The F Virtual Window Manager

FVWM is an EWMH and ICCCM compliant stacking window manager for X11. Its configuration involves editing plain text files. From official Github mirror:

Fvwm is intended to have a small memory footprint but a rich feature set, be extremely customizable and extendible, and have a high degree of Motif mwm compatibility.

FVWM substantially allows one to build a fully-fledged lightweight desktop environment from scratch, with an almost unparalleled degree of freedom. Although using FVWM does not require any knowledge of programming languages, it is possible to extend it with M4, C, and Perl preprocessing.

In September 2020, the 3rd major version of the F Virtual VM was finally released; as a consequence, this guide (first written in Italian in May 2020) has been updated to rather use the latest version (config has been tested and is working on the new release), which was originally packaged for pkgsrc, and is currently maintained by, @nia

Let's get started

First we'll need to install fvwm;

$ cd /usr/pkgsrc/wm/fvwm3 && make install clean clean-depends

How it Works

Most of the settings below can be easily interpreted by looking up the fvwm(1) man page. Nonetheless, functions and bindings can prove quite hard to understand at first sight, so before we dive into my FVWM configuration, I'll provide you with a quick overview.

===== Functions Syntax
   +  I = Immediately
    + C = Single Click
    + D = Double Click
    + H = Hover
    + M = Motion, AKA Click and Drag

===== Syntax and Buttons/Windows/Mods/Mouse IDs for Bindings 

# Default Binding Syntax
 Key 	{(window)} [key] 	[Context] 	[Modifier] 	[Action]
 Mouse  {(window)} [button] 	[Context] 	[Modifier] 	[Action]

  Button: 0=any, 1, 2 or 3
  |       Context: R=RootWdw,  W=AppsWdw, T=TitleBar, S=Sides
  |       |        F=Frame (corners), I=IconWindow, 0-9=WindowButtons
  |       |        
  |       |       Modifiers: None,Control,Shift,Meta,Any,4=hyper
  |       |       |       Function
  +------ +------ +------ +-------


#  Window Buttons and Window ID
+--------------------------------------------------------+
|        Root Window                                     |
| Icon                                                   |
|                                                        |
| F------------------------S--------------------------F| |
| | 1 3 5 7 9         Title Bar (T)      0  8  6  4  2 | |
| +----------------------------------------------------+ |
| |                                                    | |
| S                        W                           S |
| |                                                    | |
| F------------------------S--------------------------F  |
|                                                        |

# Contexts:
    R = Root Window
    W = Application Window (anywhere inside borders)
    F = Frame Corners
    S = Frame Sides
    T = Title Bar
    I = Icon (Iconified in the IconBox) 
    A = Anywhere         

# Valid Modifiers
    N = None
    C = Control
    S = Shift
    M = Meta (Alt)
    4 = Hyper (Start/Win Key)
    L = Caps Lock
    A = Any modifier


# Mouse Buttons Numbering

1 = left button
2 = middle button (pressing the scroll wheel)
3 = right button
4 = turn scroll wheel up
5 = turn scroll wheel down
6 = push scroll wheel left
7 = push scroll wheel right
8 = 4th button (aka browser backward button)
9 = 5th button (aka browser forward button)

Configuring FVWM

a) Premises

What this configuration is: an attempt to provide a comfortable titlebar-less stacking wm environment for modern use, with simple, flat, dark-cyan decorations and a strong focus on keyboard bindings. The setup includes full EWMH compliance, basic tiling functions, dynamic focus change, icons and thumbnails as two alternative minimizing methods, fullscreen switch, alt-tab window cycling, window renaming, virtual desktops, multi-monitor layout, xf86/fn multimedia key bindings and more.
What this configuration is not: the setup shown in this tutorial tries to stay as lightweight as possible and doesn't make use of any additional Fvwm module but the core one and the FvwmPager one; no custom widgets or status bars through FvwmButtons, no FvwmEvent/FvwmScript/FvwmForm, no Perl extension whatsoever. You may still want to enable animations (configured, but disabled by default).
Dependencies: x11/rxvt-unicode is assumed to be the terminal emulator of choice, though this can be obviously changed to reflect one's preference. The 'Thumbnail' and 'Screenshot' functions require graphics/ImageMagick, graphics/netpbm, while the 'savexclip' and 'title' scripts require x11/xclip and x11/xwit respectively. All scripts sending desktop notifications through libnotify naturally expect a notify-daemon to be running: author personally recommends x11/dunst (requires dbus). The setup also makes heavy use of the 'nu' bitmap font coming bounded with fonts/artwiz-fonts. Adjusting screen brightness and suspending implies changing ''sysctl'' values and requires therefore root privileges: you can use security/ssh-askpass to get a simple graphical password prompt whenever needed. x11/xpmicons is used to create some custom application icons (especially terminal ones based on curses/slang): add as many more as you wish. Totally optional: fvwm's autostart script launches x11/xautolock in background to enable automatic screen locking through x11/xlockmore. As a side note, please notice also that 'pcmanfm' requires sysutils/gvfs in order to enable support for Trash Can, Devices and Network mounts.

b) Preliminary Tasks

Create the required folders in you $HOME for FVWM to use

$ for d in icons images scripts tmp wallpapers
do mkdir -p ~/.fvwm/${d}
done

c) fvwmrc

Below follows the relevant ~/.fvwm/config; it will be parsed upon startup.

###############=
#---- GLOBAL SETTINGS
###############=

# Set up 4 Desktops, 4 pages each 
DesktopSize 2x2
DesktopName 0 	FVWM Desktop (1) 
DesktopName 1 	FVWM Desktop (2) 
DesktopName 2 	FVWM Desktop (3) 
DesktopName 3 	FVWM Desktop (4) 

# Maximum delay in milliseconds between a button press and a button
# release for the Function command to consider the action a mouse click
ClickTime 	250

# Move al windows as solid ones 
OpaqueMoveSize  -1	

# Snap edges when windows are moved close to each other 
SnapAttraction 	10 All Screen
XorValue 	55555

# Disable EdgeScrolling but make it possible
# to move windows over the screen edge
EdgeScroll 	0 0
EdgeResistance	-1 
EdgeThickness 	2 
EdgeCommand 	Left nop

# Installed colormap follows the windows the cursor is in
ColormapFocus 	FollowsMouse

# honor window's own idea of placement 
EWMHUseStackingOrderHints

# 3 pixel screen edges
EwmhBaseStruts  3 3 3 3 	

# Virtaul layers in use for windows to overlap
DefaultLayers 	2 4 6

# Ignore Num/Scroll-Lock as modifiers 
IgnoreModifiers L25

# a pixel 10 mouse movement with whatever 
# button pressed  is assumed to be a drag
MoveThreshold 	10

# Always hide the geometry info box 
HideGeometryWindow Move, Resize 

# Small fixes for modern workflows
BugOpts 	FlickeringMoveWorkaround True,  EWMHIconicStateWorkaround True

# Default terminal emulator 
InfoStoreAdd terminal urxvt

# Default launcher
InfoStoreAdd runcmd "dmenu_run -b -p '>>' -fn 'nu-8' -nb '#151515' -nf '#D7D0C7' -sb '#151515' -sf '#4E9FB1'"

# Default web browser 
InfoStoreAdd browser seamonkey

###############=
#---- PATHS
###############=

ImagePath $[FVWM_DATADIR]/pixmaps:/usr/pkg/include/X11/pixmaps
SetEnv FVWM_IMG $[FVWM_USERDIR]/images
SetEnv FVWM_ICON $[FVWM_USERDIR]/icons
SetEnv FVWM_S $[FVWM_USERDIR]/scripts
SetEnv FVWM_WALL $[FVWM_USERDIR]/wallpapers
SetEnv FVWM_TMP $[FVWM_USERDIR]/tmp

