Openbox - ulises-jeremias/dotfiles GitHub Wiki

🪟 Openbox Configuration Guide

Openbox is a lightweight and highly configurable window manager that provides a simple yet powerful environment for managing windows in your desktop. With its flexibility and extensive customization options, Openbox allows you to create a personalized and efficient workflow.

[!TIP] Everything in this setup is fully customizable. Whether it's the appearance, keybindings, or behavior — you have full control. All configuration files live in your dotfiles repo, versioned with chezmoi, and changes can be applied with chezmoi apply.

🗂️ Configuration Files Location

Your Openbox configuration files are located at:

~/.config/openbox

These files are managed via chezmoi. To edit them:

chezmoi edit ~/.config/openbox --source ~/.dotfiles

After editing, apply your changes with:

chezmoi apply

And restart Openbox for the modifications to take effect.

🔧 What You Can Customize

  • Window behavior (e.g., focus models, stacking order)
  • Keybindings (move, resize, switch windows, custom shortcuts)
  • Menus (right-click desktop menus, application launchers)
  • Autostart applications (programs that run when Openbox starts)
  • Appearance and theming

📂 Key Configuration Files

  • rc.xml: Main configuration file for keybindings and window behavior
  • menu.xml: Right-click desktop menu definition
  • autostart: List of applications to run on Openbox startup

[!TIP] Use chezmoi diff to preview changes before applying.

🖼️ Graphical Configuration with obconf

To simplify configuration, you can use obconf, a GUI configuration tool for Openbox.

If it's available in your package manager, install it:

# Example for Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S obconf

Then launch it:

obconf

You can adjust:

  • Themes and styles
  • Window decorations
  • Mouse behavior
  • Desktops and workspaces

Openbox Config

✨ Great for quick changes without editing XML files.

🧩 Integration & Tips

  • Use in combination with Polybar, Rofi, and Zsh for a full personalized desktop experience
  • You can dynamically generate menus or autostart entries via scripts
  • Combine with tools like xrandr, feh, or picom for wallpapers, transparency, and compositor support

🆘 Need Help?

If you get stuck or want to learn more:

Unleash the power of Openbox and create a unique desktop environment that reflects your style and optimizes your daily tasks!