A distro and desktop environment recommendation for an old laptop (Read all of it, please.) ( kbin.social )

IceTree , 11 months ago

If you still want something lighter than XFCE you can try a window manager like dwm. It’s really light and you can customize the entire things by modifying the source code. If you just wanna customize simple things (color, font, key binds, etc.) you can edit a neat little file called config.h

Hope this helps!

density , 11 months ago

OP says

I am a beginner

and doesn't mention that they are a C programmer or anything. It is extremely unlikely that OP

can customize the entire things by modifying the source code

because it is extremely unlikely they would have any idea as to how to do such a thing. How many people, on earth, in total, can set up, run, and edit the source file of a tiling window manager? Now remove from that value those who are existing linux users. Functionally 0%.

This person wants to start using linux, is asking very simple questions. They are asking here which suggests they do not have a deep and rich existing network of people in their life to provide 1-on-1 support. Otherwise they'd ask one of their many sysadmin friends for individualized advice. You are suggesting to them something which takes a pretty wide diversity of skills and knowledge. And since the specific thing you are suggesting is a window manager, when they can't figure out how to use it, they will be unable to use their computer.

I wouldn't advise a beginner start with vim on day 1, but at least if they did they'd still be able to use the computer for things other than text editing. And find a different text editor while they learned vim.

This is stunningly bad advice, verging on sabotage. Why do you want people to hate linux?

IceTree , 11 months ago

In a way I did say if he wants something “lighter” than XFCE. I should have said “You have to start with something like XFCE, gnome, etc. Just to get your the general feel of linux” Then if you wanted something lighter you can try dwm.

He can easily install dwm, or any other wm and choose it from his log-in page. If he doesn’t like it he logs out and chooses another ones that suits him well.