Configuring and Making Window Maker

Before you start the configuration process, you need to decide where you want to install Window Maker. By default, Window Maker is installed in /usr/local. If you want to change this location, you will have to pass a configure parameter (see below). Additionally, you will have to make sure the path to the Window Maker libraries is in /etc/ld.so.conf. Double check to make sure the path exists in /etc/ld.so.conf, even if you are installing Window Maker to /usr/local. That is, make sure /usr/local/lib is listed in /etc/ld.so.conf.

Widow Maker requires LibPropList to install. Chances are you already have this, if you have GNOME. Double check, and if you do not, acquire and install LibPropList before continuing.

RedHat, Debian, and SuSE users may want too check out the INSTALL file for some possible problems before running ./configure.

Here are some of the basic configure parameters you may want to pass to ./configure:

--prefix=location (--prefix=/opt/wmaker): Change install location to specified.
--enable-sound: Enable sound support (should be default and not need to be specified)
--with-gnome: Enable GNOME support and hints
--with-kde: Enable kde hints
--enable-lite: Remove things that are already supported in desktop environments like Gnome and KDE
--disable-jpeg (png, tiff, gif, or xpm): If you do not want this support

When you are ready simply type:

./configure [options]

If all went well, continue on to the next step. Otherwise, make the changes necessary to configure successfully. Consult the INSTALL file, Window Maker FAQ, or other sources for assistance.

After a successful configure, execute:

make

If make compiles successfully, continue, otherwise resolve the problems.

Now comes the time to install Window Maker. Typically, as root, you would issue:

make install

But there are some other options you can choose. For instance, if you want to strip out the debugging tools, you would issue:

make install-strip

If you want to configure and install Window Make in your home directory only (i.e.; if you do not have access to the root password) then you must do the following:

./configure --prefix=/home/yourhomedir --with-appspath=/home/yourhomedir/GNUstep/Apps
Add /home/yourhomedir/bin to your PATH
Add /home/yourhomedir/lib to your LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable

The final step is to run ldconfig as root (or as user if you did not install as root and have set the proper environmental variable).