Re: Installing/running X11

Hi Paul,

 > Step 9: pkg install xorg
 >
 > This is weak at *best*. Obviously, I did this. And according to almost
 > *every* other advisor I've read, there are more packages which need to be
 > installed, as I indicated in my original message.

There are twelve steps on that page. Maybe keep reading before hitting 
Reply?

 > Perhaps you underestimate my level of experience.

My apologies; I should have said "given your level of experience with 
FreeBSD".

 > I've been running Linux exclusively since 1996.

Coming from someone who didn't know about `ssh -vvv` and/or how to parse 
its output (or look up re how to do so), this is... quite a surprise.

I won't take up any more of your time. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Cheers,
Alex


On 2024-02-03 17:45, Paul M Foster wrote:
> On Sat, Feb 03, 2024 at 05:01:43PM +0100, Alexander Burke wrote:
> 
>> Hi Paul,
>>
>> Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I'm starting to get the feeling that you
>> might not have paid as much attention to the wealth of documentation on
>> FreeBSD as perhaps you could have. There's nothing wrong with just diving
>> in, but a bit of guidance in unfamiliar waters is never a bad thing!
>>
>> The most general/basic advice is here; in this case, jump to step 9:
>> https://freebsdfoundation.org/setting-up-a-desktop-environment-from-scratch/
> 
> Step 9: pkg install xorg
> 
> This is weak at *best*. Obviously, I did this. And according to almost
> *every* other advisor I've read, there are more packages which need to be
> installed, as I indicated in my original message.
> 
>>
>> Going up a notch in detail is the excellent FreeBSD Handbook. The Desktop
>> section has separate subsections for the KDE, GNOME, XFCE, MATE, Cinnamon,
>> and LXQT desktop environments. Look around for reviews and screenshots and
>> pick one; they are listed here in approximate descending order of
>> popularity:
>> https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/handbook/desktop/
> 
> And of course, this was the first place I looked, since the handbook
> *should* be the definitive guide. Needless to say, despite following the
> advice there, X is not starting properly for me.
> 
>>
>> I also cannot speak highly enough of vermaden's fabulous blog, which has
>> generally been my first or second port of call when I had questions before I
>> turned to the mailing lists. Here's his page collating all of his entries
>> regarding setting up a FreeBSD desktop:
>> https://vermaden.wordpress.com/freebsd-desktop/  (scroll down past the
>> screenshots)
>>
> 
> Been there, too. Vermaden is the one who details hacking the X11 configs
> manually, unlike everyone else. And according to every other source, this
> really shouldn't be necessary. I don't want to go there unless I have to.
> 
>> There's also the FreeBSD Forums, which are very searchable:
>> https://forums.freebsd.org/
> 
> This could take a while...
> 
>>
>> Given your level of experience, I recommend sticking to packages, and not
>> touching the port system. You can explore the various packages which exist
>> at Freshports:
>> https://www.freshports.org/
>>
>> Important to remember is that packages are simply precompiled ports. They're
>> a lot easier to deal with than ports.
>>
> 
> Perhaps you underestimate my level of experience. I've been running Linux
> exclusively since 1996. And I'm aware of the difference between packages
> and ports. That's in the manual, early on.
> 
> Paul
>