CrunchBang Linux Forums » CrunchBang Talk » Openbox vs XFCE?
^ Xfce, has a right click dynamic menu. Easy to maintain but can also be customised to some extent if needed.
wow beautiful!
looking foreward to try your DTX-live iso omns 
I am not a programer and I wonder if it would be
possible to implement an openbox-like right-click menu
into XFCE?... and if anybody has heared of an attempt to do that
might be just a dream cause I like XFCE but do not want
to miss my right-click menu
I am now back using my Debian 'testing' with Xfce ... finally customized/compiled to where I want it to be.
While I love Xfce and the Xfce panel, and yes Xfce does have a nice 'dynamic right-click menu'
.... I still miss my Openbox Menu
I have, also, downloaded the SqueezeBang LiveCD ... and I am loving the stableness of Debian 'testing' AND Openbox.
Great job to the Dev of this #! version.
Last edited by vrkalak (2010-03-02 04:38:52)
My main issue with Openbox, if I have one, is not really about Openbox, it is about the lack of a _solid_ compositor to use with it. I have always had stability problems with xcompmanager. Xfce solves this, its built-in compositor is rock solid with regards to stability.
I'll just tip in with my "the first time I saw #! I was at home. newer so with xfce desktops". But seriously - why whould I need compositing? I don't have it enabled - and unless it can solve my problems with adobe AIR - I don't see any reason why a stacking wm wont do?
(though It's interesting that omns and corenominal are ao happy with xfce)
+1 for openbox.........it's more customizable more straightforward than XFCE, and also I always disable compositing
Obviously, everyone has some (personal) point of view.
IMO, #!CB style, Openbox and apps are identity of #!. With light, minimal look (speed), but rich app, codecs feature it's very uniqe.
For XFCE we already have Zenwalk, Xubuntu, .. out-of-the box.
I don't use compositing at all ?! That is a part of minimalism of CB#!.
As much as I love to CB#! stay with Openbox, I understand that changes are natural. So, we'll see.
Regards!
I found no noticeable difference on my ancient Dell Dimension whether using Openbox, LXDE, or Xfce. All seem to be equally responsive and snappy on it.
Xfce is much more configurable than LXDE at the moment. Xfce allows other kids to use the "community computer" with no coaching on my part, and it has everything I loved about Openbox plus the "friendly" interface.
Development of LXDE is going along really fast, and I'll revisit it around the end of this year or the start of next year. By then, at the rate it's growing, it could well challenge Xfce for the top spot in the "lightweight d e" competition.
-Robin
Xfce+ubuntu was my first linux experience, right up to shifting to Crunchbang a couple of months ago. #! was the perfect opportunity to try openbox, as 90% of the tweaking had already been done for me. (Thank you! ) Now using Thunar instead of pcmanfm and xfdesktop to draw my indispensible icons...
My twopennorth:
xfce:
*runs slightly slower on old hardware, especially startup time
*uses more memory, especially with a lot of panel plugins
*much easier to configure, especially for less techy people
*somewhat nicer looking
*xfce's compositing seemed a bit cpu-heavy, and I didn't like the drop-shadow as much as xcompmgr's
*it's impossible to customize the menu at present
*session management was annoying me - I was getting multiple conky's starting up because it was in my auto-startup script, so every time I restarted I got another one added by xfce-session 
*on the other hand, turn off keeping sessions and the verve command line's history was empty, likewise "recently used" files...
*Thunar is a very nice file manager!
openbox:
*low memory use (check htop!), and quick startup
*of course very tweakable
*pipe menus are very interesting
*with xdotool you can get a dropdown menu from any launcher/deskbar/panel
*the windows are usually not quite as pretty as xfcewm's, but the #! themes put that right with a vengeance, especially with a bit of xcompmgr's dropshadow
*generally it just keeps out of the way
Personally, I'd rather keep openbox, but I can see the user-friendliness of xfce could be a plus.
It could also depend on whether you install the whole xfce meta-package with the startxfce script, or just selected parts with a custom #! configuration.
*it's impossible to customize the menu at present
Its less customizable (than Openbox) and doesn't have a GUI app or simple file, but I would not call it impossible.
You can easily add new .desktop files in /usr/share/applications or ~/.local/share/applications. And if you want to hide an entry (instead of remove) you can just edit the .desktop file and make sure it has "NoDisplay=true" in it.
I think that alot of crunchbang's popularity comes from it being an openbox based ubuntu derivative.
If changing to xfce, though undoubtedly it would be faster, #! would come into competition with xubuntu, at least with new users.
