Introduction

If installing Venom Linux from official iso, default Venom use slim as display manager to start openbox session for simplicity. There are other display manager in the repo like lightdm, lxdm and sddm.

Starting window manager or desktop environment through slim

slim display manager read ~/.xinitrc file to start certain program and wm/de upon starting X server. Create ~/.xinitrc contains this line:

exec ck-launch-session dbus-launch --sh-syntax --exit-with-session ~/.startx

• ck-launch-session required consolekit2
• dbus-launch required dbus

Then create ~/.startx file to include other program to start along with your wm:

# place any program you like with ending '&'
feh --no-fehbg --bg-fill ~/Pictures/wallpaper1.jpg &
sleep 2 && picom -c -r 7 &
/usr/lib/polkit-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1 &

# replace with any wm you like. without ending '&'
dwm

Make ~/.startx executable by running:

chmod +x ~/.startx

Replacing Display Manager

I'm assuming slim is your current display manager. You can replacing display manager on the fly without rebooting your machine. First install display manager your choice. I use lxdm as example.

• install lxdm

$ sudo scratch install lxdm

• replace slim to lxdm service into DAEMONS variable in /etc/rc.conf to make it start on boot

$ sudo vim /etc/rc.conf

(at this point you can just reboot)

• stop slim then start lxdm in one line command

$ sudo /etc/rc.d/slim stop && sudo /etc/rc.d/lxdm start

Then you should be welcomed by lxdm login. Make sure you save all your work before doing this.