openbox

lightweight, highly configurable window manager

TLDR

Start Openbox

$ openbox

Start as session manager

$ openbox-session

Reconfigure without restart

$ openbox --reconfigure

Restart Openbox

$ openbox --restart

Exit Openbox

$ openbox --exit

Replace the currently running window manager

$ openbox --replace

Openbox is a lightweight, highly configurable window manager. It's known for its minimal resource usage, standards compliance, and extensive customization through XML configuration.Openbox can run standalone or as the window manager for desktop environments like LXDE.

PARAMETERS

--reconfigure

Reload configuration.

--restart

Restart Openbox.

--replace

Replace running WM.

--exit

Exit the running Openbox instance.

--config-file file

Specify the path to the configuration file to use.

--sm-disable

Do not connect to the session manager.

--startup cmd

Run the specified command after startup.

--debug

Display debugging output.

--debug-focus

Display debugging output for focus handling.

--version

Show the version and exit.

--help

Show command line options summary and exit.

CONFIGURATION FILES

$ ~/.config/openbox/
├── rc.xml        # Main config
├── menu.xml      # Right-click menu
├── autostart     # Startup applications
└── environment   # Environment variables

KEY BINDINGS EXAMPLE

$ 
<keybind key="A-Tab">
<action name="NextWindow"/>
</keybind>

INSTALL

sudo apt install openbox

sudo dnf install openbox

sudo pacman -S openbox

sudo apk add openbox

sudo zypper install openbox

nix profile install nixpkgs#openbox

CAVEATS

No built-in panel or taskbar. Requires manual configuration. Use with panel (tint2, polybar) for full desktop.

HISTORY

Openbox was originally a fork of Blackbox, rewritten by Dana Jansens starting in 2002 to provide a modern, standards-compliant window manager.