###############=
#---- COLORSETS
###############=

#--- Window Deco
Colorset  3 fg #505050, bg #171717
Colorset  4 fg #808080, bg #151515
Colorset  5 fg #D7D0C7, bg #4E9FB1

Colorset  6 fg #909090, bg #151515, sh #4E9FB1, hi #4E9FB1
Colorset  7 fg #D7D0C7, bg #151515, sh #eb928e, hi #151515
Colorset  8 fg #D7D0C7, bg #151515, sh #4E9FB1, hi #4E9FB1

#--- Pager
Colorset  9 fg #4E9FB1, bg #151515, sh #eeeeee, hi #303030
Colorset 10 fg #bbbbbb, bg #303030, sh #eeeeee, hi #303030

###############=
#---- STYLES
###############=

#--- General 
  Style * PositionPlacement UnderMouse, GrabFocusOff
  Style * NoPPosition, ResizeOpaque
  Emulate MWM
  DefaultFont "-artwiz-nu-medium-r-normal--11-110-75-75-p-90-iso10646-1"

  HideGeometryWindow Always
  SnapAttraction 5 SameType Screen
  SnapGrid 5 5 
  XorValue 55555

  Style * DecorateTransient, DontRaiseTransient
  Style * DontLowerTransient, StackTransientParent
  Style * GrabFocusTransientOff
  Style * WindowShadeSteps 20, WindowShadeScrolls

#--- Windows
  DestroyDecor MyDecor
  AddToDecor   MyDecor
	+ TitleStyle RightJustified Height 18
	+ ButtonStyle 2 ActiveUp   Vector 6 30x50@3 40x40@3 50x50@3 50x65@4 40x55@3 30x65@3 -- Flat
	+ ButtonStyle 2 ActiveDown Vector 6 30x50@3 40x40@3 50x50@3 50x65@4 40x55@3 30x65@3 -- Flat
	+ ButtonStyle 2 Inactive   Vector 6 30x50@3 40x40@3 50x50@3 50x65@4 40x55@3 30x65@3 -- Flat
	+ ButtonStyle 4 ActiveUp   Vector 6 40x50@3 30x40@3 40x30@3 55x50@4 40x40@3 55x30@3 -- Flat
	+ ButtonStyle 4 ActiveDown Vector 6 40x50@3 30x40@3 40x30@3 55x50@4 40x40@3 55x30@3 -- Flat
	+ ButtonStyle 4 Inactive   Vector 6 40x50@3 30x40@3 40x30@3 55x50@4 40x40@3 55x30@3 -- Flat
	+ ButtonStyle 6 ActiveUp   Vector 6 30x20@3 40x30@3 50x20@3 50x30@4 40x40@3 30x30@3 -- Flat
	+ ButtonStyle 6 ActiveDown Vector 6 30x20@3 40x30@3 50x20@3 50x30@4 40x40@3 30x30@3 -- Flat
	+ ButtonStyle 6 Inactive   Vector 6 30x20@3 40x30@3 50x20@3 50x30@4 40x40@3 30x30@3 -- Flat
	+ TitleStyle -- Flat
	+ BorderStyle Simple -- NoInset Flat
	+ ButtonStyle All -- UseTitleStyle

  Style *   UseDecor MyDecor
  Style *   Font "-artwiz-nu-medium-r-normal--11-110-75-75-p-90-iso10646-1"
  Style *   NoTitle
  Style *   BorderWidth 2, HandleWidth 2
  Style *   BorderColorset 4
  Style *   HilightBorderColorset 5
  Style *   SloppyFocus
  Style *   MouseFocusClickRaises
  Style *   FPClickRaisesFocused
  Style *   FPGrabFocus
  Style *   FPReleaseFocus
  Style *   FPLenient
  Style *   FPSortWindowlistByFocus
  Style *   FPIgnoreRaiseClickMotion
  Style *   NoPPosition
  Style *   TileCascadePlacement
  Style *   DecorateTransient
  Style *   StackTransientParent
  Style *   EWMHUseStackingOrderHints
  Style *   EdgeMoveDelay 350
  Style *   EdgeMoveResistance 25
  Style *   Font "-artwiz-nu-medium-r-normal--11-110-75-75-p-90-iso10646-1"
  Style *   WindowShadeSteps 64
  Style *   WindowShadeShrinks
  Style *   HintOverride
  Style *   ResizeOpaque
  Style *   ResizeHintOverride
  Style *   MwmDecor
  Style *   MwmBorder
  Style *   MwmButtons
  Style *   MwmFunctions
  Stule *	MiniIcon
  Style *   SnapGrid 5 5

#--- Cursors
  CursorStyle ROOT left_ptr
  CursorStyle TITLE left_ptr
  CursorStyle DEFAULT left_ptr
  CursorStyle SYS left_ptr
  CursorStyle MENU left_ptr
  CursorStyle WAIT left_ptr
  BusyCursor  DynamicMenu True, Read True, Wait True

#--- Menus
  MenuStyle * PopupDelayed, PopupDelay 300, PopdownImmediately, \
	PopupOffset 10 95, TitleWarpOff TitleUnderlines2, \
	SeparatorsShort, TrianglesSolid, AnimationOff, \
	AutomaticHotkeysOff, BorderWidth 2, PopupAsSubmenu, \
	HoldSubmenus, SubmenusRight, ItemFormat "%|%10.10l%5.5>%|", \
	VerticalItemSpacing 4 4, VerticalTitleSpacing 3 3, \
	MenuColorset 6, ActiveFore, Hilight3DOff, TitleColorset 7, \
	ActiveColorset 7, Font "-artwiz-nu-medium-r-normal--11-110-75-75-p-90-iso10646-1"

#--- Pager
  Style "FvwmPager" !Title, !Handles, !Borders, !Maximizable, \
	Sticky, WindowListSkip, CirculateSkip, !Closable, \
	StaysOnBottom, FixedPosition, FixedSize, !Iconifiable, \
	MouseFocusClickRaises, Layer 0 2, State 2, WindowListSkip, \
	CirculateSkip, MiniIcon

#--- Ident
	*FvwmIdent: Colorset 4
	*FvwmIdent: Font "-artwiz-nu-medium-r-normal--11-110-75-75-p-90-iso10646-1"

#--- XClock 
  Style "XClock" Sticky, !Title, !Handles, !Borders, \
  	!Maximizable, WindowListSkip, CirculateSkip, !Closable, \         

  	StaysOnBottom, FixedPosition, FixedSize, !Iconifiable, \
  	MouseFocusClickRaises, Layer 0 2, State 2, WindowListSkip, \
  	CirculateSkip


###############=
#---- FUNCTIONS
###############=

# Startup Modules
  DestroyFunc StartFunction
  AddToFunc StartFunction
	+ I Module FvwmPager
#	+ I Module FvwmAnimate

# Startup Sript
  DestroyFunc InitFunction
  AddToFunc InitFunction
 	+ I Test (F $[FVWM_USERDIR]/autostart)\
		Exec exec /bin/sh $[FVWM_USERDIR]/autostart
        + I Exec exec /bin/sh $[FVWM_S]/autoxrandr		
	+ I Exec exec fvwm-root -r $[FVWM_WALL]/bg4.png

# Basic Fuctions
  DestroyFunc RestartFunction
  AddToFunc RestartFunction
	+ I Nop
	+ I Exec /bin/sh $[FVWM_S]/autoxrandr
  DestroyFunc SessionInitFunction
  AddToFunc SessionInitFunction
	+ I Nop

  DestroyFunc SessionRestartFunction
  AddToFunc SessionRestartFunction
	+ I Nop

  DestroyFunc FvwmDeleteOrDestroy
  AddToFunc   FvwmDeleteOrDestroy
	+ H Nop
	+ M Nop
	+ C Delete
	+ D Destroy

