I run Arch Linux with Gnome and i3. I like the idea of running a lightweight, lightening fast system so would like to get rid of Gnome and just use i3. However, when I uninstall Gnome and reboot, I arrive at the tty1 login. From there I can't (or haven't figured out how) to start up i3. In uninstalling Gnome I uninstall gem (which is large) and so don't have a desktop manager. Can I run i3 only? How do I boot straight up into i3?
When you are deleting Gnome you most likely deleting something called GDM which is a DM or Display Manager that lets you choose which kind of DE (Desktop Environment) or WM (Window Manager) you want. I suggest you install GDM or LightDM which is another DM and that should make it work.
i recently decided to ditch the DM. heres how it worked: if you have a file called .Xsession in your home directory add the line "exec i3" without the quotes. if u do not have the file .. create it. then from your TTY just type "startx" .. without the quotes .. i have ONLY i3 installed, i do not know how this will work if u have other WM's or DE's installed, for that you would likely have to look into default Xsession ... i found this here: wiki.ubuntu.com/CustomXSession. section titled: Anatomy of a simple X session script
good luck and use the force luke =)
slim is another good DM or there is always the trusty startx script
Asked: Nov 9 '13
Seen: 1,706 times
Last updated: Dec 02 '13
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Thanks, installed LXDM and it works now.