[SOLVED] How to Add a Tray in herbstluftwm

Hi Keshav, have you already visited
https://herbstluftwm.org/
and watched
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO8X3VJuo6E

herbstluftwm is a very interesting manual tiling window manager for the X window system.

I wouldn’t call it “easy” at all. The configurations and methods are unorthodox, to say the least.
I’ve never really mastered it myself but I have tried it a few times.

What I would say is that for certain people who have a medium to highly complex set of use cases – work flow – in that case it can become an extremely useful window manager indeed, but the individuals who look for it are already prepared to do interesting things with it.

My “kind suggestion” is that if the https://herbstluftwm.org/ page and the video were too complicated for you, chances are high that this is not the right environment for you.

In that case, we still have multiple window managers that do well. I’ve recommended IceWM for a long time. Why? It’s reasonably efficient, yet you can pretty much use it as is and it works fine. But even if you want to configure it, the text editable configuration files are fairly easy to grasp; for the complete novice, that’s not even necessary.

JWM is an excellent window manager too; these days it’s arguably more efficient than IceWM; my only quibble with it is that the window manager configurations, though they can be edited just like IceWM, they’re a bit strange; I’ve had to look up their details every single time I use it, so that’s my only concern about JWM; otherwise it’s excellent and VERY efficient.

Fluxbox is another excellent choice. For old timers who are used to middle button or right button clicks, Fluxbox is another really efficient choice; that’s the only quirk with Fluxbox; the mouse key button functions probably could be altered, but the newcomer wouldn’t know how to make the changes.

Are you seeing the pattern why I’ve recommended IceWM for so long? It’s not that the other window managers are deficient; each one of them has some very compelling features. But if you are a novice, keep IceWM around and use it until you are prepared to read, learn, experiment and gain experience with one or more of the other window managers. THEN, and only then, will they provide an enjoyable experience; I claim they are TOO MUCH for the novice, ESPECIALLY for people who have used computers running a Microsoft style of computing. Even someone familiar with a Chromebook would struggle with anything other than IceWM unless they’re the type of individual who is willing to read, perhaps spending hours, even days or weeks, learning something new – in that case I’d urge that type of person to go out, read, study, practice, get stuck, go back, dig, work, learn, until you’re the EXPERT on one of the alternative interfaces. We DO have such people here, but again, unless you’re one of them, stick with IceWM please.

https://herbstluftwm.org/faq.html#_hint_don_8217_t_restart is another interesting article for those interested in herbstluftwm.

“but me asking in this forums for help is supposed to be part of this process isn’t it?”

Incorrect. We’ve already given you all the knowledge we happen to have handy.
I’ve been using software since the 1970s, UNIX systems since the early eighties and Linux systems since 1995.
I’ve used antiX since it was first organized – prior to the first full release, and I’m NOT an expert on herbstluftwm.

I said it before, we have multiple window managers. Most of us can help you with a stock configuration, but nearly all of us are going to ask you what you’ve reviewed and what “homework” you’ve done, and the general expectation, at least when you’re using the advanced tools, is that you also have an advanced capacity to learn. Anyone who’s used herbstluftwm for more than a few hours has more experience with it than me. I’ve tried it once or twice; as I commented earlier, it has an interesting set of features and it may potentially appeal to someone who is seeking to use a client-server based tiling window manager. Interesting as it is, it’s one of the least frequently used window managers and we rarely get questions about it. As far as I know, @anticapitalista is one of the few people here who chooses to use it on a regular basis. If he feels like helping you out, fine; my guess is that if he sees this thread and your unwillingness to do your own homework, as an educator himself, that alone will probably elicit a similar reaction – if any – to what has already been stated.

I’ve now answered twice and also provided multiple references; it won’t happen again.

For a system tray, you can also use trayer (from the Debian repos), which is just nothing but a system tray, so it can be laid on top of dzen or whatever panel you use that doesn’t otherwise provide a system tray.