On Sun, Jun 10, 2007 at 10:33:43PM -0600, Telly Williams wrote: > Hi, > > I'm currently using the Gnome Desktop environment. As I learn to > use Linux/GNU more, I find that I want to slim down my computer as much > as possible. Hence, I would like to use just a window manager instead > of a full GUI. Is it possible to revert (maybe, apt-get remove gnome) > my GUI and simply use a window manager, or will I need to do a complete > reinstall? Will removing the GUI (Gnome) break my system? Are there > any links on the web that anyone has that discusses this issue? Thanks. > ~Telly The *nix system is layered: console or text apps frame-buffer apps [add X server] x based apps [add tool kits like gtk or qt or kde...] gnome,kde, and other apps
if you remove X and various higher bits, you still have fb and console apps. Its always good to know the 'commandline' when X has trouble. then there is session management and interoperability, a display manager, and window management: 'gnome' include: X, a display manager(gdm), a window manager(metacity), a session manager and various toolbars and inter-related programs and tools. you can remove or replace various bits: you can: replace the WM (metacity) with a lighter one like twm change the desktop environment(remove gnome and replace it with xfce) disable or remove the display manager(gdm) and use startx (at the console) Also, desktop environments also run various memory intensive ´services' that add to the overall memory footprint. So use 'ps -A f' to see all those beasties. -- | .''`. == Debian GNU/Linux == | my web site: | | : :' : The Universal |mysite.verizon.net/kevin.mark/| | `. `' Operating System | go to counter.li.org and | | `- http://www.debian.org/ | be counted! #238656 | | my keyserver: subkeys.pgp.net | my NPO: cfsg.org | |join the new debian-community.org to help Debian! | |_______ Unless I ask to be CCd, assume I am subscribed _______|
pgpLvB6VeEAca.pgp
Description: PGP signature
