LXDE

Last updated

LXDE
Original author(s) Hong Jen Yee ("PCMan")
Developer(s) The LXDE Team
Initial release2006;18 years ago (2006)
Stable release
0.10.1 [1]   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg / 25 February 2021
Repository
Written in C (GTK 2, GTK 3)
Operating system Unix-like
Platform Linux, BSD
Type Desktop environment
License GPL, LGPL
Website lxde.org

LXDE (abbreviation for Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) is a free desktop environment with comparatively low resource requirements. This makes it especially suitable for use on older or resource-constrained personal computers [2] such as netbooks or system on a chip computers.

Contents

Overview

LXDE is written in the C programming language, using the GTK 2 toolkit, and runs on Unix and other POSIX-compliant platforms, such as Linux and BSDs. The LXDE project aims to provide a fast and energy-efficient desktop environment. [3] [4]

LXDE uses rolling releases for its individual components (or for groups of components with coupled dependencies). [5] The default window manager used is Openbox, but one can configure a third-party window manager for use with LXDE, such as Fluxbox, IceWM or Xfwm. [6] LXDE includes GPL-licensed code as well as LGPL-licensed code. [3]

History

The project was started in 2006 by Taiwanese programmer Hong Jen Yee (Chinese :洪任諭; pinyin :Hóng Rènyù), also known as PCMan, when he published PCManFM, a new file manager and the first module of LXDE.

In 2010, tests suggested that LXDE 0.5 had the lowest memory-usage of the four most-popular desktop environments of the time (the others being GNOME 2.29, KDE Plasma Desktop 4.4, and Xfce 4.6), [7] and that it consumed less energy, [8] which suggested mobile computers with Linux distributions running LXDE 0.5 drained their batteries at a slower pace than those with other desktop environments.

Qt port

Dissatisfied with GTK 3, [9] Hong Jen Yee experimented with Qt in early 2013 [10] and released the first version of a Qt-based PCManFM on 26 March 2013. [9]

On 3 July 2013 Hong announced a Qt port of the full LXDE suite, [11] and on 21 July Razor-qt and LXDE announced that they would merge the two projects. [12] [13] [14] This merger meant that the GTK and the Qt versions would coexist for some time but, eventually, all original team efforts focused on the Qt port, LXQt. [15]

Current development

Despite the original team moving to LXQt development, some other developers continued to maintain LXDE on GitHub and, as of March 2021, there are fresh commits to keep updated the GTK 2 version. As of July 2019 LXTerminal release is based on GTK 3 to avoid dependencies on the old VTE lib. [16] [17]

GTK 3 port

As of May 2020, there is an experimental GTK 3 port developed by the Arch Linux community. [18] GTK 3 versions have already been developed for the following components: LXAppearance, LXAppearance-ObConf, LXDE-common, LXDE-icon-theme, LXDM, LXhotkey, LXInput, LXLauncher, LXPanel, LXRandR, LXSession, LXTask, LXTerminal, Openbox, PCManFM. [19] One advantage of using GTK 3 is that GTK 3 programs run natively on Wayland. PCManFM is a popular file manager for use with tiling window managers and hence, having a Wayland-native PCManFM is useful for people that use Sway.[ citation needed ]

Availability

LXDE desktop on Arch Linux LXDE-ArchLinux.png
LXDE desktop on Arch Linux
LXDE desktop on Peppermint Linux OS Peppermint-Ice-Linux.jpg
LXDE desktop on Peppermint Linux OS

Default desktop

Alternative desktop

Former default desktop

Software components of LXDE

Unlike other major desktop environments such as GNOME, the components of LXDE have few dependencies and are not tightly integrated. [33] Instead, they can be installed independently of each other or LXDE itself. [34]

ComponentsDescriptionsNotes
PCMan File Manager File manager and Desktop metaphor provider
LXInputMouse and keyboard configuration tool
LXLauncherEasy-mode application launcher
LXPanel Desktop panel
LXSession X session manager
LXAppearanceGTK theme switcher
GPicView Image viewer
LXMusicA frontend for the XMMS2 audio player
LXTerminal Terminal emulator LXTerminal can be configured to hide the menu bar and the scrolling bar
LXTask Task manager
LXRandRA GUI to RandR
LXDM X display manager
LXNMLightweight network connection helper daemon. Supports wireless connections (Linux only).Discontinued
Leafpad Text editor Not developed by the LXDE project
Openbox (Fluxbox, IceWM and Xfwm are also supported) Window manager Not developed by the LXDE project
ObConf A GUI tool to configure Openbox Not developed by the LXDE project
Xarchiver File archiver Not developed by the LXDE project

