LXDE | |
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![]() Default LXDE desktop | |
Original author(s) | Hong Jen Yee ("PCMan") |
Developer(s) | The LXDE Team |
Initial release | 2006 |
Final release | |
Repository | |
Written in | C (GTK 2, GTK 3) |
Operating system | Unix-like |
Platform | Linux, BSD |
Type | Desktop environment |
License | GPL, LGPL |
Website | www![]() |
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.
LXDE was 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. [4] LXDE includes GPL-licensed code as well as LGPL-licensed code. [6]
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.
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]
As of May 2020, there is an experimental GTK 3 port developed by the Arch Linux community. [16] 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. [17] 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 ]
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 the GTK 2 version updated. As of July 2019, the LXTerminal release is based on GTK 3 to avoid dependencies on the old VTE lib. [18] [19]
Default desktop
Alternative desktop
Former default desktop
Unlike other major desktop environments such as GNOME, the components of LXDE have few dependencies and are not tightly integrated. [34] Instead, they can be installed independently of each other or LXDE itself. [35]
Components | Descriptions | Notes |
---|---|---|
PCMan File Manager | File manager and Desktop metaphor provider | |
LXInput | Mouse and keyboard configuration tool | |
LXLauncher | Easy-mode application launcher | |
LXPanel | Desktop panel | |
LXSession | X session manager | |
LXAppearance | GTK theme switcher | |
GPicView | Image viewer | |
LXMusic | A 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 | |
LXRandR | A GUI to RandR | |
LXDM | X display manager | |
LXNM | Lightweight 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 |