How to use iDesk to build a lightweight desktop on Linux

From ArticleWorld

If you are using an older computer, chances are you are slightly tired of the huge memory requirements that desktop environments like KDE or Gnome have. If you have used Unix for a long time, you are probably not bothered by using window managers like FVWM or 9wm, which take very little memory, but are not too friendly for Windows users.

However, these may not be an option if people used to Windows (like, why not, children at your local school) have to use those computers. Using iDesk along with a fairly low-profile window manager and a panel, you can build a familiar environment for them.

iDesk can add clickable icons on the desktop, which will act just like their Windows counterparts. Here is how to use it.

Procedure

1. First, obtain iDesk. You can get it from http://idesk.sourceforge.net if your distribution does not offer binary packages, or if it does, but the packages are outdated. You will have to build it from sources if you obtained it from the website.

2. Get some icons. The Tango project ( http://tango.freedesktop.org/Tango_Desktop_Project ) offers some fairly good looking icons with a consistent look.

3. Edit iDesk's configuration files (.ideskrc). Each user has one in their home directory. This contains general configuration aspects, like the font and color used for the text below the icons. iDesk's documentation explains this in detail, and you can also find a sample in iDesk's README file.

4. Create a folder in your home directory named .idesktop. This is where icons will be stored in individual files with a .lnk suffix. Details are also included in the documentation. The files will mostly look like this one:

table Icon
  Caption: Xemacs
  Icon: /usr/share/idesk/icons/xemacs.png
  X: 63
  Y: 800
  Command[0]: xemacs
  Command[1]: xemacs ~/.idesktop/xemacs.lnk
end 

5. Start iDesk from a shell prompt at first, to test it. If everything is fine, you can add it to your xinitrc file.

6. Get a low-memory window manager, like IceWM (also provides a panel), Windowlab or maybe Fluxbox. If the window manager does not come with a taskbar-like panel, you can use fspanel. You will obtain a fairly Windows-like desktop, but with less memory requirements.