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I have installed a new operating system with no GUI desktop environment at all because 99% of my programs don't use a graphical interface, but I would like something basic for the remaining 1% of my programs that use a graphical interface. No menu, no top bar, just the bare minimum to have a graphical program running in it.

I was hoping for something like LXDE but without all the bloatware.

karel
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Olof
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    I was hoping for something like LXDE but without all the bloatware. – Olof Oct 11 '16 at 10:29
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    Maybe this is useful: [Start ubuntu without a desktop environment but start an X application](https://askubuntu.com/questions/310671/start-ubuntu-without-a-desktop-environment-but-start-an-x-application) ? – Jonas Czech Oct 11 '16 at 10:34

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You can get more lightweight than LXDE by using just a window manager like fluxbox, openbox, i3-wm or awesome from the default Ubuntu repositories instead of a desktop environment.

To install Fluxbox and a few additional packages like in the below screenshot, open the terminal and type:

sudo apt install lightdm xorg fluxbox catfish eterm hsetroot xloadimage fbautostart fbpager wm-icons
sudo reboot

enter image description here

karel
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  • Openbox is great, doesn't have that steep of a learning curve too. I've used for quite some time on my old Toshiba L455D. There's also Blackbox, from which i believe Openbox was derived. Also quite a lovely choice – Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy Nov 13 '16 at 12:38
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I would recommend that you check out the i3wm (i3 window manager). Apps fill the screen by default, and it is highly customizable. Here is a good tutorial.

CennBuie
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