See also

Related Research Articles

In computing, a desktop environment (DE) is an implementation of the desktop metaphor made of a bundle of programs running on top of a computer operating system that share a common graphical user interface (GUI), sometimes described as a graphical shell. The desktop environment was seen mostly on personal computers until the rise of mobile computing. Desktop GUIs help the user to easily access and edit files, while they usually do not provide access to all of the features found in the underlying operating system. Instead, the traditional command-line interface (CLI) is still used when full control over the operating system is required.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xfce</span> Desktop environment

Xfce or XFCE is a free and open-source desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Openbox</span> Stacking window manager for X11 displays

Openbox is a free, stacking window manager for the X Window System, licensed under the GNU General Public License. Originally derived from Blackbox 0.65.0, Openbox has been completely re-written in the C programming language and since version 3.0 is no longer based upon any code from Blackbox. Since at least 2010, it has been considered feature complete, bug free and a completed project. Occasional maintenance is done to keep it working, but only if needed.

freedesktop.org (fd.o), formerly X Desktop Group (XDG), is a project to work on interoperability and shared base technology for free-software desktop environments for the X Window System (X11) and Wayland on Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. Although freedesktop.org produces specifications for interoperability, it is not a formal standards body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Light-weight Linux distribution</span> Operating system with low resource requirements

A light-weight Linux distribution is one that uses lower memory and/or has less processor-speed requirements than a more "feature-rich" Linux distribution. The lower demands on hardware ideally result in a more responsive machine, and/or allow devices with fewer system resources to be used productively. The lower memory and/or processor-speed requirements are achieved by avoiding software bloat, i.e. by leaving out features that are perceived to have little or no practical use or advantage, or for which there is no or low demand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zenwalk</span> Slackware-based Linux distribution

Zenwalk GNU/Linux is a desktop-focused Linux distribution founded by Jean-Philippe Guillemin. It is based on Slackware with very few modifications at system level making it 100% compatible with Slackware. It aims to be a modern, multi-purpose Linux distribution by focusing on internet applications, multimedia and programming tools. It comes with many specialized tools and is designed for beginner through advanced users, as it offers system configuration via both graphical tools and the command line.

A desktop environment is a collection of software designed to give functionality and a certain look and feel to an operating system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PCMan File Manager</span> File manager

PCMan File Manager (PCManFM) is a file manager application, developed by Hong Jen Yee from Taiwan, which is meant to be a replacement for GNOME Files, Dolphin and Thunar. PCManFM is the standard file manager in LXDE, also developed by the same author in conjunction with other developers. Since 2010, PCManFM has undergone a complete rewrite from scratch; build instructions, setup and configuration have changed in the process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lubuntu</span> Linux distribution based on Ubuntu, utilizing the LXQt desktop environment

Lubuntu is a lightweight Linux distribution based on Ubuntu and uses the LXQt desktop environment in place of Ubuntu's GNOME desktop. Lubuntu was originally touted as being "lighter, less resource hungry and more energy-efficient", but now aims to be "a functional yet modular distribution focused on getting out of the way and letting users use their computer".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GTK</span> Free and open-source cross-platform widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces

GTK is a free and open-source cross-platform widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces (GUIs). It is licensed under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License, allowing both free and proprietary software to use it. It is one of the most popular toolkits for the Wayland and X11 windowing systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GNOME</span> Desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like systems

GNOME, originally an acronym for GNU Network Object Model Environment, is a free and open-source desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LightDM</span> Free, open-source X display manager

LightDM is a free and open-source X display manager that aims to be lightweight, fast, extensible and multi-desktop. It can use various front-ends to draw the user interface, also called Greeters. It also supports Wayland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leafpad</span> Lightweight text editor

Leafpad is a free and open-source graphical text editor for Linux, Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD), and Maemo that is similar to the Microsoft Windows program Notepad. Created with the focus of being a lightweight text editor with minimal dependencies, it is designed to be simple-to-use and easy-to-compile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MATE (desktop environment)</span> Desktop environment forked from GNOME 2

MATE is a desktop environment composed of free and open-source software that runs on Linux, and other Unix-like operating systems such as BSD, and illumos operating systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Razor-qt</span> Desktop environment for the X Window System

