14. Initial Configuration

Upon the first (successful) start, ~/.NsCDE, that is $FVWM_USERDIR is created, and only icons subdirectory is created as fvwm-menu-desktop is run. User will be presented with a first run NsCDE setup wizard in plain default xterm terminal emulator and with default color theme Broica in 8 colors. If Gkrellm and pnmixer programs are installed, on the system and found, they will be run too. Stalonetray and Dunst will be run if installed and enabled by the user during the wizard process. Stalonetray and Dunst colors and fonts will be handled internally by Color Style Manager and Font Style Manager when theme or font is changed and the same goes for Gkrellm, rofi, Firefox, Thunderbird or any 3rd party program integrated with NsCDE color and font theme.

Initial setup wizard is a simple script ($NSCDE_DATADIR/bootstrap) from the terminal which will run automatically and will set up the following:

Figure 64. NsCDE first time setup (bootstrap)

NsCDE first time setup (bootstrap)

There are more options in $FVWM_USERDIR/NsCDE.conf which can be edited after first setup finishes, and during the desktop operation.

Note that no file from the above list will be overwritten if it already exists in it's place. It will be skipped, but GTK and Qt theme integration files will be edited with $NSCDE_TOOLSDIR/confset to change theme and settings. This settings can be further edited with Color Style Manager, or with the tools from other desktop environments. After bootstrap script finishes setup, Color Style Manager will be run and user asked to confirm default theme or change it. Do not avoid this step, because some program bits are not fully setup if local user configuration uses fallback bare defaults, (like a clock background) and must be generated in the ~/.NsCDE/icons/NsCDE directory.

After Color Style Manager's OK button is pressed, theme will be regenerated. Gtk and Qt themes will be regenerated only if their checkboxes in Color Style Manager are checked in. This is default since NsCDE 1.0. Setup script after the finish will ask user to press RETURN to exit. This is for user's convenience to read output of the setup for informative and/or diagnostic reasons. It is advised that after this setup $FVWM_USERDIR/NsCDE.conf is opened and further edited, for example InfoStoreAdd internal FVWM variables for terminal, browser, docsbrowser, taskmgr, printmgr to user's favorite programs for mentioned functions.

Layout of the $FVWM_USERDIR after the initial setup should look like this:

It is advised to logout and login from the X session after finishing initial setup and check if everything looks ok. Also, it is a good idea to start using programs from the menu and examine environment around, before customizing Subpanels, and Front Panel, running Style Manager (2nd button right of the Workspace Manager on the Front Panel) to customize other aspects of the interface. NsCDE is now ready for everyday work.