exec] (Take Screenshot) {gnome-screenshot --interactive}
      [exec] (Thunar) {thunar}
      [exec] (Xarchiver) {xarchiver}
      [exec] (xfprint4) {xfprint4}
   [end]
   [separator]
   [submenu] (FluxBox)
      [workspaces] (Workspaces)
      [submenu] (Styles)
         [stylesdir] (~/.fluxbox/styles)
      [end]
      [config] (Configure)
      [reconfig] (Reconfig)
      [restart] (Restart)
      [separator]
      [exit] (Exit)
   [end]
[end]



It seems like menumaker includes a lot of entries that you wouldnt find in a Gnome, XFCE, KDE menu... especially the ones that are run in xterm. I don't know how others feel but i think this clutters up the menu... e.g. why use vi to edit a file when you could just as easily find mousepad in the menu... and if you are one to use vi you'd probably already have a terminal open which would be easier than sifting through a menu.

mfm, on the other hand, parses the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications and generates the menu from there... it also watches this directory for changes and updates the menu accordingly. basically i think this is what Gnome, XFCE and KDE do... so the menu you get is pretty close to their menus... then i added a customizable script to remove entries that we don't want (e.g. a broken entry that totem gives or Java Web Start). On top of that... in mfm you can manually edit the autogenerated and mfm will keep the changes you make.

so i'm leaning towards mfm atm.

oh and mfm has an algortithm to search for icons if you want to have icons in your menu... and i would say it is quite accurate

[Mindhunter2202]

I forgot to exclude the cli apps. This can be done but I was busy at work... And the parameters are not good explained

[shane]

I was looking into the original problem, and I think I found a solution. Put the auto generated menu in it's own file and include it in the menu file. I can post the solution, but if you are going to use menumaker instead of marchfluxmenu (this is a weird name), then I won't bother.

i have modified mint-mfm... by having the generated menu written to a different file... i did some testing on it and it seems to be working fine. thanks to tuluse for his stroke of genius

[EDIT] 9:30 20 May

I have found another problem... mpd, the light weight music player that i am planning to use, has high CPU usage after some time of playback... could some of you with hardy based systems please test it and see if this bug affects everybody. i have found a bug report on launchpad please add to it if you experience the same problem.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour ... bug/221951

you can install mpd (music player daemon) and gmpc (gnome music player client) with:

sudo aptitude install mpd gmpc

then create a link to your music folder using:

sudo ln -s </path/to/your/music/folder> /var/lib/mpd/music/<your-username>

run gmpc, select from the menu bar Music>Connect, then right click on 'Browse Filesystem' and then click Update. This will update mpd's library with the songs you have linked to above. Play around with it and let me know about CPU usage. mpd is supposed to be very lean on resources... usually 1% CPU usage or less for newer systems. I am getting upto 25% on my Sempron 3000+

I have kind of sorted the problem out on my own system by uninstalling PulseAudio. Sound output for the Firefox Flash plugin and totem have not been affected. However, I do not want to remove PulseAudio from MintFB since it is supposed to be the 'next gen' audio server for Linux. Anyways... let me know how it goes.

[invisosniper]

Hey, Love the work your doing. Cant wait to see a test release!...I cant seem to get comfortable in Gnome ever since moving over to your simplified Fluxbox!

Just wanted to say Great Work!

[Nox]

Hi all,

As a fluxbox fan I am looking forward the release of Mint fluxbox CE.
I also appreciate the Marchfluxmenu, yet I also have troubles with the on the fly update of it. Will your share the improvements you made to this tool with the project team so that one can benefit of them independently of Mint fluxbox?

Keep going with the good job

noxenvoyage

[shane]

Will your share the improvements you made to this tool with the project team so that one can benefit of them independently of Mint fluxbox?

Yes for sure I will... Sayan who is the author of the tool is a friend of mine... albeit only online... and I will surely share it with him... I havent seen him on IRC lately... he's probably fed up of me asking him to code stuff for me he did the original exit dialog as well anyway he isn't a big fan of my solution of splitting the daemon into two... He says it would be better to modify the original one to handle the work of both... I think he is right... but I dont know python enough to do that... and he seems busy atm.

on another front, mpd and pulseaudio do not play well together... and not only in Ubuntu based systems... this is because mpd wants to be started after the sound server, otherwise it does not output to it. But mpd is started by a system user 'mpd' whereas the pulseaudio daemon is started in the user session... so that creates a problem. This also means that mpd + pulseaudio = mpd outputting sound only when X is running... which cancels out one of the big pluses of mpd (it plays irrespective of X). I think I am going to revert to ALSA to cater for mpd.