Razor-qt is a discontinued free and open-source desktop environment. It was intended as a lightweight desktop environment based upon the Qt application framework, and was "tailored for users who value simplicity, speed, and an intuitive interface."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LXQt</span> Lightweight Qt Desktop Environment

LXQt is a free and open source lightweight desktop environment. It was formed from the merger of the LXDE and Razor-qt projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devuan</span> Linux distribution based on Debian

Devuan is a fork of the Debian Linux distribution that uses sysvinit, runit or OpenRC instead of systemd. Devuan aims to avoid "lock-in" by projects like systemd and aims to maintain compatibility with other init systems to avoid detaching Linux from other Unix systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artix Linux</span> Linux distribution

Artix Linux is a rolling-release distribution based on Arch Linux that uses inits such as OpenRC, runit, s6, or Dinit, as opposed to Arch Linux's init systemd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FeatherPad</span> Free software text editor written in Qt

FeatherPad is a free software text editor available under the GPL-3.0-or-later license. It is developed by Pedram Pourang of Iran, written in Qt, and runs on FreeBSD, Linux, Haiku OS and macOS. It has few dependencies and is independent of any desktop environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garuda Linux</span> Arch-derived Linux distribution

Garuda Linux is a x86-64 general-purpose Linux distribution, based on Arch Linux operating system. It is available in a wide range of popular Linux desktop environments, including modified versions of the KDE Plasma 5 desktop environment. The term Garuda, originating from Hinduism and Buddhism, is defined as a divine eagle-like sun bird and the king of birds.

References

  1. ↑ "LXPanel 0.10.1 released". 25 February 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  2. ↑ Christopher Smart (9 September 2009). "Lubuntu: Floats Like a Butterfly, Stings Like a Bee". Linux Magazine. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. 1 2 LXDE Team. "LXDE" . Retrieved 26 October 2008.
  4. ↑ LXDE Team. "About LXDE". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  5. ↑ "Description of current release process". Article.gmane.org. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "LXDE". Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  7. ↑ Larabel, Michael. "Power & Memory Usage of GNOME, KDE, LXDE & Xfce". Phoronix. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  8. ↑ Larabel, Michael. "Power & Memory Usage of GNOME, KDE, LXDE & Xfce (page 2)". Phoronix. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  9. 1 2 "PCManFM Qt 0.1.0 released". LXDE Blog. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  10. ↑ "PCManFM file manager is ported to Qt?". LXDE Blog. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "LXDE-Qt Preview". LXDE. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  12. ↑ brother (22 July 2013). ""The future of Razor and LXDE-Qt"". Blog.lxde.org. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "The future of Razor and LXDE-Qt at Razor-qt Google group" . Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  14. ↑ ""The future of Razor and LXDE-Qt" at the LXDE-list archive". Sourceforge.net. 20 July 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  15. ↑ "The Future of Razor and LXDE-Qt". Blog.lxde.org. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "LXTerminal sources news". github.com/lxde/lxterminal.
  17. ↑ "Debian -- Details of package lxterminal in buster". packages.debian.org.
  18. ↑ "Arch Linux LXDE". wiki.archlinux.org.
  19. ↑ Judd Vinet, Aaron Griffin and Levente Polyák (2021). "Group Details – lxde-gtk3 (x86_64)". archlinux.org. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  20. ↑ "KNOPPIX – Live Linux Filesystem on CD". knopper.net.
  21. ↑ "What is it? < The LXLE Desktop". lxle.net. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  22. ↑ "Trisquel Mini". 16 November 2021.
  23. ↑ "Arch Linux – Package Search". archlinux.org.
  24. 1 2 "Early Artix Linux ISOs" . Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  25. 1 2 "Artix Linux minimal ISOs" . Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  26. ↑ "13.3. Graphical Desktops". debian.org.
  27. ↑ "Devuan installation documentation". devuan.org.
  28. ↑ Brodkin, Jon (15 January 2013). "How to install the MATE and Cinnamon desktops on Fedora 18". Ars Technica. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  29. ↑ "Introducing PIXEL". 28 September 2016.
  30. ↑ "Bookworm — the new version of Raspberry Pi OS". 11 October 2023.
  31. ↑ "This Week in Lubuntu Development #5 – Lubuntu". lubuntu.me. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  32. ↑ "Peppermint Release Notes". 2 November 2023.
  33. ↑ Łukasz Bigo. "LXDE – lekka alternatywa do GNOME". Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  34. ↑ "About LXDE". Lxde.sourceforge.net. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
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