Openbox is a lightweight and highly configurable window manager that is often used on systems with limited resources, such as the Raspberry Pi. "obconf" is a graphical configuration tool for Openbox, which allows users to customize their Openbox environment without manually editing configuration files. This article will guide you through the process of installing and using obconf on a Raspberry Pi.

Installing obconf on Raspberry Pi

Before you can use obconf, you need to have Openbox installed on your Raspberry Pi. If you haven't installed it yet, you can do so by following these steps:

1. Update Your System: Open a terminal on your Raspberry Pi and update your package list to ensure you have the latest information on the newest versions of packages and their dependencies.

   sudo apt update

2. Install Openbox: Install Openbox using the following command:

   sudo apt install openbox

3. Install obconf: After installing Openbox, you can install obconf with the following command:

   sudo apt install obconf

Using obconf to Configure Openbox

Once you have installed obconf, you can start configuring Openbox:

1. Launch obconf: You can start obconf from the terminal by typing:

   obconf

   Alternatively, you can find it in your applications menu under the "Preferences" or "System Tools" category, depending on your desktop environment.

2. Customize Openbox Settings:

   • Theme: Use obconf to change the appearance of Openbox by selecting different themes. Navigate to the "Theme" tab and choose from the available options.
   • Appearance: Adjust window decorations, fonts, and other visual settings under the "Appearance" tab.
   • Windows: Configure window behavior, such as focus settings and window placement, in the "Windows" tab.
   • Margins: Set screen margins to reserve space around the screen edges in the "Margins" tab.
   • Dock: If you use a dock, configure its settings in the "Dock" tab.

3. Apply Changes: After making your desired changes, click "Apply" to save the configuration. The changes should take effect immediately.

Practical Example

Here’s a simple example of how you might change the theme and window behavior using obconf:

• Change Theme:

  1. Open obconf.
  2. Go to the "Theme" tab.
  3. Select a new theme from the list, such as "Onyx" or "Clearlooks".
  4. Click "Apply" to set the new theme.

• Adjust Window Focus:

  1. Go to the "Windows" tab.
  2. Under "Focus", select "Focus follows mouse" if you prefer windows to gain focus when the mouse hovers over them.
  3. Click "Apply" to enable this behavior.

Conclusion

Using obconf on a Raspberry Pi allows you to easily customize the Openbox window manager to better suit your needs and preferences. This tool simplifies the process of tweaking Openbox settings without delving into configuration files, making it accessible even for users who are new to Linux.