UCOM is a minimal computer graphical user interface. It is written in Python and uses Xlib via the Python X Library.

Xlib is an X Window System protocol client library written in C. It features functions for interacting with an X server. The Python X Library is an X client library for Python programs written in Python.

screenshots

setup

Setup, update and removal scripts are provided by ucomsys.

running

running in a new X session (via login)

This can be set up using ucomsys. In order to make UCOM available as session option at login, the file UCOM.desktop should be added to the directory /usr/share/xsessions. Its contents should be something like the following (with changes to the user name and directories as necessary):

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=UCOM
Comment=UCOM -- X11 desktop environment
Exec=/usr/bin/python /home/user/ucom/ucom.py
Icon=/home/user/ucom/images/icon_ucom.png
Type=Application

running from an existing X session

To manually run UCOM in an X server from within an X server session, start a new X server on display 1 (as opposed to display 0). To do this, engage another teletype (tty) device (Ctrl Alt F1) and enter a command such as the following:

running in Xephyr X server

UCOM can be tested using Xephyr.

sudo apt-get -y install xserver-xephyr

UCOM can be run in Xephyr in a way such as the following:

Xephyr -screen 1024x768 -br :1
DISPLAY=:1 python ucom.py

xinit /usr/bin/python /home/user/ucom/ucom.py -- :1

usage

To focus on a window, hover on it. To bring a window to the foreground, right-click it. To move a window, right-click it and drag. To open a new terminal, press Alt Enter.

useful programs

Some programs are of particular use with UCOM.

Maximus

Maximus is a program that is designed to maximise the windows of running programs. It can be useful for clarity and for efficient use of space.

ranger

Ranger is a text-based file and directory manager written in Python.

future

Window resize and tiling capabilities are under consideration.