Workstation Setup on MathLAN (Fall 2018 edition)

Each summer, MathLAN workstations are updated to reflect new releases of software for the Linux operating system and for other packages. For several years, much of this work could be done behind the scenes, and most MathLAN users likely did not notice many differences.

In August 2013 and again in August 2018, however, the desktop environment changed for most users.

• August 2013:
  • Although the GNOME 2 desktop environment had been used for years and had served well, GNOME 2 was not longer supported by Debian/GNU (the principle distributors of our Linux software).
  • Instead, GNOME 3 replaced GNOME 2, but GNOME 3 did not work as well for our purposes.
  • Thus, MathLAN users were encouraged to use XFCE as their desktop environment.
• August 2018:
  • MathLAN could choose from several themes which created basic appearances and capabilities each time they log in.
  • The default theme was set to Paper rather than XFCE, providing several lovely capabilities. However, the Paper theme generates large numbers of warning messages when users run certain operations, such as an editor. These warnings clutter one's workspace to such a degree that they disrupt normal program development. Thus, the Paper theme does not seem viable for CSC 161.
  • The XFCE theme is still available, although with some constrained capabilities. Although the limitations are less than optimal, working within the XFCE theme still provides the capabilities needed for CSC 161. Thus, MathLAN users are still encouraged to use XFCE as their desktop environment and theme; set up is as described below.

Getting started with Linux and XFCE

The Linux operating system provides several default themes that allow users to choose basic appearances and capabilities each time they log in. In this course, it turns out that the XFCE theme has several advantages. The following steps are suggested as you begin with the new XFCE desktop environment.

1. Logging on: As part of the login process, you should check that you are specifying the XFCE environment. Use the drop-down Session menu to specify XFCE Session. After you first log in, the system may remember XFCE for the future, but you can specify XFCE explicitly, if necessary.

2. Setting a Theme for the Front Panel

   • Click on the "Applications Menu" icon (a small animal on a blue "X" and the word "Applications") at the bottom of the screen.
   • Click on "settings" and then "Appearance"; a new Appearance window will appear.
   • Within the "Style" tab, Select the "XFCE Terminal" option from the drop down menu.
   • Within the "Icons" tab, select the "Tango" option.
   • click the "Close" button at the bottom of the "Appearance" window.

3. Open a Terminal Window

   • After Step 2, you may see an image of a monitor at the bottom of your screen. If so, click on the image to open a terminal window.

   • Alternatively, you can add a terminal emulator to the front panel of your screen:

     • Move your mouse to a blank part of the strip at the bottom of your screen, click the right mouse button. select "Panel", and "Add New Items".
     • On the new options window, select "Launcher", and click "Add". A new, rectangular icon will appear at the right edge of the menu panel.
     • Click "Close" in the "Add New Items" pop-up window.
     • Move your mouse to the new, rectangular icon on the right edge of the menu panel, click the right mouse button, and select "Properties".
     • Click the "+" sign, and find "Xfce Terminal" in the list of applications.
       • Several "Terminal" options are available, so choose carefully.
       • When you hold the mouse over the "Terminal" option, check that the pop-up text reads "/usr/share/applications/xfce4-terminal.desktop".
       • Click on the "Xfce Terminal/Terminal Emulator" option, and click "Add".
     • With the "Terminal/Terminal Emulator" option added to the Launcher window, you may click "Close".

4. Setting the terminal window for black letters on a white background: By default, the XFCE terminal will display white lettering on a black background. Although this contrast may work for some, and you are free to use whatever coloring you like, I strongly prefer black letters on white (just as on most printed pages). Use whatever coloring you want.

   To change the color of fonts and backgrounds, follow these steps:

   • Open a terminal window.
   • Under the "Edit" menu at the top of the window, choose the "Preferences" option.
   • Click on the Colors tab.
   • Click on the color box next to "Text color" box to display a full palette of colors.
     • Use the color name "#000000" for black text (or use the color options to select a color you like).
     • Click OK.
   • Click on the color box next to "Background color" box to display a full palette of colors.
     • Use the color name "#FFFFFF" for white background (or use the color options to select a color you like).
     • Click OK.
   • If you want to select a smaller or larger font size, click the "Appearance" tab within the "Preferences" menu. The default font is "Monospace", and the default size is "12" point font. Click on "12" to obtain an extensive menu of font styles and sizes.
     Note: You must use a monospace font for all code submitted for this course.
     CSC 161 Work submitted in a variable-width font will not be graded!

created 14 August 2013 updated 14 August 2013, 20 January 2014 refined and reformatted 10 March 2016 updated 28 August 2018
For more information, please contact Henry M. Walker at walker@cs.grinnell.edu.