  DestroyFunc FvwmIconifyOrShade
  AddToFunc   FvwmIconifyOrShade
	+ C Thumbnail

  DestroyFunc FvwmMaximize
  AddToFunc   FvwmMaximize
	+ H Nop
	+ M Nop
	+ C Maximize $0 $1

  DestroyFunc FvwmMoveOrIconify
  AddToFunc   FvwmMoveOrIconify
	+ M Move
	+ D Iconify

  DestroyFunc FvwmWindowShade
  AddToFunc   FvwmWindowShade
	+ D WindowShade $0


# Suckless WindowList
  AddToFunc PickWindow
   	+ I WindowList (CurrentPage) CurrentDesk NoDeskNum, \
       		NoIcons, NoSticky, IconifiedAtEnd, \
       		SelectOnRelease, MaxLabelWidth 45


# Raise & Move / Shade
  DestroyFunc Move-or-Raise
  AddToFunc Move-or-Raise
	+ I Raise
	+ M Move
	+ D WindowShade

# Move to Bottom Layer/Unmaximize
  AddToFunc MoveLower
 	+ I Layer 0 4
 	+ C Lower
 	+ M ThisWindow (Maximized) Maximize false
	+ D RaiseLower


# Automatic IconBox Elements Rearrange
  AddToFunc Deiconify-and-Rearrange
   	+ I Iconify 
   	+ I All (CurrentPage, Iconic) PlaceAgain Icon
  DestroyFunc Move-or-Iconify
  AddToFunc Move-or-Iconify
	+ I Raise
	+ M Move
	+ D Deiconify-and-Rearrange

# Raise & Resize / (Undo)Lower
  DestroyFunc Resize-or-Raise
  AddToFunc Resize-or-Raise
	+ I Raise
	+ M Resize
	+ D RaiseLower

# Maximize/Expand with EWMH compliance 
  AddToFunc Max	
  	+ C Maximize ewmhiwa 100 100
   	+ M Maximize ewmhiwa growonlayers $[w.layer] -1 grow grow
  AddToFunc VerMax
    + I Maximize ewmhiwa 0 100
  AddToFunc HorMax
	+ I Maximize ewmhiwa 100 0

# Toggle FullScreen On/Off
  AddToFunc FullScreen
 	+ I ThisWindow (Maximized) Fullscreen-Stop
	+ I TestRc (False) ThisWindow (!Maximized) FullScreen-Start
  AddToFunc   FullScreen-Start
	+ I ThisWindow (Maximized) WindowStyle Title, Borders
	+ I TestRc (!Match) WindowStyle !Title, \
	                    !Borders, FixedSize, FixedPosition
	+ I TestRc (!Match) Raise
	+ I TestRc (!Match) UpdateStyles
	+ I Maximize ewmhiwa  100 100
	+ I SetEnv CurrentWindowState_$[w.id] Maximize
  AddToFunc FullScreen-Stop
	+ I DestroyWindowStyle
	+ I UpdateStyles
	+ I ThisWindow (Maximized) Maximize

# Tiling
  AddToFunc TileLeft
	+ I ThisWindow (!Shaded, !Iconic) Maximize 50 100
	+ I ThisWindow (Maximized, !Shaded, !Iconic) Move +0 +0
  AddToFunc TileRight
	+ I ThisWindow (!Shaded, !Iconic) Maximize 50 100
	+ I ThisWindow (Maximized, !Shaded, !Iconic) Move -0 +0
  AddToFunc TileTop
	+ I ThisWindow (!Shaded, !Iconic) Maximize 100 50
	+ I ThisWindow (Maximized, !Shaded, !Iconic) Move +0 +0
  AddToFunc TileBottom
	+ I ThisWindow (!Shaded, !Iconic) Maximize 100 50
	+ I ThisWindow (Maximized, !Shaded, !Iconic) Move +0 -0
  AddToFunc TileTopLeft
	+ I ThisWindow (!Shaded, !Iconic) Maximize 50 50
	+ I ThisWindow (Maximized, !Shaded, !Iconic) Move +0 +0
  AddToFunc TileTopRight
	+ I ThisWindow (!Shaded, !Iconic) Maximize 50 50
	+ I ThisWindow (Maximized, !Shaded, !Iconic) Move -0 +0
  AddToFunc TileBottomLeft
	+ I ThisWindow (!Shaded, !Iconic) Maximize 50 50
	+ I ThisWindow (Maximized, !Shaded, !Iconic) Move +0 -0
  AddToFunc TileBottomRight
	+ I ThisWindow (!Shaded, !Iconic) Maximize 50 50
	+ I ThisWindow (Maximized, !Shaded, !Iconic) Move -0 -0

# Increase/Decrease Window Size by 10 lines
  AddToFunc IncVerticalSize
	+  I ThisWindow (!Shaded, !Iconic) Resize keep w+10c   

  AddToFunc IncHorizontalSize
	+  I ThisWindow (!Shaded, !Iconic) Resize w+10c keep 
  AddToFunc DecVerticalSize
	+  I ThisWindow (!Shaded, !Iconic) Resize keep w-10c 
  AddToFunc DecHorizontalSize
	+  I ThisWindow (!Shaded, !Iconic) Resize w-10c keep 

# Dynamically Circulate Focus Across Windows 
  AddToFunc Raise-and-FlipFocus 
        + I Raise
  		+ I FlipFocus
  AddToFunc CirculateFocus
	+ I Raise-and-FlipFocus
	+ I WarpToWindow !raise 5 5

# Loads the man page $0 in an terminal
DestroyFunc ViewManPage
AddToFunc   ViewManPage
+ I Exec exec $[infostore.terminal] -g 80x40 \
  -n "Manual Page - $0" -T "Manual Page - $0" -e man "$0"


# Circulate amid terminal windows
  AddToFunc ToTerm
	+ I   Current (State 3, "$0") Break
	+ I   Next (State 3, "$0") FocusTerm
  AddToFunc FocusTerm
	+ I   Iconify False
	+ I   Raise-and-FlipFocus
	+ I   WarpToWindow 80 20

# Go to 'x' Page (Focusing first not Iconified/Shaded Window)
  AddToFunc GotoPageFocus
   	+ I GotoPage $*
  	+ I PointerWindow (CurrentPage, !Sticky, !Shaded, !Iconic) Focus
   	+ I TestRc (!Match) Next (CurrentPage, !Sticky, \
               !Shaded, !Iconic) Raise-and-Focus

# Move 'Window' to 'x' Page, Go to $x (focusing $Window)
  AddToFunc MoveAndGotoPage
        + I MoveToPage $*
  		+ I GotoPageFocus $*

# Thumbnails
  DestroyFunc Thumbnail
  AddToFunc Thumbnail
	+ SetEnv fvwm_thumbnailing 1
	+ I Raise
	+ I SetEnv Icon-$[w.id] $[w.iconfile]
	+ I ThisWindow (!Shaded Iconifiable !Iconic) PipeRead "xwd -silent -id $[w.id] | \
		convert -scale $$(($[w.width]/5))  -adaptive-resize 160x120^ -gravity center -crop 160x120+0+0  \
		+repage -frame 1x1 -mattecolor black -quality 0 xwd:- png:$[FVWM_TMP]/icon.tmp.$[w.id].png && echo Nop"
	# echo WindowStyle IconOverride, Icon $[FVWM_TMP]/icon.tmp.$[w.id].png || echo Nop"
	+ I TestRc (Match) Test (f $[fvwm_icon]/$[w.iconfile], f $[FVWM_TMP]/icon.tmp.$[w.id].png) \
		PipeRead "composite -geometry +2+4 $[fvwm_icon]/$[w.iconfile] $[FVWM_TMP]/icon.tmp.$[w.id].png \
		$[FVWM_TMP]/icon.tmp.$[w.id].png && echo WindowStyle IconOverride, Icon $[FVWM_TMP]/icon.tmp.$[w.id].png || echo Nop"
	+ I TestRc (NoMatch) WindowStyle IconOverride, Icon $[FVWM_TMP]/icon.tmp.$[w.id].png
	+ I Iconify
	+ SetEnv fvwm_thumbnailing 2
  DestroyFunc DeThumbnail
  AddToFunc DeThumbnail
	+ I PipeRead "echo WindowStyle Icon \\$\\[Icon-$[w.id]\\]"
	+ I UnsetEnv Icon-$[w.id]
	+ I Exec exec rm -f $[FVWM_TMP]/icon.tmp.$[w.id].png

