Xmonad/Basic Desktop Environment Integration

Using Desktop Environment Config Modules

The following modules from xmonad-contrib make it easy to start with good basic defaults to work within the given desktop environment. Make sure both the xmonad and xmonad-contrib packages are installed and of the same version. These modules set up better communication between xmonad and taskbars or status bars through extended window manager hints (EWMH's), bind the default key for gap toggling, and rebind run and logout keys to sensible desktop environment defaults.

You will still need to set up your session management and tell your desktop environment (DE) to use xmonad as described in the DE specific documents on Xmonad, but the following will take care of getting xmonad's part of the puzzle working with a useful default configuration.

Once your desktop environment is ready to use xmonad, placing the appropriate version below in ~/.xmonad/xmonad.hs will ensure xmonad is ready to work with the DE.

An xmonad.hs for xfce

import XMonad
import XMonad.Config.Xfce

main = xmonad xfceConfig

An xmonad.hs for Gnome

import XMonad
import XMonad.Config.Gnome

main = xmonad gnomeConfig

An xmonad.hs for KDE

import XMonad
import XMonad.Config.Kde

main = xmonad kdeConfig
    -- or for kde 4 (> xmonad-0.8*, darcs xmonad)
    -- xmonad kde4Config