ACE is the main component of the AntiRight desktop environment. It is a script which defines the function of gtkshell instances. It makes use of a configuration lookup mechanism to use user configurable bindings where appropriate. Due to the scripted nature, the desktop environment behavior can be carried across different graphical user interfaces by simply changing the gtkshell program. Since the gtkshell program event loop is maintained by gtkshell, which is typically written in C, speed is not an issue. This is despite the scripted nature of the environment. The ACE script can easily be modified to change the environment, greatly easing development time.
To start a desktop session, use ACE -A AR. To start only the main panel, simply invoke ACE with no options. A panel will appear. Most button bindings are configurable through the Settings utility. For example, one can change the default browser to dillo, links, firefox, mozilla, or whatever you happen to use. The Administration Panel contains a Secure Permissions button, a Root Shell button, a Monitoring Panel button, and a button for launching operating system specific features. The Secure Permissions button changes the permissions of all the files in a user's home directory so that others and group members cannot read, write, or execute them. This is a needed action in maintaining personal privacy and security. Before these actions are performed, the user will be prompted. The Root Shell button launches an instance of su in a terminal window. Entering the root password will give the user a root shell. The monitoring panel contains launchers for commands that allow you to monitor system activity. The Processes button lists all processes in an gtkshell work area. The ps command used is ps xau. If such a command does not work due to platform-dependent command syntax, modify the ACE script such that it executes ps -A. The Users button lists the users, as reported by the who command, in an gtkshell work area. The Disks button pipes the results of the df command into an gtkshell work area. The See User Processes button allows the user to view detailed information about his or her processes. The results of the ps u command are piped into an gtkshell work area. The System Monitor button launches the configured system monitor. By default, this is an instance of top in an xterm.
The File System Panel contains a Mount File System button, an Unmount File System button, a Show Free Space button, a Show All File Systems button, and a Diff button. The Mount File System button launches a dialog in which the filesystem to be mounted can be entered. Simply type the filesystem name and press enter. The Unmount File System button launches a dialog in which the filesystem to be unmounted can be entered. The Show Free Space button pipes the output of the df command into an gtkshell work area. This shows detailed disk usage information. The Show All File Systems button launches an instance of gtkshell in which the work area displays the contents of /etc/fstab. The Diff button allows you to compare two files using the diff utility. Input and output are through gtkshell.
The
Network Panel
contains an
Open Display
button, an
Open URL
button, a
FTP
button, a
Telnet
button, an
SSH
button, an
SFTP
button, a
PPP On
button, a
PPP Off
button, and a
See Open Ports
button. The
Open Display
button allows one to open the X display to another host. The
Open URL
button launches the browser, starting at the entered url. The
FTP
button starts a file transfer protocol session with the host entered at the
dialog prompt. The
Telnet
button launches a telnet session with the entered host. The
SSH
button launches a secure shell session with the entered host. The
SFTP
button launches a secure file transfer protocol session with the entered host. The
PPP On
button launches the configured command for dialing an Internet service provider through PPP. It is recommended that this option be examined in the
configuration utility and customized to whatever command is used locally. The
PPP Off
button stops the PPP connection. Configure this as is appropriate for
your site. These commands use the ACE Launcher facility, which allows
easy passing of options from the user to commands.
The
See Open Ports
button runs a portscan of the local host and pipes the results into an
gtkshell work area. This requires the nmap utility.
Other options will result in the printing of usage information.