# Window Screenshots
  AddToFunc Screenshot
	+ I Exec exec xwd -id $w -out $[FVWM_IMG]/$(echo shot.$(date +'%Y%M%d%H%m%S')).xwd
    	+ I PipeRead 'for i in $[FVWM_IMG]/*; \
	    	do sleep 1; sh $[FVWM_S]/xwd2png $i > /dev/null 2>&1; done'


###############=
#---- PAGER
###############=
DestroyModuleConfig FvwmPager: *
	*FvwmPager: Geometry 160x90-3-3
	*FvwmPager: Colorset * 9
	*FvwmPager: HilightColorset * 9
	*FvwmPager: BalloonColorset * 9
	*FvwmPager: BalloonBorderWidth 1
	*FvwmPager: BalloonStringFormat %i
	*FvwmPager: WindowColorsets 3 10
	*FvwmPager: Font "-artwiz-nu-medium-r-normal--11-110-75-75-p-90-iso10646-1"
	*FvwmPager: Balloons All
	*FvwmPager: BalloonFont "-artwiz-nu-medium-r-normal--11-110-75-75-p-90-iso10646-1"
	*FvwmPager: BallonYOffset +2
	*FvwmPager: UseSkipList
	*FvwmPager: Rows 1
	#*FvwmPager: SmallFont 5x8


###############=
#---- ICONBOX
###############=
Style * IconBox 48x762+3+3, IconFill Left Top, IconGrid 10 10, \
        IconTitleFormat %i, IconTitleRelief, IconBackgroundRelief 1, \
        IconBackgroundPadding 0, IconSize -1 -1, IconTitleColorset 6, \
        IconBackgroundColorset 6, HilightIconTitleColorset 8, \
		IconFill top bottom

# Icons Style
Style * IconFont "-artwiz-nu-medium-r-normal--11-110-75-75-p-90-iso10646-1"
Style * StickyIcon, !StickyStippledIconTitle

# Custom Icons
Style XTerm 	IconOverride, Icon xterm2.xpm, State 3
Style URxvt     IconOverride, Icon term.xpm, State 3
Style  Seamonkey 	IconOverride, Icon netscape3.xpm
Style Pcmanfm	IconOverride, Icon xfm_icon.xpm
Style nnn	IconOverride, Icon xfm_icon.xpm
Style slrn      IconOverride, Icon xnews.xpm
Style zathura   IconOverride, Icon Document.xpm
Style irssi	IconOverride, Icon netdup.xpm
Style mutt	IconOverride, Icon mail2.xpm
Style Thunderbird  IconOverride, Icon mail2.xpm
Style cmus	IconOverride, Icon MusicSound.dir.xpm


###############=
#---- ANIMATIONS
###############=
SetAnimation 10 -.01 0 .01 .03 .08 .18 .3 \
  .45 .6 .75 .85 .90 .94 .97 .99 1.0

*FvwmAnimate:	Effect	Twist
*FvwmAnimate:	Width   1
*FvwmAnimate:	Color	grey
*FvwmAnimate:   Iterations 16
*FvwmAnimate:	Delay	3
*FvwmAnimate:   Twist 6

###############=
#---- MOUSE BINDINGS
###############=

#---  	[But][Context][Mod]		[Action]

# Root Window (Desktop):
  Mouse	    	1	R 		A	Menu RootMenu Nop
  Mouse 	3	R 		A   	PickWindow
  Mouse		2	R		A	FvwmExpose

# TitleBar Buttons:
  Mouse 	0 	1   	A       Menu Window-Ops
  Mouse 	1 	2   	A       Max
  Mouse 	3 	2   	A       ThisWindow (Maximized) Maximize false
  Mouse 	0 	2   	M       FullScreen
  Mouse 	0 	3   	A       MoveLower
  Mouse 	0 	4   	A       Iconify


# Borders/Icons:
  Mouse 	1	FS 		A       Resize-or-Raise
  Mouse 	1	TS 		A       Move-or-Raise
  Mouse 	1	I 		A       Move-or-Iconify
  Mouse 	3	I 		A       Deiconify-and-Rearrange
  Mouse 	3	FST 		A       Menu Window-Ops Nop
  Mouse 	2	TSIF 		A       RaiseLower


# Scrollwheel to go up/down Pages
  Mouse 	4 	R   	A   	GotoPageFocus +0p -1p
  Mouse 	5 	R   	A   	GotoPageFocus +0p +1p


# Scrollwheel (+S) to go left/right Pages
  Mouse 	4 	R   	S   	GotoPageFocus +1p -0p
  Mouse 	5 	R   	S   	GotoPageFocus -1p +0p


# Mouse-grab with Alt for various Window-Ops
  Mouse 	1 	W 	M   	Move-or-Raise
  Mouse 	3 	W 	M   	Resize-or-Raise
  Mouse		3	W   	C 	Menu Window-Ops Nop 
  Mouse 	1 	W 	4M      Thumbnail
  Mouse 	3 	W 	4M      Max
  Mouse     	3	W	SM      Fullscreen
  Mouse	    	1	W	SM	RaiseLower
  Mouse     	1   	W   	CM      Iconify
  Mouse	    	3	W	CM      WindowShade
  Mouse		1	W	C4M     Stick
  Mouse		3	W	C4M     Close
  Mouse		1	W	S4M	Title

###############=
#---- KEY BINDINGS
###############=

#---           [Key][Context][Mod]    [Action]

# Alt + Arrow 		| Moves window by 15 pixels 
  Key           Left    A     M       Move w-15p w+0p
  Key           Right   A     M       Move w+15p w+0p
  Key           Up      A     M       Move w+0p w-15p
  Key           Down    A     M       Move w+0p w+15p


# Ctrl-Alt + Arrow 	| Resizes window by 10 pixels 
  Key           Left    A       CM      DecHorizontalSize
  Key           Right   A       CM      IncHorizontalSize
  Key           Up      A       CM      DecVerticalSize
  Key           Down    A       CM      IncVerticalSize

# Shift + Arrow 	| Scrolls by 1 page.
  Key           Left	A	S	Scroll -100 0
  Key           Right	A	S	Scroll +100 +0
  Key           Up      A	S	Scroll +0 -100
  Key           Down	A	S	Scroll +0 +100

# Ctrl + Arrow 		| Scrolls by 1/10 of a page.
  Key 		Left	A	C	Scroll -10 +0
  Key 		Right	A	C	Scroll +10 +0
  Key 		Up		A	C	Scroll +0  -10
  Key 		Down	A	C	Scroll +0  +10

# Ctrl-Super + Arrow 	| Moves the pointer by 1% of a page.
  Key 		Left	A       C4	CursorMove -1 0
  Key 		Right	A       C4 	CursorMove +1 +0
  Key 		Up	A	C4	CursorMove +0 -1
  Key 		Down	A	C4	CursorMove +0 +1

