#1 How to create a custom Linux GUI (Desktop) from scratch

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The base Ubuntu I installed is the Ubuntu MinimalCD. You can find the ISO here:

To install all the packages I'm using "sudo apt install" and the packages I install, in the order I install them are:

lightdm
openbox-gnome-session
openbox
gnome-terminal
obmenu
gedit
tint2
docky
nitrogen
ubuntu-wallpapers
pcmanfm
lxappearance
xcompmgr
firefox
pavucontrol
volti
gconf-editor

While this is "almost" from scratch, I have no intention of truly going completely from scratch, AKA, compiling the kernel etc. So many things go wrong! LOL

[Doriandotslash]

This video is now the top result in Google when your search "Create custom Linux desktop"! Thanks for all the likes and subscriptions guys and gals!

[TheSensationalMr.Science]

these are the pieces of a Desktop Environment:
1. Display Server [dispay API] {X11(Xorg) or Wayland}
2. Login Manager (Display Manager) [manages display and login] {lightDM}
3. Window Manager [manages app windows/boxes... like your browser] {openbox, i3, awesome}
4. Panel (task bar) [the application dock where you pin apps] {polybar, lemonbar, tint2, docky, etc.} (13:40 if you haven't noticed on the bottom a panel and dock are the same)
5. Menu (where the power options are) [the right-click menu, the "main" menu, the panel menu] {OBMenu (edits openboxes menu), Rofi}
6. compositor (fancy vfx, windows aero) [controls opacity of windows and their animation for various buttons like minimize, expand, and close] {picom, xcompmgr}
7. Notification daemon [the thing that controls notifications in panel] {dunst}
8. Wallpaper and Icons (Personalization) {nitrogen (wallpaper), lxapppearance (icons)}

now for audio you need an audio server as well
Jack(pro-audio edit work), PipeWire(new kid trying both), PulseAudio(just-works)

command & = run in background (allows you to use terminal freely)

Terminal, Browser, File Manager and task manager are yes part of a user OS, but are more personal preference and also easier to find.
eww by elkowar is a widget tool also for those interested

Hope you have a great day & Safe Travels!

[christianhemingway]

this is awesome, it actually teaches you how to do it from scratch

[mrcxlinux]

When i was just starting linux i didnt understand a thing now im an expert and make this even better!

[defectivenull]

this video is awesome, it's a good starting point for people who want to really break the mold when it comes to gui customization, especially because since this released there's been a bunch of other ones that just teach people how to make it more like windows. I would appreciate a sequel though, one that tells you how to make some of the more outlandish stuff you'd see from win7's litestep

[mythicalgalaxy]

Amazing! Thanks for this dude. Been trying to learn things like this for a while!

[nightwolf]

Man this was great thank you for taking the time to make this video

[kyanilcauli]

This is exactly how you set up any window manager only desktop environments (dwm, i3, qtile etc). This is a very good general tutorial.

[topher]

Awesome video thinking about installing Linux on my main PC so this will help a bunch!

[clementpoon]

Thank you, now I can add my own desktop environment into my custom U-OS!

[profetik]

After all these years, finally learn how to get rid of that docky icon lol great vid. Also used for ASMR for sleep, double win lol

[mikemacdonald]

Nice! Very much appreciate the video.

[KaloyanNachev]

I'd use Gnome instead of "openbox". But that is just a preference. The only mistake you made was saying "gedit" wrong. Fantastic video, continue to support the linux community!

[havoc]

Best video yet, thanks. I also do realize this is a bit out dated, but every thing that has changed is an easy fix :)

[piyushigarg]

Sir, After rebooting, I am still getting terminal asking login .. not a seperate bar as displayed in video at 6:45 . What should I do?

[aidan]

If this was music, I would have said: "You will never realize how many Darude Sandstorms I went through to get here."

[pcutilities]

thanks for the tuto he help me a lot to make my system👍

[NotcardNotLive]

this might be a little old, but this got me into openbox wm (which is still my favorite), thanks!

[xX_BeamCRASH_Xx]

my question is, can you use your very own icons? like you make them in photoshop and then you convert them to .ico or whatever format linux uses (sorry, I dont know that much about linux please dont harass me)
also can you have custom backgrounds?

[EdiFerreiranet]

For the ones that don't know!!! If you remove the tint2 settings icon from the taskbar and you want to use it - just run tint2conf on the terminal...