Modding / Improving my Workbench installation

[Obi-Wan]

Hi there guys.

So, I've finally gotten around to obtaining the official Workbench 3.1
disksets, from Amiga Forever.

I have a couple of test installs on seperate, Directory hard drives.

I'd like to create my own Workbench 3.1 envrioment, and make it my own.
With additional apps (for quality of life improvements) and cool factor.

I remember having a go with (a shareware version) of MUI, back in the day.

Back when I was younger, I did almost everyting with my Amiga
D-Paint for art/GFX, Octamed for music creation, Transwrite Jr for text editing.
Some AMOS and Blitz Basic coding.
And obviously played a huge bunch of games...........

What are your suggestions / tips / advice for doing this ?
What Apps / programmes should I be looking at ?
Things like Freewheel support, mod players, etc, etc.

(I am aware of Bloodwych's ClassicWB, and have that as one of my
alternative installs).

Any h

[Matt_H]

There's no right or wrong way to do this. Distros like ClassicWB and BetterWB have become popular in recent years but I'm a fan of building up a system slowly by hand. Spend some time using your system and identify what your needs are. Then go to Aminet and browse/search for something that fulfills that need. Or borrow from one of the distributions.

For me, the essentials when setting up a new 3.1 system are LhA, DOpus, and MUI. You'll probably want WHDLoad, too.

[utri007]

VisualPrefs to configure look of GUI
http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/VisualPrefs

MagicMenu for a better menu
http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/MagicMenu_2.35

MCP for a finetuning
http://aminet.net/package/util/cdity/MCP133b1

Be aware for with MCP and read a Guide.

If you have 68040 or better accelerator

FBlit
FTExt
FScreen

http://aminet.net/package/util/boot/fblit

Read a Guide ; Most common problem with FBlit is that it has a bug wich prevents it create it's own setting file. So you need to create it manually to crrect place.

http://aminet.net/package/util/boot/FText
http://www.grey13.com/files/fscreen021ntta.zip

[Obi-Wan]

Thanks very much for the advice so-far guys.
It' much appreciated.

[paul1981]

Can't go far wrong with ToolsDaemon on a 2.0-3.1 Amiga for menus, although the in-built editor is a bit sucky, hence TDPrefs2 to the rescue (should you need it):
http://aminet.net/package/util/boot/ToolsDaemon21a
http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/TDPrefs2

Probably gonna need MUI at some point which I'm sure you'll already have anyway:
http://aminet.net/package/util/libs/mui38usr

HippoPlayer is being worked on again after 20 odd years, and I've always liked this program:
http://aminet.net/package/mus/play/hippoplayerupdate

I do all my text editing with BED. There's an update available too if you like it, but you still need the base package which I believe is:
http://aminet.net/package/text/edit/BlacksEditor

I could make a long list of stuff.  Maybe name your wishes as they arise and we could suggest some stuff for you. 

One tip that comes to mind. Make sure you install the latest reqtools.library. That I think is the AROS one, but the base package has the prefs in etc, and actually the library included here is fine anyway, but you may want to update it with the AROS one afterwards.
http://aminet.net/package/util/libs/ReqToolsUsr

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

You've gotten some good suggestions already.  When I was younger I used to look at people's screenshots (in magazines, on Aminet, in the amiga.org gallery, etc.) and say "how did you make it look like that?"

Now a'days the closest thing is probably looking at YouTube videos of people's Amiga setups.  I've got a few (admittedly old, poor quality) videos on my channel that you're welcome to check out:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZsiP8a81zDGkVMEJysIPzDXfCGd3ymMu

But poke around on YouTube.  See how other people have done their setups, may give you some ideas.  Have fun!