# Ctrl-Alt-Super + Arrow | Moves the pointer by 1/10 of a page.
  Key 		Left	A 	CM4	CursorMove -10 +0
  Key 		Right	A	CM4	CursorMove +10 +0
  Key 		Up	A	CM4	CursorMove +0 -10
  Key 		Down	A   	CM4	CursorMove +0 +10

# Shift-Alt + Arrow 	| Moves windows to different pages
  Key 		Up		A	MoveToPage +0p -1p
  Key 		Right 	A 	SM  	MoveToPage +1p +0p
  Key 		Left  	A 	SM 	MoveToPage -1p +0p
  Key 		Down  	A 	SM 	MoveToPage +0p +1p

# Ctrl-Shift-Alt + Arrow | Moves window to page, goes to $page focusing $window
  Key 		Up 		A 	CSM 	MoveAndGotoPage +0p -1p
  Key 		Right 	A 	CSM 	MoveAndGotoPage +1p +0p
  Key 		Left 	A 	CSM 	MoveAndGotoPage -1p +0p
  Key 		Down 	A 	CSM 	MoveAndGotoPage +0p +1p


# Super + Arrow  	| Tiles window to half screen
  Key 		Left  	A 	4 	TileLeft
  Key 		Right 	A 	4 	TileRight
  Key 		Up    	A 	4 	TileTop
  Key 		Down  	A 	4 	TileBottom

# Super-Shift + Arrow 	| Tiles window to screen quarter
  Key 		Up     	A 	S4 	TileTopLeft
  Key 		Left    A 	S4 	TileBottomLeft
  Key 		Right   A 	S4 	TileTopRight
  Key 		Down    A 	S4 	TileBottomRight

# Alt + Tab 		| Cycles between windows 
  Key 		Tab 	A 	M 	Next (CurrentPage, !Iconic, !Shaded, \
                                      	 AcceptsFocus) CirculateFocus
  Key 		Tab 	A 	SM 	Prev (CurrentPage, !Iconic, !Shaded, \
					 AcceptsFocus) CirculateFocus
# Alt + t 		| Cycles between terminal emulators
  Key		t		M	ToTerm

# Alt + x               | Kills a window
  Key       	x       A   	M   	Close

# Function Keys bindings
  Key 		F1	A   	C    	PickWindow
  Key 		F2	A	C       Iconify
  Key 		F3	A	C       Thumbnail
  Key 		F4	A	C       Max
  Key 		F5	A	C       VerMax
  Key 		F6	A	C       HorMax
  Key 		F7	A	C       TileLeft
  Key 		F8	A	C       TileRight
  Key 		F9	A	C       Module FvwmIdent
  Key 		F10 	A   	C       Close
  Key 		F11 	A   	C       FullScreen
  Key 		F12 	A   	C    	Restart
 
# Misc additional bindings
  Key		f	A	M	Fullscreen
  Key 		m	A 	M   	Max
  Key		v	A	M	VerMax
  Key		b	A	M	HorMax
  Key   	Return  I   	N   	Deiconify-and-Rearrange
  Key   	Return  A   	M   	Exec exec $[infostore.terminal]


#--- Script Bindings
# Mod4 + w | Changes root background image
  Key		w	A	4   Exec exec /bin/sh $[FVWM_S]/randombg

# Mod4 + s | Takes a window screenshot
  Key		s	A	4	Screenshot

# Mod4 + r | Renames a window
  Key 		r	A   4   Exec exec /bin/sh $[FVWM_S]/title

# Mod4 + c  | Exports primary CLIPBOARD content to plain text file 
#  	      Also echo the recorded entry to a notification daemon
  Key		c	A   4   Exec exec /bin/sh $[FVWM_S]/savexclip

# Mod4 + k | Changes Keyboard Layout
  Key		k	A	4   Exec exec /bin/sh $[FVWM_S]/changexkbmap

# Mod4 + v | Displays Volume Level
  Key		v	A	4   Exec exec /bin/sh $[FVWM_S]/vol

# Xf86/Fn Keyboard Symbols bindings
# Remember to set SUDO_ASKPASS=/usr/pkg/bin/ssh-askpass for password prompt to work 
  Key XF86AudioMute 	     A 	N 	Exec exec mixerctl -w outputs.master=0,0 
  Key XF86AudioLowerVolume   A 	N 	Exec exec mixerctl -w outputs.master-=5,5 
  Key XF86AudioRaiseVolume   A 	N 	Exec exec mixerctl -w outputs.master+=5,5 
 
  Key XF86AudioPlay          A 	N 	Exec exec mpc play > /dev/null 2>&1
  Key XF86AudioStop          A 	N 	Exec exec mpc pause > /dev/null 2>&1
  Key XF86AudioPrev          A 	N 	Exec exec mpc prev > /dev/null 2>&1
  Key XF86AudioNext          A 	N 	Exec exec mpc next > /dev/null 2>&1  

  Key XF86MonBrightnessUp    A 	N 	Exec exec sudo --askpass sysctl -w \
  					hw.acpi.acpiout0.brightness=100 > /dev/null 2>&1
  Key XF86MonBrightnessDown  A 	N	Exec exec sudo --askpass sysctl -w \
					hw.acpi.acpiout0.brightness=70 > /dev/null 2>&1
  Key XF86WWW                A 	N 	Exec exec seamonkey 
  Key XF86Terminal           A 	N 	Exec exec env ENV=$HOME/.profile xterm 
  Key XF86Mail               A 	N 	Exec exec urxvt -e neomutt 
  Key XF86Sleep              A 	N 	Exec exec sudo --askpass sysctl -w \
					hw.acpi.sleep.state=3 > /dev/null 2>&1
  Key XF86LogOff             A 	N 	Exec exec xlock -name $HOME/.Xresources 
  Key Print		     A	C 	Exec exec /bin/sh  $[FVWM_S]/dumproot 2>&1

# Application Shortcuts
  Key           l       A       4       Exec exec $[infostore.runcmd] 
  Key           e       A       4       Exec exec $[infostore.terminal] -g 108x49 -e vim
  Key           m       A       4       Exec exec $[infostore.terminal] -name mutt -e neomutt
  Key           f       A       4       Exec exec $[infostore.terminal] -name mc -e mc
  Key           p       A       4       Exec exec $[infostore.terminal] -name ncmpc++ -e ncmpcpp
  Key           u       A       4       Exec exec $[infostore.browser]
  Key           t       A       4       Exec exec $[infostore.terminal]

###############
#---- Menus
###############=

# Generate XDGMenu
PipeRead "fvwm-menu-desktop -e"

# Read previously generated XDGMenu
#Read $[FVWM_USERDIR]/.XDGMenu 

# Main Menu
  AddToMenu RootMenu "Fvwm Menu" Title
	+ "&Terminal"		Exec exec $[infostore.terminal]
	+ "&Launcher"         	Exec exec $[infostore.runcmd]
	+ "&Web &Broswer"	Exec exec $[infostore.browser]
	+ "&Applications"     	Popup XDGMenu
	+ ""                    Nop
	+ "&Man Pages" 		Popup FvwmManPages
	+ "Fvwm&Console" Module FvwmConsole -terminal $[infostore.terminal]
	+ "&Window Ops"         Popup Window-Ops
	+ "&X11 Session"      	Popup X11-Session

  AddToMenu "Window-Ops"
  	+ "&Move"               Move
	+ "&Resize"             Resize
	+ "&Shade"              WindowShade
	+ "&TileLeft"           TileLeft
	+ "&TileRight"          TileRight
	+ "&Stick"              Stick
	+ "&Send To" 		Popup SendToPage
	+ ""                    Nop  

