openbsd, desktop, n00b users, any easy DE?

[Guil]

Hi guys,

Just wondered about how could we get closer as possible with openbsd to get for the general use?
the idea, would be to get it for those reasons :
*among (or the one) of the most secured OS in the world
*kiss
*purety of code

just think after you as a geek or nerd using it for mails, web or others, to see movies.. software is there, including web browser etc.. but what is the best as a desktop environnment for n00b users whom wants to see something different and interesting after windows and linux..

Imagine, ten years ago all nerds/geeks wanted to say "you can just replace winxp/win7 with ubuntu, works well!"
openbsd is the new weapon, but which is the best DE or needed software to use it as a desktop/laptop for students, teachers, entrepreneurs, directors, kids... to enhance yes, openbsd could have the same success than linux these twenty last years, as a very appreciable alternative of common OSes :
watch videos, browser the internet, communicate through email or videoconf, use usb keys, print some text, with an enough lightweb interface (means not 1GB of space disk) whom can be running on a ten/fifteen years old desktop or laptop, even to go on the internet..

what would yu recommend?

[jggimi]

Hello, and welcome.

Everyone's use-case and preferences are unique, and there is no "best" platform. As an example, there are more than 50 different window managers available for use with OpenBSD. This includes multiple choices among the large "integrated desktop environment" solutions.

But f you want to use the Project's audited software for "simplicity, security, and purity" as you mention in your post -- you are limited to the three window managers that are included with the OS: cwm, fvwm, or twm. This is because no third party software is audited by the Project. Instead, it gets ported to OpenBSD so it can be built and packaged for installation convenience.

[jggimi]

I mentioned above that third party software is not audited; instead the software is ported to OpenBSD. You may not be aware that there's a complete Project ecosystem for this -- the Ports Tree. Packages you install are built from "ports" which contain the build information needed for each ported application.

Here's a link to the Porter's Handbook -- the guide to creating a port should there be some third party software you'd like to have, but that isn't yet available as a package.

[hitest]

Guil,

Welcome to our forum!
The OpenBSD developers create OpenBSD for themselves, and thankfully we're allowed to use it. OpenBSD isn't designed for general use. I don't think it will ever cater to the average computer user. I'm a relative newcomer; I've used OpenBSD since 2011, version 5.0. It is very rewarding to learn about our amazing operating system.