Desktop Art Via apt-get
 

I am now offering my art in debian packages and am now in the process of creating complete desktops and packaging them. The vast majority of my art is designed for KDE desktops on debian distros so this was the logical way to go. I decided that just providing the components and then making you put them together manually is unsatisfactory. To download and install any updated packages is equally onerous and too hard to keep up with. It is time to take advantage of the greatest strength of debian: apt repositories

I will eventually package most things and will be attempting to provide entire kde desktop themes available from the Theme Manage and the startup artwork available in the rest of the control centre.
I will not be overiding your fonts because everybody has their own preference in that regard. This will mean (all going according to plan) that you can select a different aesthetic in the Theme manager and just keep working without major disruption. See below for detailed instructions.


  Debian Based Systems  
 

su
wget -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cathbard.list http://cathbard.com/files/cathbard.list
gpg --keyserver wwwkeys.eu.pgp.net --recv-keys 4E3866DB
apt-key add /root/.gnupg/pubring.gpg

 



Ubuntu Based Systems

 
  sudo wget -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cathbard.list http://cathbard.com/files/cathbard.list
gpg --keyserver hkp://subkeys.pgp.net --recv-keys 4E3866DB
gpg --export --armor 4E3866DB | sudo apt-key add -
 

 

 


Now just do an apt-get update and you can start installing via apt get.
If you place apt:/search?cathbard in the location field of konqueror you will see all my packages. Bookmark it now and you can see at a glance what's new everytime you run an apt-get update. From there it is a simple matter of using “apt-get install”to install anything of interest .
(you need to have kio-apt installed to use apt:/ in konqueror)

 

 


Installing Kthemes

Always start by running an apt-get update. This will ensure that the package you are installing is the correct one. This is true any time you install anybody's debian packages via apt-get.

I shall use the sidux Eros Wings theme as an example.
Open a konsole and type:

 

 

su
apt-get update
apt-get install cathbard-ktheme-sidux-eros-wings
apt-get install cathbard-wallpaper-sidux-eros-wings (* - see below)
 

 


Now go into the KDE Control Centre and select Eros Wings in:

Appearances & Themes -
. . . . . . . . Theme Manager
. . . . . . . . Splash
System Administration -
. . . . . . . . KDM Theme manager (#)
. . . . . . . . Login Manager > Background (*)

(* - the wallpaper is embedded in the theme (usr/share/apps/kthememanager/themes/CathbardErosWings/wallpapers/desktop) but if you install cathbard-wallpaper-sidux-eros-wings it will be in the system wallpapers folder (/usr/share/wallpapers) as well which is much easier to find.) Some kthemes have these as a dependency and eventually all will.
(# - if you have no KDM Theme Manager, install it with apt-get install kdmtheme)

If you want a matching skin just go to apt:/search?cathbard in konqueror or search for cathbard in a package manager. I will be expanding the site to show what is available via apt-get but at the moment I am too busy creating the full themes and packaging them up.
Installing a skin makes it available but not active. You will need to activate it in whatever skin browser or settings manager that particular application uses.

Package Format

The packages are named according to category, distro (if relevant), and name.
Packages named:
- ktheme will bring in the entire theme except for application skins. It will also suggest the other relevant packages. You will still have to select the ksplash, kdm and login background in kcontrol to turn those on too but they should be in there. Everything else changes as soon as you apply the theme in the Theme Manager.
*hint* save your current theme in the theme manager (using "Create New Theme") if you don't want to lose it. Kthemes change quite a few settings
- kde pacakages just contain kdm, ksplash and colour scheme. Ktheme packages will install these automatically so you may never need to manually install one of these.
- wallpaper debs install the wallpaper to the system wallpaper folder (/usr/share/wallpapers). They are not needed for the all kthemes to work but it does make it easier than digging around the theme folders when setting the login background or manually applying the wallpaper to something. Later kthemes have these as a dependency. Eventually this will be true of all (if I get around to it)
- Icon sets are installed system wide. Kthemes will also bring these in as dependencies
- Amarok themes are installed system wide. Suggested colour schemes are in the description in the deb and in a readme in the theme folder (/usr/share/apps/amarok/themes/theme-name)
- Xmms themes are installed in /usr/share/xmms/Skins. You may have to add this folder in the skin browser in xmms. Then you just have to click on that folder and select the skin
- Audacious themes are installed system wide. Once installed they will be available in the appearances section of the preferences menu.

 

 
   
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