Ubuntu Hardy

This is based on the Ubuntu_Gutsy guide.

1) Make sure your system is up-to-date, then install the build-essential package.

$ sudo apt-get install build-essential

2) Next, install the development packages required to build awesome.

$ sudo apt-get install libx11-dev libxinerama-dev libxrandr-dev libcairo2-dev libpango1.0-dev libimlib2-dev

3)Get libconfuse from Ubuntu Intrepid (unreleased at the time of writing)

http://packages.ubuntu.com/intrepid/i386/libconfuse0/download

http://packages.ubuntu.com/intrepid/i386/libconfuse-dev/download

And install it

$ sudo dpkg -i libconfuse*.deb

5) Download awesome and build and install it.

tar -xvzf awesome-2.3.xxx.tar.g
./configure --enable-gtk
...bunch of output...
make
sudo make install

6) Create an ~/.xinitrc file and link it to ~/.Xsession

Create ~/.xinitrc with the following contents:

#!/usr/bin/env bash
xsetroot -solid black &
exec /usr/local/bin/awesome

Create a link to ~/.xinitrc and link it to ~/.Xsession:

ln -s ~/.xinitrc ~/.Xsession

7) Now, when you're in the login screen (aka gdm), select 'Sessions', and switch to 'Xsession' from the list. This will run your .xinitrc script.

GNOME and awesome

Chances are, however, you still want to use some parts of GNOME with awesome. You can do this! I have the following entries in my ~/.xinitrc:

gnome-screensaver &
gnome-settings-daemon &
gnome-power-manager &

Note: when editing your .xinitrc, always make sure 'exec awesome' is last.

If you want to use NetworkManager, you need to get a tray. I've been using stalonetray which is a lightweight tray to display applets. You can simply apt-get it.

$ sudo apt-get install stalonetray

stalonetray &
nm-applet &

Note: when editing your .xinitrc, always make sure 'exec awesome' is last.