Minimal Installation of Ubuntu

I like ubuntu because the best part of it is the availability of applications on the main, universe and multiverse repos and the ease at which you can install them. Also applications just work!! in Ubuntu.

But since i own a P3 700mHz PC, a whole gnome desktop or kde desktop would cripple the system unable to run eclipse(my fav ide) and other dev stuffs.

For this i use Openbox+fbpanel, which makes a great combination.
I also install Ubuntu the commandline way, which gives me very much flexibility withouth the whole ubuntu default packages.

Here is how i do it usually

a) put the DVD version of the kubuntu and boot from it.
b) select install a command line system
c) go on with the installer until we have a good commandline system working.
d) now its time to pull up custom picked packages from the dvd. The following packages should be enough to have xserver working
1) sudo apt-cdrom add
This will add ur dvd to apt
2) sudo aptitude install kdm
3) sudo aptitude install ttf-indic language-pack-ne firefox xorg upsplash kwin konqueror kdecore kubuntu-default-settings kubuntu-artwork-usplash amarok pidgin kaffeine libxine1-ffmpeg sun-java krusader msttcorefonts gnome-icon-theme k3b kpdf gwenview openbox openbox-themes fbpanel kde-systemsettings kmix kate

Will take some time to install, i wonder if ur video card driver is installed, should be install, paitience

kdm should load fine and u can select openbox as ur default session.

initally u will only see a blank screen possibly with kubuntu wallpaper, right click and u will see openbox menu. No to integrate fbpanel into it, we will write 2 linex in openbox config

4) Right click and exit, load a session in kde and check ur home
bibek@monster:~$ cd ~/.config/openbox/

5) if there is a file called autostart.sh modify it else create it
bibek@monster:~$ kate ~/.config/openbox/autostart.sh
inside autostart.sh, i have these 2 lines

(sleep 2 && fbpanel) &
(sleep 2 && kmix) &

Save and exit
this will run fbpanel and kmix after ur openbox, logout of ur kde session and log in in openbox session, there should be fbpanel and kmix both.

To make ur work even easier, u can define openbox short cuts as i've defined them,
Inside /home/username/.config/openbox u should see a rc.xml file which has configurations for openbox. Open the file for editing and search for
Now before paste the following code. Read the code the understand what they will do, makes my day to day life much easier.

<!-- custom shortcuts -->
<keybind key="W-F12">
<action name="Execute">
<execute>firefox</execute>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-F11">
<action name="Execute">
<execute>xterm</execute>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-F10">
<action name="Execute">
<execute>pidgin</execute>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-F9">
<action name="Execute">
<execute>/home/bibek/bin/eclipse/eclipse</execute>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-F8">
<action name="Execute">
<execute>krusader</execute>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-F7">
<action name="Execute">
<execute>amarok</execute>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-F6">
<action name="Execute">
<execute>kaffeine</execute>
</action>
</keybind>
<!-- end of custom shortcuts -->
Cheers