How to Install & Configure SLIM login manager on Archlinux

If you want to install alternative login manager that light weight and simple, you can try SLiM. SLiM is a Simple Login Manager. SLiM is simple, lightweight and easily configurable. 

SLiM does not require the dependencies of GNOME or KDE and can help make a lighter system for users that like to use lightweight desktops like Xfce, Openbox, and Fluxbox. 

SLiM is a Desktop-independent graphical login manager for X11, derived from Login.app .

It aims to be light and simple, although completely configurable through themes and an option file; is suitable for machines on which remote login functionalities are not needed. Features included:

• PNG and XFT support for alpha transparency and antialiased fonts
• External themes support
• Configurable runtime options: X server, login / shutdown / reboot commands
• Single (GDM-like) or double (XDM-like) input control
• Can load predefined user at startup
• Configurable welcome / shutdown messages
• Random theme selection

Official Sites: http://slim.berlios.de/

Installation on Archlinux.

$sudo pacman -S slim slim-themes archlinux-themes-slim

After you install slim, now configure your .xinitrc

$nano ~/.xinitrc

For this example, lxde as defaults desktop environment.

DEFAULT_SESSION=startlxde

case $1 in
lxde)
exec startlxde
;;

kde4)
exec startkde
;;

anotherdesktop)
exec startanotherdesktop
*)

exec $DEFAULT_SESSION
;;

esac

Anotherdesktop you can change to another desktop environment. Set xinitrc to executable.

$chmod +x ~/.xinitrc

Enable slim

$sudo systemctl enable slim

If you have another login manager, disable it first.

Configuring SLIM, all configuration is on /etc/slim.conf

$sudo nano /etc/slim.conf

1. Auto Login.

Find this line

# default_user simone

And

# auto_login no

Uncomment all of them (remove #), change simone to your username, change "auto_login no" to "auto_login yes"

This will automaticly login with default desktop.

2. Change Default Desktop.

See the .xinitrc configuration above.
change the DEFAULT_SESSION=your choosen desktop session
Here for the list:
awesome
dwm
startfluxbox
fvwm2
gnome-session
openbox-session
startkde
startlxde
startxfce4
enlightenment_start
for the example, openbox-session

DEFAULT_SESSION=openbox-session

3. Choose Desktop Environment at login

Open /etc/slim.conf, find this line.

sessions icewm-session,wmaker,blackbox
Add desktop that you have installed, make sure you have added the exec on .xinitrc, then on login press F1, to switch another desktop environment.

For this example.
See on .xinitrc, that bolded text below.

lxde)
              exec startlxde
              ;;
kde4)  
              exec startkde

the bolded text, is lxde and kde4 so to add lxde & kde4 on sessions.

sessions lxde, kde4, icewm-session,wmaker,blackbox
Save, then reboot to try.

4. Change themes on Archlinux.
The themes is located on
/usr/share/slim/themes

$cd /usr/share/slim/themes
$ls

You will see listed themes,
For this example the themes that i want to add is archlinux.
So to add archlinux.

$sudo nano /etc/slim.conf

Find this line.

current_theme default

Change default to archlinux

current_theme       archlinux

Then save, Reboot to see the changes.

To preview themes.

$slim -p /usr/share/slim/themes/themename

Here's some themes of slim on archlinux:

Default

Archlinux

Archlinux Darch Grey

Archlinux Retro

Capernoited

For another themes, see by yourself.
Enjoy.