	+ "&Stays On Top" 	Pick (CirculateHit) Layer 0 6
	+ "&Stays Put" 		Pick (CirculateHit) Layer 0 4
	+ "&Stays On Bottom"    Pick (CirculateHit) Layer 0 2
	+ "" 			Nop
	+ "&Identify"           Module FvwmIdent
        + ""                    Nop
	+ "&Close"              Close
	+ "&Kill"               Destroy

  AddToMenu  "SendToPage"
	+ "Page (0,0)"  MoveToPage 0 0
	+ "Page (0,1)"  MoveToPage 0 1
	+ "Page (1,0)"  MoveToPage 1 0
	+ "Page (1,1)"  MoveToPage 1 1


# Fvwm Man Pages (Help) Menu
  AddToMenu   FvwmManPages "Help" Title
	+ "fvwm"                ViewManPage fvwm
	+ "FvwmAnimate"         ViewManPage FvwmAnimate
	+ "FvwmAuto"            ViewManPage FvwmAuto
	+ "FvwmBacker"          ViewManPage FvwmBacker
	+ "FvwmButtons"         ViewManPage FvwmButtons
	+ "FvwmCommand"         ViewManPage FvwmCommand
	+ "FvwmConsole"         ViewManPage FvwmConsole
	+ "FvwmEvent"           ViewManPage FvwmEvent
	+ "FvwmIconMan"         ViewManPage FvwmIconMan
	+ "FvwmIdent"           ViewManPage FvwmIdent
	+ "FvwmPager"           ViewManPage FvwmPager
	+ "FvwmPerl"            ViewManPage FvwmPerl
	+ "FvwmProxy"           ViewManPage FvwmProxy
	+ "FvwmRearrange"       ViewManPage FvwmRearrange
	+ "FvwmScript"          ViewManPage FvwmScript
	+ "" Nop
	+ "fvwm-root"           ViewManPage fvwm-root
	+ "fvwm-menu-desktop"   ViewManPage fvwm-menu-desktop
	+ "fvwm-menu-directory" ViewManPage fvwm-menu-directory
	+ "fvwm-menu-xlock"     ViewManPage fvwm-menu-xlock
	+ "fvwm-config"         ViewManPage fvwm-confi
  

  AddToMenu "X11-Session"
	+ "Refresh Screen"     Refresh
	+ "Restart WM"         Restart
	+ "Lock Screen"        Exec exec xlock -name ~/.Xresources
	+ "Exit FVWM"          Module FvwmScript FvwmScript-ConfirmQuit
	+ ""                   Nop
	+ "Reboot System"      Exec exec sudo --askpass reboot	
	+ "Shutdown System"    Exec exec sudo --askpass poweroff

d) $[FVWM_S]

As you should have noticed already,some of the functions invoke either ''/bin/sh'' or the built-in ''PipeRead'' parser to execute some shell scripts from the ~/.fvwm/scripts (AKA ''$[FVWM_S]'') directory.

autoxrandr

#!/bin/sh

# Automatically configure multiscreen setup

# Grab the list of enabled outputs
OUTPUTS=$(xrandr | \
    sed -n 's/^\(^[A-Z0-9-]*\) connected [0-9x]*\(+0+0\)*.*/\1\2/p')
# Example:
#  VGA1+0+0
#  DVI1

ARGS="--auto"
for output in $OUTPUTS; do
    # Use the name of the first output to determine the order we
    # should use. Consecutive calls of this script will therefore
    # reverse the order.
    case "$output:$prevoutput" in
	*+0+0:)
	    DIRECTION=left-of
	    ;;
	*:)
	    DIRECTION=right-of
	    ;;
    esac

# Autoconfigure this output
ARGS="$ARGS --output ${output%%+*} --auto"

# And put it at left or at right of the previous output
[ -n "$prevoutput" ] && \
ARGS="$ARGS --output ${output%%+*} --$DIRECTION $prevoutput"

prevoutput=${output%%+*}
done

# Call xrandr
xrandr $ARGS

batt

#!/bin/sh

CHARGE=$(envstat | grep charge: | sed 's/.*(\(.*\))/\1/')
BATT1=$(echo $CHARGE | awk '{print $1}')
BATT2=$(echo $CHARGE | awk '{print $2}')

if envstat | grep -Eiq 'charging.*true'; then
  STATUS=charging
else
  STATUS=discharging
fi

notify-send -u low "charge levels" " 1st battery = $BATT1 \n2nd battery = $BATT2" \nSTATUS = $STATUS"

3. changexkbmap

#!/bin/sh

layout=`setxkbmap -query | sed -rn 's/layout.*(..)/\1/p'`
case $layout in
    us)
    setxkbmap it
    pgrep -x dunst >/dev/null && notify-send -i kxkb -u low "[Layout] Italian"
    ;;

it)
setxkbmap us
pgrep -x dunst >/dev/null && notify-send -i kxkb -u low "[Layout] English"
;;
esac

4. randomgb

#!/bin/sh

walls=$HOME/.fvwm/wallpapers/
image=$(shuffle `find $walls -type f` | tail -1)
# rather use feh if you plan on using wallpapers 
# which do not match your screen resolution
fvwm-root --retain-pixmap $image
notify-send -u low "background changed"

5. savexclip

#!/bin/sh

xclip -o | xclip -sel clip
echo $(xclip -o -sel clip) >> ~/.xclip_history
sed -n '/^\s*$/d; G; s/\n/&&/; /^\([ -~]*\n\).*\n\1/d; s/\n//; \
	 h; P' -i ~/.xclip_history > /dev/null 2>&1
notify-send -u low "CLIPBOARD:" "'$(xclip -o -sel clip)' saved." &

6. title

#!/bin/sh 
set -u

main() {
  window_id=`xprop -root 32x '\t$0' _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW | awk {'print $2'}`
  title=`xwininfo -id "window_id" | perl -ne 'print $1 if /"(.*)"\s*$/'`

  if ! tempfile=`mktemp`  

  then
    echo "Cannot create temporary file" 1>&2
    exit 1
  fi

  echo "$title" > "$tempfile"

  popup_window_title="Choose new title in editor, then save and exit..."

  xterm -T "$popup_window_title" -n "$popup_window_title" \
    -e "${EDITOR:-vi}" "$tempfile"

  newtitle=`head -c 1000 "$tempfile"`

  xwit -id "$window_id" -name "$newtitle"
}

main "$@"

7. vol

#!/bin/sh
VAR=$(mixerctl -n outputs.master | cut -d , -f 1 | \
     awk '{print $1/254*100}' | cut -d . -f 1)
VOL=${VAR}%
notify-send -u low "volume level:" "$VOL"

8. xwd2png

  #!/bin/sh

  main() {
    if [ $# = 0 ]
    then
      do_files *
    else
      do_files "$@"
    fi
  }

  do_files() {
    local file

for file in "$@"
do
  if file "$file" | fgrep -q ": XWD X Window Dump image data,"
  then
xwdtopnm < $file | pnmtopng > $file.png
    mv $file.png `echo $file | sed 's/\(.*\.\)xwd/\1png/'`
    rm $file 
  fi
done
  }

  main "$@"

9. dumproot

#!/bin/sh
DIR=$HOME/.fvwm/images
xwd -silent -root | convert xwd:- $DIR/root.$(date +'%Y%M%d%H%m%S').png
notify-send "screenshot saved"

d) autostart script

~/.fvwm/autostart is executed as part of FVWM's ''InitFunction'', so place there any program you want to be started in background upon login. Follows an example:

#!/bin/sh

# lock screen after 15 mins of idleness
xautolock -time 15 \
          -locker 'xlock -name $HOME/.Xresources' -notify 10 \
          -notifier "notify-send 'XLock' '10s before locking display'" &
# open multiple terminal windows within the same process
pgrep urxvtd 2> /dev/null || urxvtd -q -o -f &
# keep the X clipboard and the cutbuffer in sync
autocutsel &
# run pcmanfm in daemon mod, for device discovery
#pcmanfm -d &
# notify daemon
dunst &
# music player daemon
mpd &
# clock
LC_ALL=C xclock &

