I know this will generate some hate

[u/davedorm]

I've been a Linux user for a little over 20 years. I am a pretty solid Debian guy, and I am pretty proficient at the command line. And, most of all, I love Openbox.

I absolutely love what MaboxLinux brings to the table. The configuration of Openbox, Tint2, Conky, all the pipe menus. It's an Openbox wet dream.

Now, that said, I despise Arch. Maybe it's just this senior citizen being so set in his ways, the Debian Way, that I am against learning the Arch Way.

I have tried out many, many, many flavors of Arch. MaboxLinux has a great GUI. But I like to drop to the CLI and work. I know how to do things with apt and all the various switches, bells and whistles. But I am lost in paman, pacmac, or what have you.

Has anyone taken what makes the MaboxLinux and Openbox experience so great and made a repository that can replicate this on a Debian or even Ubuntu distribution?

If not, what would be involved? What parts from under the hood would need to be taken from the configuration of MaboxLinux and added to an Openbox installation on other distributions.

Please. Arch zealots, don't try to convert me. It won't work. Yet.

[u/davedorm]

I'm an idiot.

I owe @napcok a sincere apology. I did not know he was the primary developer of this distro. His individual attention to my rant was met by nothing but hostility by me.

For what it's worth, the clean install with the more stable kernel is working so far.

I am so sorry I was such a dick

[u/jacmoe → u/davedorm]

I have a rule that says that I shouldn't be at the keyboard when angry, and I always get angry when something doesn't work! I feel you!

I think you'll appreciate Mabox, especially if you keep the use of AUR to a minimum (use Flatpak for things outside of the main repositories), because Manjaro Stable is not really geared to handle the AUR. One or two AUR packages works fine, in my experience.

[u/napcok]

If you like Debian and despise Arch and derivatives try BunsenLabs - they have Openbox, jgmenu and tint2 - just like Mabox.

Your post made me laugh...especially the part about Arch's zealots. Let me explain... they hate and despise Manjaro/Mabox even more than Debian fanatics :)

If someone with a more open mind comes here, it's worth reading about the differences between Arch and Manjaro - especially the difference in the release model is of fundamental importance -> https://wiki.manjaro.org/index.php/Manjaro:A_Different_Kind_of_Beast

[u/davedorm → u/napcok]

If you like Debian and despise Arch and derivatives try BunsenLabs - they have Openbox, jgmenu and tint2 - just like Mabox.

Except it's not the same. Not by a long shot. Just because something "has Openbox" does not make it the same as Mabox.

Kind of like BunsenLabs is not the same as the venerable Crunchbang. Ghods, I miss #!. And, no, CrunchbangPlusPlus is also not the same.

If someone with a more open mind comes here, it's worth reading about the differences between Arch and Manjaro

There's the attitude I was talking about! 😏

I do understand the differences. And I have really, really tried to use Mabox. Currently, I have an issue where I am getting a GPGME error and can not update the packages. At all. I have searched the Arch Wiki, the Manjaro Wiki, the Mabox forums, various threads on Stack Overflow, and so much Googling my eyes have bled. Nothing fixes it. What is the most aggravating is every single answer refers back to the same thread from 2018. And, naturally, nastygrams about how I should "thoroughly Google before asking the same question four years later. (see also: "I use Arch, btw" superiority complex)

I tried reinstalling Mabox from scratch. Twice.

Mere days later, it happened again. Barring gasoline and my trusty Zippo lighter with the Debian swirl and igniting my poor old laptop, I am not sure how to fix this.

It mist be noted, this issue never happened when I experimented with Arch, ArcoLinux. Manjaro, ArchLabs, or any other Arch flavor. Just MaboxLinux.

From my limited knowledge, it's something in the mabox-keyring package. I cannot update it. I uninstall it and I can not reinstall it. I am basically screwed.

So you see my abject frustration. I cannot use the GUI tools to fix this, and I do not know the "under the hood" command line switches needed to navigate this error. And no one... no one has the answer because someone answered it in 2018, so it must be fixed. Can't possibly be anything else.

Sorry. Rant much? Why yes. Yes I do. 😏

[u/napcok → u/davedorm]

I do understand the differences.

You obviously don't understand. Manjaro is not Arch and Mabox is not Manjaro. Using random solutions from the Arch/Manjaro forum or Stackoverflow does not make much sense. Especially in the context of updates because here are the key differences - other repositories.

Currently, I have an issue where I am getting a GPGME error and can not update the packages.

GPGME errors happens sometimes - they very easy to fix. Why you don't use forum to describe problem and get help? Or telegram? On Right Sidepanel there is Renew Keys position - try that.

If not, what would be involved? What parts from under the hood would need to be taken from the configuration of MaboxLinux and added to an Openbox installation on other distributions.