^ I think it's important to remember that CrunchBang isn't about popularity. I've always seen it as being about experimentation and exploring new ideas and concepts. This has built a community of like minded souls. The efforts of many of our members to create #! style, distros, scripts and applications is evidence of what this place is all about
If we see another CrunchBang release I don't think it will matter if it is Xfce or Openbox / Debian or Ubuntu. Either way people will take it, play with it, make it what they want and share their efforts. Therein lies the magic of CrunchBang 
I
If changing to xfce, though undoubtedly it would be faster, #! would come into competition with xubuntu, at least with new users.
Not if they went to a Debian Testing base! The direction that Ubuntu is going is not where I would wish to follow anymore. It has nothing to do with Yahoo or Microsoft or Mono or any of that stuff. It has much more to do with Ubuntu's increased use of buggy, experimental crap by default. Xubuntu is a sweet little Xfce distro if it works. But on more and more older computers - the "market" that Xubuntu is supposedly meant for - the newer versions have hardware issues and updates cause major problems.
Whether Openbox or Xfce or LXDE or anything else, an Ubuntu base is increasingly likely to be a buggy, unstable one IMO.
Now just to show how seriously I feel about that... I've ordered a (Xubuntu-based) Linux Mint 7 Xfce CD to try out, lol! I heard from people I have come to trust, that it is absolutely stellar, the best Xfce distro in the history of ever... so naturally, gotta give it a spin!
-Robin
I agree with briantm on one thing: Openbox made me try CrunchBang and I think it is one of its unique features.
There are distros with LXDE but not standalone Openbox.
I agree with briantm on one thing: Openbox made me try CrunchBang and I think it is one of its unique features.
There are distros with LXDE but not standalone Openbox.
It is a valid point.
Dixie, the 8th version of Mint XFCE is expected to arrive next week
Dont know how stupid this is, and it has been done in the past with #!, 8.04 I think. But what about both being installed by default and being able to choose which one at login?
Or a script to choose which one to install during the installation procedure.
Or 2 different iso's. lol
Sorry corenominal I think I'm doubling your workload.
I agree with briantm on one thing: Openbox made me try CrunchBang and I think it is one of its unique features.
There are distros with LXDE but not standalone Openbox.
+1
anonymous wrote:I agree with briantm on one thing: Openbox made me try CrunchBang and I think it is one of its unique features.
There are distros with LXDE but not standalone Openbox.
It is a valid point.
+1 
My point, exactly
I have used both, and overall, I have had better performance, speed and ease of use with Openbox. I like them both, but Openbox is definitely more lightweight and speedy, imo.
Dixie, the 8th version of Mint XFCE is expected to arrive next week
I'm late as usual, lol. I wonder if I'll need to order another CD, or if there is a way to upgrade from Mint 7's Xfce edition?
-Robin
I haven't kept an eye on upgrading from jaunty to karmic, but I guess on clean install there should not be serious problems, of course, you could always find information about that on mint's forum
Openbox says it is standards compliant. Mqybe more so then xfce? If so - should it be important?
(as per wikipedia thoose standards would be icccm an ewmh)
^ I think it's important to remember that CrunchBang isn't about popularity. I've always seen it as being about experimentation and exploring new ideas and concepts. This has built a community of like minded souls. The efforts of many of our members to create #! style, distros, scripts and applications is evidence of what this place is all about
If we see another CrunchBang release I don't think it will matter if it is Xfce or Openbox / Debian or Ubuntu. Either way people will take it, play with it, make it what they want and share their efforts. Therein lies the magic of CrunchBang
+1 I'll say that the best value in #! is precisely it's community, very focused, helpful and friendly. We seem always to be thriving to the next best improvement for the community focus, the best desktop environment we can have, with a lot of sharing involved and the experimentation and exploring you've mentioned. Man, how did Philip did it?!
Man, how did Philip did it?!
I'm telling you, He is THE ONE!!! He is THE CHOSEN ONE!!! He is ....
Just kidding - damn, it is so springish over here - so sunny and beautiful! I've seen birds coming back from over sea - it is spring time&lets have fun!
I agree with briantm on one thing: Openbox made me try CrunchBang and I think it is one of its unique features.
There are distros with LXDE but not standalone Openbox.
To me, I didn't knew Openbox until I tried #!, but the lean ease and simplicity of #! backed by the power of Openbox made me stay with it. So I'll say that yes, it's one of its unique features, and probably why it's best know for. Could it be the same with pekwm? Or xfwm? Or...? Who knows!
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