Then, ubiquity is giving some errors during installation... although the installation seems to go well. I must have messed up somewhere. Another problem is that Firefox does not recognize mime types... I am having the same problem in my Xubuntu based installation. There are some other problems though not as big... and they just keep coming anyways... i'll see how it turns out.

for those of you who would like to try out mint-mfm... here is a link to download it

http://www.mediafire.com/?tdctwmyjwjz

this is the state it is in as of now... it is not fully ready... just some minor tweaks left... but it works well and I have been using it for sometime now. After installation, run the user installer:

/usr/lib/linuxmint/mint-mfm/./installer (as normal user)

and then add

sh ~/.mint-mfm/mfmdaemon-starter.sh &

to your fluxbox startup file. You may have to edit ~/.fluxbox/menu to work of your system... the auto generated menu is located at ~/.fluxbox/mfm-menu and your old menu will have been backed up to ~/.fluxbox/menu.mfm.bak . test it and let me know how it works... it is supposed to work even if you edit the autogenerated menu

[exploder]

Edited: misread the post.

[Mindhunter2202]

I just installed mint-mfm. The menu structure is ok. Next things I'll check is install and uninstall some apps and have a look on the menu what happens...
Have you ever tried slim as login manager? I tested it on a pure debian and I think this could be a good solution for the Fluxbox CE. very lightweight and easy to customize...

[shane]

Have you ever tried slim as login manager?

the idea of using a different manager for logging in has come up before... the thing is that applications like mint assistant and mintfb-default-settings depend on gdm... it would mean more to maintain separately from the base mint packages and i dont think gdm taxes so much on system resources as to warrant its replacement. this is why we have stuck to gdm so far.

[shane]

thanks to merlwiz (again!) and to clem.... the Linux Mint 5 Fluxbox CE public beta should be out soon I cant wait!

[invisosniper]

Great News!!! Great Work!!!

[Zwopper]

Very glad to hear this Shane!
Keep up all the good work!!

[darthchaosofrspw]

Because of media players: Have you tried vlc? I use it since years. Vlc plays any media files, because of its own codecs. Also the streaming features and remote controlling per http are very useful things...

The first things I installed on Mint Fluxbox CE was VLC and Rhythmbox. I'm not a big fan of Mplayer or Exaile. And I replaced Gnormalize with Sound Juicer and Grip. And I've also installed Netscape Navigator 9.0.0.3 (found a Debian package) to compliment Firefox. (And it seems to me Netscape Navigator runs better than Firefox. It's a shame Netscape Navigator is no more.)

I also use dial-up when I need it, so I had to install linux-headers-2.6.22-14-generic so I could install a Conexant HSF OEM driver from Dell.

I am freakin' amazed with this distro. All I need is an OS that just works. I don't need any fancy stuff like Compiz Fusion or whatnot. And Mint Fluxbox CE is fast while still presenting a usable interface.

I've already recommended this distro to friends.

[shane]

I have submitted a beta ISO to the internal beta testers here... and we are working to fix the problems we have found... and like i said... the more we look, the more we find but on the brighter side, the problems we find seem to be getting smaller by the day. so it is more like fine tuning and polishing... except a for few that stick out like sore thumbs.

if there is anyone out there who knows python and is willing to help do some coding with the menu please let me know... basically we would like to have the language of the menu change with the system localization settings... i.e. if the user chooses french as the default language, then the menu should be in french... also we're having some problems with the code finding the correct icons for the menu entries.

yeah... so if you know python and got some spare time, drop me a line.

[interested passerby]

Shane,
Thanks for all the updates. It is heartening to hear about all the work that is going on, and to hear that a beta is approaching readiness. Very much looking forward to seeing the results of all your hard work. I think you have some very enthusiastic people waiting to see it. (I hope you are also finding some willing helpers - including a python coder. Sorry that I cannot help there.)
All the best,
ip