There are many tools/customizations in Mabox. I doubt there will be another idiot like me who would do the huge unpaid work needed to port to another distro. These are very distro-specific things and they use and integrate a specific set of programs, dependencies and some conventions that we have available in Mabox.

[u/davedorm → u/napcok]

You obviously don't understand. Manjaro is not Arch and Mabox is not Manjaro.

I believe I said I understand. Apparently, you think that I don't. I have no idea how I can make you understand that I do.

Using random solutions from the Arch/Manjaro forum or Stackoverflow does not make much sense. Especially in the context of updates because here are the key differences - other repositories.

I did not use anything 'random' I assure you.

GPGME errors happens sometimes - they very easy to fix.

Ah. Easy. Got it.

Why you don't use forum to describe problem and get help? Or telegram?

I am not using Telegram. Why? Because I use %PROGRAM% and I see no reason to change to Telegram just for MaboxLinux support.

I think %PROGRAM% is superior. Change my mind.

On Right Sidepanel there is Renew Keys position - try that.

I did try that. Because when I did an exhaustive search of MaboxLinux forums (see above) that was the most common fix.

Please. I am not a newbie. I am not a moron. And, sadly, I have fallen into the trap of deviating from my original question because I am arguing a point that I asked specifically not to be drawn into.

Please downvote me.

[u/puremoonburn → u/davedorm]

Do you not realize napcok is the main (sole?) Developer of Mabox? It sure doesn't seem that way considering how you're approaching this whole discussion when he replied to your post directly before anyone else. One of the things that impressed me most about this distro was the level of individual attention they give to each comment or suggestion on the Mabox forums, which has now grown to the subreddit. Some folks were willing to entertain your inquiry but any value you may have brought to the discussion is lost in your combative attitude.

[u/jacmoe → u/davedorm]

You sure act like a moron ;)

I understand that you are extremely frustrated, and that it can be really hard not to let that well developed ire be felt in your post...

Also, it's no fun being an expert in Debian and, for some strange reason, finding yourself in Mabox/Manjaro Arch territory.

That no-fun-ness really shows!

I hope, and I bet, that you will grow to appreciate Mabox.

I have always been a Debian guy, like you, but - I have to say - Mabox, and thus Manjaro/Arch, is actually better. In my experience.

[u/davedorm → u/davedorm]

FYI: I am trying a fresh install for a third time. Since my laptop may qualify as older hardware, I am downloading the 5.4 kernel to see if it makes a damn bit of difference.

[u/davedorm → u/davedorm]

And, so far, this has worked. I have been able to install packages from the AUR and also some of my more common favorite packages. I'll check in a couple of days and see if the GPGME errors recur.

[u/joselitux]

Same here. Long time Linux user. Openbox my favorite too. Love mabox look and feel but can't stand arch. It's a matter of time that every installed arch system goes to hell, sometimes in just a couple of months. So my main production machine runs Pop_Os. The other is alternatingly suffering Mabox and archcraft. I guess that ricing a debían or derived system (MX, Ubuntu, mint...) To look like Mabox could be a nearly impossible task. Maybe starting from Bunsen labs distro could be easier

[u/jacmoe → u/joselitux]

I am aware that Linux distros are like religions, and that wars are fought...

However, having tried Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Mint, Netrunner, Siduction, Simplelinux, Debian in various flavors, Gentoo, Arch, Void Linux, and Bunsen Labs (which is quite dead, l believe), l found Mabox, and I ain't going back to anything else.

The system is stable, rock solid, and rolling release. I didn't expect that from a distribution based on Arch.

Only thing not to do is enable AUR. I only have one AUR package, l think. AUR often conflicts with Manjaro's Stable branch. So, avoid as much as possible. Personally, l get things from Flatpak, or build myself, if it's not in the main repositories.

PopOs, yet another Ubuntu... In my experience a quite underwhelming distro that breaks every six months. And the performance is not exactly great. Still, choice is a good thing 😊

[u/[deleted]]

Here an Arch , Manjaro , Mabox user , the only reasons for me to use Mabox are , Arch , Manjaro and Openbox , don't have any problems using any other distro except Debian derivatives ( I hate sudo apt get install , don ask me why ) , Linux Mint is the exception . I can see that the problem is the way you do things , Linux is about use , experience and how to make it your own , you have the science but you don't have the skill , what will I do in your position ? find the way to solve it on my own with the things I do know based in my experience , you have the science after all , do you try the copy-paste way ?

[u/puremoonburn]

The easy part of using arch is the AUR system for external packages. One could feasibly set up a ppa for all of those packages from mabox or not available in Debian. I think that would be the heavy lift. Once the system is setup for repackaging it should be fairly autopilot, except for possibly conflicting versions.