kewl: A session manager for X Windows. LEGAL STUFF =========== kewl is Copyright (C) 2002 Arron Cusimano . This README file is also Copyright (C) 2002 Arron Cusimano (execpt the bits written by the FSF ie 3 paragraphs below). This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA DESCRIPTION =========== The Kewl Session Manager provides a nice menu that allows you to choose which window manager, program, or script you wish to launch for the session after logging in. It uses Tcl/Tk and is designed for people that can not settle on one window manager or desktop environment. (thanks for the edit freshmeat) USAGE ===== refer to it in your .xsession file eg echo exec kewl > ~/.xsession; chmod u+x ~/.xsession double click on your choice. the logout button will log you out. Complex stuff hey? CUSTOMIZATION ============= edit ~/.kewl/menu.data or /etc/kewl/menu.data menu.data format: # this line is a comment ( it starts with hash # ) %This is a description line ( it starts with percent % ) command_to_exec_don't_use_spaces_or_it_won't_work %Next line will fail because it contains spaces. xterm -font 5x7 -g 40x5 %This is a better way ~/bin/my_xterm_script CONTACTING THE AUTHOR ===================== Please send all patches, comments, suggestions, and/or bug reports to Arron Cusimano . I can be reached via paper mail at the following address. Arron Cusimano Santa's Estate, Elf barracks North Pole, Planet Earth Blah, blah, blah... =================== kewl is pronunced like cool, but with a k instead of c, and long oo soud. Debian (I'm using sarge/testing:20021210, but I'm sure this applies to woody) has a problem in that it considers KDE2 a session manager (I don't know about Gnome, I dont use it). This is ok with me, but leads to this: winter-storm:~# update-alternatives --config x-session-manager There is only 1 program which provides x-session-manager (/usr/bin/kde2). Nothing to configure. What I have a problem with is that I can't choose none, & xsm isn't even an option! (I'm pretty sure xsm comes as a std tool with XFree86). I use xdm (not kdm) & want to run blackbox (this session anyway), this is as close as you get to a choice: winter-storm:~# update-alternatives --config x-window-manager There are 4 alternatives which provide `x-window-manager'. Selection Alternative ----------------------------------------------- + 1 /usr/X11R6/bin/icewm * 2 /usr/bin/blackbox 3 /usr/bin/xfwm 4 /usr/bin/wmaker Enter to keep the default[*], or type selection number: Problem is, now that I've chosen blackbox, the startup scripts still start KDE2! The scripts will always prefer a SM to a WM. I can create an .xsession file, & put blackbox in there, but what about in 2 hours time when I want to run icewm? I dont want to keep editing .xsession, logout, login again, very tirsome.