[HOWTO] Install Labwc on existing Mabox system - DON'T

Labwc
1

DON’T DO THAT unless you’re an expert and like to configure everything by yourself, and deal with bugs.

At this phase is really better to play with Qemu.
See: How to test Mabox Labwc pre-release iso with Qemu (Quickemu)

Note: Do not try this if you use NVIDIA card -seems broken

Few steps:

  1. Update system:
yay -Syyuu
  1. Install needed files:
yay mabox-labwc-files
  1. Use mb-reset script to copy needed config files into your home directory:
    Four commands:
mb-reset labwc
mb-reset labwc-theme
mb-reset mabox-labwc
mb-reset waybar

  1. Logout ( super+x → Logout)

  2. In LightDM select labwc or Mabox-labwc session and log in

  3. Click on desktop and select from the menu “Regenerate menu”

Have fun :slight_smile:

Mabox_20241229-08-48-21
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Mabox_20241229-08-49-15
Mabox_20241229-08-49-151600×932 86 KB

Mabox_20241229-08-52-58
Mabox_20241229-08-52-581600×932 109 KB

Mabox_20241229-12-24-35
Mabox_20241229-12-24-351600×900 48 KB

1 Like
2

Hi @napcok .

Not working for me yet.

When i login labwc. The desktop is not reponding. No mouse.

When i click or do something with keyboard, an unclear/distorted boxie in the middle of the screen appears. Looks like workspace switch.

I had to reboot and go into tty and edit my lightdm.conf to not auto login, and change back to openbox.

Note:
If you have your lightdm session to auto login.
Change it first to manual login before login to labwc.
So it is easier to switch when things are not going like it should.

:bird:

Some info

Not sure if graphic card has influence…
video-nvidia 2024.05.03 false PCI
video-nvidia-470xx 2023.03.23 false PCI
video-linux 2024.05.06 true PCI
video-modesetting 2020.01.13 true PCI
video-vesa 2017.03.12 true PCI

       video-linux            2024.05.06                true            PCI

ps : @napcok if you need more system info, to get a better picture, let me know.

3

Do you use Nvidia card?
The whole thing is experimental.
Briefly tested in Qemu and one laptop (without Nvidia) - works fine here.

1 Like
4

Yes i use Nvidia.

:+1:

I will have some read about labwac and nvidia.

:bird:

5

Link to trouble shooting Nvidia.

Did not try this yet. But my firts thing [cursor part] to look at for next try.

:bird:

6

They didn’t mentioned that, but for NVIDIA you also need to enable modesetting. Add this kernel parameter:

nvidia-drm.modeset=1

And general rule: newer NVIDIA drivers = better work with Wayland and less hacks to make it works :wink:

2 Likes
7

Does this imply that for an old labtop with nvidia you might as well forget wayland?

8

Not quite

  • 390xx don’t support Wayland at all, you must stay with X11 or use nouveau
  • 470xx support Wayland, but it’s buggy and in some situations every day usage on Wayland may be unpleasant
  • 550xx and newer - should work very well especially since 555xx series (which didn’t arrived to Manjaro and Mabox yet)
  • nouveau - works with all NVIDIA gpus (especially with older ones), supports Wayland very well but this is inefficient driver not for gaming or GPU tasks.
1 Like
9

Well, for the moment I will leave this for those who have the time and experience to play.
I have noticed a competition between Wayland and X11 as Systemd vs No Systemd.
I wish for a day when we put egos to one side in pro of making a better Linux suitable for everyone.
Best of success

10

@napcok ,

Testing Labwc mabox.
fresh install. mb-reset all.

Issue: sfwbar not starting up.

Error :

Trace/ Breakpoint trap (core dumped)

Panel not starting with mabox.config file.

:bird:

11

Fresh install from which ISO?

12

hmmm no. i had openbox only. followed the instructions from forum to install on excisting system.

:bird:

13

No, no, no. Better to not waste time for installing pre-release ISO on real hardware. Bugs are expected at this phase.

You might try to install sfwbar-git

yay sfwbar-git

Thos two pre-release ISOs and configurations available in the repo at the moment are really basic - more for experiments than to real use. Tomorrow I will publish new iso - this time with some goodies :wink:

1 Like
14

Just did that. Got the git version. :slight_smile:

That helps with config dir present… :bird:

15

I deleted it because i knew of course. :crazy_face:

16

I updated my first post as presently is really better to play with pre-release iso using Qemu.
How to test Mabox Labwc pre-release iso with Qemu (Quickemu)

17

Testing 1,2,3…

  • Firefox missing: hide, fullscreen buttons.

  • wallpaper done with waypaper - mpvpaper.

:bird:

18

To start Mabox with Qemu i needed to use the following.

quickemu --vm mabox-labwc.conf --mouse tablet

Because my mouse at the right border flipt out to early to host.

:bird:

19

labzwans
labzwans1280×800 255 KB

1 Like