FVWM: fvwm startup procedure

[Ethan Raynor]

Hey there,

I am looking at trying to understand how fvwm loads its configuration
file. Am I correct in thinking that some settings are hardcoded in
fvwm? Are there any files which are read before my .fvwm/config file?

TIA,

Ethan

[Ethan Raynor]

On Wed, Jun 10, 2015 at 11:53 PM, Jaimos Skriletz
<***@boisestate.edu> wrote:

Hi Jaimos!

> Read the man page under INITIALIZATION for a complete description of the
> start up procedure and how fvwm looks for its config file. Basically it
> looks in a few places (including old standards) then defaults to a minimal
> config which is equivalent (afaik) to having a blank config file.

Are you the same person who wrote the fvwm beginners guide? If so,
thank you so much for that! Yes, I've read the INITIALIZATION section
in the man page. That part I understand. I wasn't asking so much about
the files fvwm looks for which a user might define, but more trying to
understand the bits which come before it.

For example, there must be a file somewhere which has some key
bindings for default things, or some function definitions, etc., for
alt-tab. Is that true? I was wondering where this is documented, if
at all.

Thanks!

Ethan

[Ethan Raynor]

On Thu, Jun 11, 2015 at 12:20 AM, Thomas Adam <***@fvwm.org> wrote:
> On 10 June 2015 at 23:56, Ethan Raynor <***@gmail.com> wrote:
>> For example, there must be a file somewhere which has some key
>> bindings for default things, or some function definitions, etc., for
>> alt-tab. Is that true? I was wondering where this is documented, if
>> at all.
>
> http://fvwmforums.org/wiki/Tips/FVWMStartupProcedure/

Wowza! This document is amazing! Is there some reason why most of
this isn't referenced in the man page, may I ask?

Ethan

[Dan Espen]

Ethan Raynor <***@gmail.com> writes:

> On Thu, Jun 11, 2015 at 12:20 AM, Thomas Adam <***@fvwm.org> wrote:
>> On 10 June 2015 at 23:56, Ethan Raynor <***@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> For example, there must be a file somewhere which has some key
>>> bindings for default things, or some function definitions, etc., for
>>> alt-tab. Is that true? I was wondering where this is documented, if
>>> at all.
>>
>> http://fvwmforums.org/wiki/Tips/FVWMStartupProcedure/
>
> Wowza! This document is amazing! Is there some reason why most of
> this isn't referenced in the man page, may I ask?

I agree, really nice.

Except for where Thomas talks about function setRCDefaults,
I think you'll find it all in the man page.

The tutorial style is good for explaining how all the
parts work together.

The man page is meant to be a complete reference.
This means you have to find all the pieces.

--
Dan Espen

[Ethan Raynor]

On Thu, Jun 11, 2015 at 1:21 AM, Dan Espen <***@verizon.net> wrote:
> I agree, really nice.
>
> Except for where Thomas talks about function setRCDefaults,
> I think you'll find it all in the man page.
>
> The tutorial style is good for explaining how all the
> parts work together.
>
> The man page is meant to be a complete reference.
> This means you have to find all the pieces.

Hi Dan,

I can understand that, but I think it's difficult to always be able to
piece together the information from the man page. The tutorial was so
helpful for things like a file structure layout, and the differences
between InitFunction and StartFunction.

If I give some thought, would a patch be useful to the man page to
perhaps add in some more useful information from this tutorial post?

Thanks!

Ethan

[M***@gmx.de]

> Gesendet: Freitag, 12. Juni 2015 um 02:54 Uhr
> Von: "Thomas Adam" <***@fvwm.org>
> An: fvwm <***@fvwm.org>
> Betreff: Re: FVWM: fvwm startup procedure
>
> On Fri, Jun 12, 2015 at 01:39:34AM +0100, Ethan Raynor wrote:
> > If I give some thought, would a patch be useful to the man page to
> > perhaps add in some more useful information from this tutorial post?
>
> Maybe. But remember that you shouldn't try and dump the information
> from that mailing list message into the man page. I'm not sure how much
> of it is useful for the man page, but I'll await your patch first of
> all.
>
> -- Thomas Adam
>
> --
> "Deep in my heart I wish I was wrong. But deep in my heart I know I am
> not." -- Morrissey ("Girl Least Likely To" -- off of Viva Hate.)
>

I have a supplementary idea. Some man pages have a 'see also' section
at the bottom. Why not just add a 'see also' section to the FVWM man
page and add the URLs to some useful other pages there?

Another Quote (Dan Espen):
> The man page is meant to be a complete reference.
> This means you have to find all the pieces.

With just the 'see also' section, the man page could
make it easier for the reader to find all the other
relevant pieces.

- Michael -