Starting CDE with startx

[cardpuncher]

Hi,

After getting used to NetBSD a bit on sdf.org, I compiled and installed
CDE 2.5.1 (Common Desktop Environment) from the CURRENT branch after
downloading its tarball on NetBSD 9.3 amd64. The only remaining thing is
to be able to launch it with startx and for that, I think I have to
modify the ~/.xinitrc file.

Right now, the relevant line has
exec /usr/X11R7/bin/ctwm -W

CTWM is nice but I would like to give CDE a try. What should I put in
there? Thanks in advance.

[someone]

Your post got me curious as I had spent many an hour using CDE on Sun
Sparcs back in the 90s. Anyways, it took a bit of fiddling to get CDE
to work on my 9.3/i386 VM instance but I finally did.

Take a look in /usr/pkg/share/docs/cde/README.netbsd ; it lists several
additional steps needed after installing the package. Note that for the
/etc/hosts entry you need to replace "hostname" with your actual
hostname. I made as similar entry for ::1 (IPv6). If you want to get an
xdm(1)-like login you'll need to add 'dtlogin=YES' in /etc/rc.conf;
DON'T enable both xdm and dtlogin. In ~/.xsession (dtlogin option) or
~/.xinitrc (startx option) just put 'exec startcde' and make the file
executable (chmod 751 <file> seems to work).

I think that covers everything I did. I did notice some text in
/usr/pkg/dt/bin/Xsession saying to run (as root) the following:

#echo allowed_users=anybody' >> /usr/pkg/etc/X11/Xwrapper.config

The file has to be created first; probably it's not needed.

So all that and... yup, CDE is just as ugly as I remember. ;)

Be warned, there is no support for your pointer's scroll-wheel and
locking the screen is a dead end with the default configs; perhaps the
CDE wiki can be some help there.

Have fun!

[cardpuncher]

On 23.02.2023 07:44, someone wrote:

> Your post got me curious as I had spent many an hour using CDE on Sun
> Sparcs back in the 90s.  Anyways, it took a bit of fiddling to get CDE
> to work on my 9.3/i386 VM instance but I finally did.

CDE just landed on the CURRENT branch and there are no binaries for it
yet. Hopefully things will improve with time.

> Take a look in /usr/pkg/share/docs/cde/README.netbsd ; it lists several

> additional steps needed after installing the package (...)

Thank you! I commented out
exec /usr/X11R7/bin/ctwm -W
and put
exec startcde after the registering by hand the information mentioned on
/usr/pkg/share/doc/cde/README.netbsd (just note, it's /doc/ not /docs/).
At the beginning I got an error message, but launching rpcbind did the
trick and it's working like a charm now. Thanks again, I couldn't do it
without your help.

> I think that covers everything I did.  I did notice some text in
> /usr/pkg/dt/bin/Xsession saying to run (as root) the following:
>
> #echo allowed_users=anybody' >> /usr/pkg/etc/X11/Xwrapper.config
>
> The file has to be created first; probably it's not needed.

Even the /usr/pkg/etc/X11/ directory doesn't exist, so indeed I think

it's not needed.

> So all that and... yup, CDE is just as ugly as I remember. ;)

Hehe, it's at least functional. You don't need to install extensions
that break at each upgrade to get a basic desktop working. Function over
form. I like it :)

> Be warned, there is no support for your pointer's scroll-wheel and

Hm, it's working. You just need to get your pointer near the windows'
borders.

> locking the screen is a dead end with the default configs; perhaps the
> CDE wiki can be some help there.
>
> Have fun!

Heck yes! Thanks again!