#
# Background
#
# xsetroot -grey
# bggen darkcyan darkblue black | xv -8 -quic -root -quit -
# xplanet.sh &
# sh $HOME/.fehbg

e) relevant X11/app-defaults

Let's configure our ~/.Xresources as follows:

! ===== General ====
Xft*dpi:    	   96
Xft*autohint:      0
Xft*antialias:     1
Xft*hinting:       1   

Xft*rgba:          rgb
Xft*hintstyle:     hintslight
Xft*lcdfilter:     lcddefault
*.font:            -artwiz-anorexia-medium-r-normal--11-110-75-75-p-90-iso10646-1
*.fontList:        -artwiz-anorexia-medium-r-normal--11-110-75-75-p-90-iso10646-1
rofi.font:         scientifica Bold 8

! ===== Colors ====
*foreground:       #D7D0C7
*background:       #151515

!black
! *color0:          #AF875F
! *color8:          #AF875F
*color0:            #101010
*color8:            #404040
!red
*color1:            #E84F4F
*color9:            #D23D3D
!green
*color2:            #B8D68C
*color10:           #A0CF5D
!yellow
*color3:            #E1AA5D
*color11:           #F39D21
!blue
*color4:            #7DC1CF
*color12:           #4E9FB1
!magenta
*color5:            #9B64FB
*color13:           #8542FF
!cyan
*color6:            #6D878D
*color14:           #42717B
!white
*color7:            #dddddd
*color15:    	    #dddddd

URxvt*borderColor:  #151515
URxvt*colorBD:      #ffffff
URxvt*cursorColor:  #ff8939
URxvt*cursorColor2: #151515

! ===== Cursor ====
Xcursor*theme: 	    OpenZone_Ice_Slim
Xcursor*size	    12


! ===== URxvt ====
! general
URxvt*termName:     	rxvt-unicode-256color
URxvt*name:         	URxvt
URxvt*title:        	URxvt
URxvt*geometry:     	93x35
URxvt*cursorBlink:  	true
URxvt*internalBorder: 	7
URxvt*externalBorder: 	0
URxvt*loginShell:   	true
URxvt*locale:       	true
URxvt*utf8:         	true
URxvt*iso14755:     	false
URxvt*iso14755_52:  	false
URxvt*preeditType:  	Root
URxvt*altSendsEscape:   true
URxvt*eightBitInput:    false
URxvt*metaSendsEscape:  true
URxvt*utmpInhibit:  	false
URxvt*scrollBar:       	false
URxvt*scrollstyle:  	xterm
URxvt*thickness:    	10
URxvt*scrollBar_right:  true
URxvt*scrollBar_floating: false
URxvt*secondaryScroll:  true
URxvt*buffered:     	true
URxvt*urgentOnBell:     true
URxvt*visualBell:       true
URxvt*mapAlert:     	true
URxvt*transparent:  	false
URxvt*renderFont:   	false
URxvt*shading:      	25
URxvt*fading:       	0
URxvt*depth:        	32
URxvt*intensityStyles:  true
URxvt*secondaryScreen:  1
URxvt*scrollTtyOutput:  false
URxvt*scrollWithBuffer: true
URxvt*scrollTtyKeypress: true
URxvt*saveLines:    	16384

! copy and paste $XA_CLIPBOARD
URxvt*clipboard.copycmd:    xclip -in -sel clip
URxvt*clipboard.pastecmd:   xclip -out -sel clip

! fonts
URxvt*font:      	    -artwiz-lime-medium-r-normal--10-110-75-75-m-50-iso10646-1
URxvt*boldFont:
URxvt*italicFont:

! extensions
URxvt*perl-ext-common:      default,matcher,clipboard,keyboard-select,url-select,font-size,fullscreen,vtwheel
URxvt*charClass:            33:48,35:48,37:48,43:48,45-47:48,64:48,95:48,126:48
URxvt*url-select.launcher:  seamonkey
URxvt*url-select.underline: true
URxvt*url-select.autocopy:  true
URxvt*url-select.button:    1
URxvt*matcher.button:       1
URxvt*clipboard.autocopy:   true
URxvt.keysym.C-f:           searchable-scrollback:start
URxvt*keysym.C-u:           perl:url-select:select_next
URxvt*keysym.C-x:           perl:clipboard:copy
URxvt*keysym.C-v:           perl:clipboard:paste
URxvt*keysym.C-Shift-v:     perl:clipboard:paste_escaped
URxvt*keysym.C-Delete:      perl:matcher:last
URxvt*keysym.C-Shift-Delete:perl:matcher:list
URxvt*keysym.C-Up:          perl:font-size:increase
URxvt*keysym.C-Down:        perl:font-size:decrease
URxvt*keysym.C-Shift-Up:    perl:font-size:incglobal
URxvt*keysym.C-Shift-Down:  perl:font-size:decglobal
URxvt*keysym.C-equal:       perl:font-size:reset
URxvt*keysym.C-slash:       perl:font-size:show
URxvt*keysym.C-a:           perl:keyboard-select:activate
URxvt*keysym.C-s:           perl:keyboard-select:search
URxvt*keysym.F11:           perl:fullscreen:switch
URxvt*tabbed.new-button:    false
URxvt*tabbed.tabbar-fg:     7
URxvt*tabbed.tabbar-bg:     0
URxvt*tabbed.tab-fg:        7
URxvt*tabbed.tab-bg:        5
URxvt*tabbed.tabcmds.1:     N|sh
URxvt*tabbed.tabcmds.2:     R|root|su -
URxvt*tabbed.tabcmds.3:     F|nnn|nnn
URxvt*tabbed.tabcmds.4:     E|vi|vi
URxvt*tabbed.tabcmds.5:     M|mutt|neomutt
URxvt*tabbed.tabcmds.6:     H|htop|htop
URxvt*session:              N


! ===== XLock ====
XLock*dpmsoff:      on
XLock*description:  on
XLock*echokeys:     on
XLock*echokey:      *
XLock*showfps:      on
XLock*program:      /usr/games/fortune -s
XLock*mailCmd:      /usr/bin/mail -H
XLock*lockdelay:    10
XLock*timeout:      15
XLock*use3d:        on
XLock*delta3d:      1.5
XLock*right3d:      Blue
XLock*left3d:       Red
XLock*boTh3d:       Magenta
!XLock*info:        "screen is locked"
XLock*mode:         fzort
XLock*username:     user:  

XLock*password:     key:  

Xlock*icongeometry: 96x96
XLock*enablesaver:  on
XLock*wireframe:    on
XLock*fontset:      -artwiz-snap-normal-r-normal--10-100-75-75-p-90-iso10646-1
XLock*planfontset:  -artwiz-edges-medium-r-normal--10-100-75-75-m-50-iso10646-1
XLock*messagefont:  -artwiz-edges-medium-r-normal--10-100-75-75-m-50-iso10646-1

! ===== XClock ====
XClock*strftime:    %a %d %b %H:%M
XClock*padding:     3
XClock*update:      1
XClock*chime:       true
XClock*render:      true
XClock*digital:     false
XClock*Font:        -*-helvetica-medium-r-normal--*-80-*-*-*-*-*-*
XClock*geometry:    128x128-3+3 
XClock*borderWidth: 1
XClock*foreground:  #d79921
XClock*majorColor:  #4E9FB1
XClock*minorColor:  #D7D0C7
XClock*hourColor:   #D7D0C7
XClock*minuteColor: #D7D0C7
XClock*secondColor: #D7D0C7

f) notification deamon

What follows is a sample config for the dunst notifcation daemon, with colors set to match out fvwm theme
Create a ~/.config/dunst/dunstrc file (as well as the parent directory if non-existent) with the following content:

[urgency_low]
  # IMPORTANT: colors have to be defined in quotation marks.
  # Otherwise the # and following would be interpreted as a comment.
  background = "#151515"
  foreground = "#D7C0D7"
  frame_color = "#4E9FB1"
  timeout = 5

[urgency_normal]
  background = "#151515"
  foreground = "#D7C0D7"
  frame_color = "#E1AA5D"
  timeout = 10

[urgency_critical]
  background = "#151515"
  foreground = "#D7C0D7"
  frame_color = "#E84F4F"
  timeout = 30

[global]
  # Defines color of the frame around the notification window.
  frame_color = "#aaaaaa"

  # Define a color for the separator.
  # possible values are:
  #  * auto: dunst tries to find a color fitting to the background;
  #  * foreground: use the same color as the foreground;
  #  * frame: use the same color as the frame;
  #  * anything else will be interpreted as a X color.
  separator_color = frame

  # Paths to default icons.
  icon_path = /usr/pkg/share/icons/Sardi-Mono/16/status/:/usr/pkg/share/icons/Sardi-Mono/16/devices/


  geometry = "0x0-3-3"
  #          [{width}]x{height}[+/-{x}+/-{y}]

  font = nu 8

  # The format of the message.  Possible variables are:
  #   %a  appname
  #   %s  summary
  #   %b  body
  #   %i  iconname (including its path)
  #   %I  iconname (without its path)
  #   %p  progress value if set ([  0%] to [100%]) or nothing
  #   %n  progress value if set without any extra characters
  #   %%  Literal %
  # Markup is allowed
  format = "%s %p\n%b"

  # The spacing between lines.  If the height is smaller than the
  # font height, it will get raised to the font height.
  line_height = 0

  frame_width = 1
  separator_height = 1
  notification_height = 0
  padding = 8
  horizontal_padding = 10
  transparency = 7

  # Shrink window if it's smaller than the width.
  # Will be ignored if  width is 0.
  shrink = yes

  # Possible values are left, center and right.
  alignment = left

  # Possible values are start, middle and end.
  ellipsize = middle

  ignore_newline = no
  word_wrap = yes

  # Align icons left/right/off
  icon_position = left

  # Scale larger icons down to this size, set to 0 to disable
  max_icon_size = 32


  # Which monitor should the notifications be displayed on.
  monitor = 0
  follow = mouse

  # Show how many messages are currently hidden (because of geometry).
  indicate_hidden = yes

  # Sort messages by urgency.
  sort = no

  # Don't remove messages, if the user is idle (no mouse or keyboard input)
  # for longer than idle_threshold seconds.
  # Set to 0 to disable.
  # Transient notifications ignore this setting.
  idle_threshold = 120

  markup = full

  # Show age of message if message is older than show_age_threshold
  # seconds.
  # Set to -1 to disable.
  show_age_threshold = 60

  # Merge multiple notifications with the same content
  stack_duplicates = true

  # Hide the count of merged notifications with the same content
  hide_duplicate_count = false

  # Display indicators for URLs (U) and actions (A).
  show_indicators = yes
  dmenu = /usr/pkg/bin/dmenu -p dunst:
  browser = seamonkey

  # Should a notification popped up from history be sticky or timeout
  # as if it would normally do.
  sticky_history = yes
  history_length = 20


  # Always run rule-defined scripts, 
  # even if the notification is suppressed
  always_run_script = true
  title = Dunst
  class = Dunst
  startup_notification = false
  force_xinerama = false

[shortcuts]

  # Available modifiers are ctrl, shift, mod1 (alt)
  # mod2, mod3 and mod4 (windows-key).

  # Close notification.
  close = ctrl+space

  # Close all notifications.
  close_all = ctrl+shift+space

  # Redisplay last message(s).
  history = ctrl+grave

  # action (dmenu)
  context = ctrl+alt+c

g) X init script

Time to write a suitable ''~/.xinitrc'' (or ''~/.xsession'' in case you used XDM).

#!/bin/sh

#
# Environmental variables
#
LC_LANG="en_US.UTF-8"; export LC_LANG
LC_CTYPE="en_US.UTF-8"; export LC_CTYPE
DISPLAY=:0; export DISPLAY
env > $HOME/.env

#
# Source possible system-wide startup scripts
#
if [ -d /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.d ]; then
      for f in /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.d/*; do
              [ -x "$f" ] && . "$f"
      done
      unset f
fi

#
# Set up a user-owned tmp directory with restricted access 
#
USER=$(whoami)
GROUP=$(id -ng $USER)
mkdir /tmp/${USER}-runtime 
chown $USER:$GROUP /tmp/${USER}-runtime
chmod -R 0700 /tmp/${USER}-runtime
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/tmp/${USER}-runtime; export XDG_RUNTIME_DIR
TMPDIR=/tmp/${USER}-runtime; export TMPDIR

#
# Check if ~/.cache is a symbolic link to a directory owned by the user.
# If the link's target is not a directory or does not exist, create a
# directory owned by the user under /tmp, and make ~/.cache a symbolic
# link to it.
#
uid=$(id -u)
if [ -L ~/.cache ]; then
 if [ -d ~/.cache ]; then
  ownerid=$(stat -L -f %u ~/.cache)
  if [ "${ownerid}" != "${uid}" ]; then
   recreate_cache=1
  fi
 else
  recreate_cache=1
 fi
 if [ "${recreate_cache}" = "1" ]; then
  user=$(whoami)
  unlink ~/.cache
  cachedir=$(mktemp -d /tmp/${user}.XXXXXX)
  ln -s ${cachedir} ~/.cache
 fi
fi


#
# Kill dbus services from a previous session in order to prevent hangs.
#
for s in 15 9; do
 for p in dbus-launch /usr/pkg/libexec/gvfsd-fuse; do
  pgrep -U ${uid} -q $p && pkill -$s $p
 done
done
eval $(dbus-launch --sh-syntax)

#
# X settings
#
setxkbmap -model pc105 -layout "it,us" -option terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp
xset s off
xset +dpms               				# powersaving  

xset dpms 1200 1500 1800 				# screen blanking
xset b 0                 				# muted bell
xset m 55/20 4           				# mouse acceleration 
xset r rate 250 40       				# faster keypresses
xset +fp /usr/pkg/share/fonts/X11/artwiz-aleczapka/	# artwiz fonts
xset +fp /home/vincent/.local/share/fonts/		# user fontpath
xhost +local:root > /dev/null 2>&1   			# privileged X server access 
#xsetroot -cursor_name top_left_arrow 			#left pointer as cursor
xsetroot -mod 16 16 -fg steelblue -bg black 		# grid background 
xbrightness 65535 0.96         				# software screen brightness


#
# Merge in default system resources and keymaps,
# as well as user-defined ones. 
#
userresources=$HOME/.Xresources
usermodmap=$HOME/.Xmodmap
sysresources=/etc/X11/xinit/Xresources
sysmodmap=/etc/X11/xinit/Xmodmap

if [ -f $sysresources ]; then
    xrdb -merge $sysresources
fi

if [ -f $sysmodmap ]; then
    xmodmap $sysmodmap
fi

if [ -f $userresources ]; then
    xrdb -merge $userresources
fi

if [ -f $usermodmap ]; then
    xmodmap $usermodmap
fi

#
# Start wm
#

exec fvwm3

h) GTK+ Theming

I find that the combination of Simply Circle Blue GTK Dark Envolded, Simply Circles Blue Icons, and OpenZone Cursors Ice Slim gets along well enough with my FVWM theme, making the overall consistency of the UI quite pleasing.

i) OK, but how does it look?

Here's s a screenshot of my desktop as of May 2020