Welcome!

After completing installation, BunsenLabs Helium starts up with the standard Openbox screen, with no change in the software as compared to the Live version. A welcome screen on the desktop, displayed in a terminal window, runs an optional post-installation script to complete the basic system configuration after initial startup. To run it successfully, though, you must be connected to the Internet (Figure 3).

Figure 3: BunsenLabs Helium performs a basic configuration after initial startup, which is essentially based on a shell script.

On my test system, the WLAN card, which caused problems during the installation of the operating system, was easily set up during operation, and the script then immediately updated the system.

Besides updating, the script helps to set up additional repositories. You can also add additional components, such as a Java Runtime Environment, background images, or the Adobe Flash Player.

Desktop Customization

Openbox provides very detailed options that let you customize your desktop. To do this, go to the corresponding entries for Openbox, Conky, tint2, and Compositor in the Preferences menu. In the Openbox submenu, for example, the Menu Editor lets you modify the menu. It lets you create new starters and group entries in submenus (Figure 4).

Figure 4: You edit the BunsenLabs Helium menu using a graphical tool.

Additional Applications

In order to retrieve standard applications, such as additional LibreOffice programs, from the Internet and integrate them into the system, you will find various options in the individual menus (Figure 5). Thanks to these options, you can install the desired applications on your hard disk with a mouse click. In some cases, scripts will be started that prompt for additional parameters. If there is still something missing, the only thing left to do is to select Synaptic.

Figure 5: BunsenLabs Helium lets you install numerous applications from the Application menu.