Choosing a Desktop for Linux

[Jarret B]

It is said that Linux is completely customizable. So, let's look at the different desktops that we can customize Linux.

There are quite a few desktop environments and these are too many to cover, so I will cover some of the main ones, even though some of you may wonder why I have not listed your favorite desktop environment. These are some of the more popular, listed in alphabetical order. If I do not list your desktop that you use daily, it does not mean it is not a good desktop, it just didn't make the list.

What is a Desktop Environment?

Most people using a computer have a desktop environment of some sort on their system. There still exists some system without a Graphical User Interface (GUI), but these are rare. Servers may not have a GUI, but most workstations have a desktop.

The Desktop Environment is the GUI used as an interface for the user to the underlying Operating System (OS). For example, you can create folders in the GUI with a mouse rather than typing in the command 'mkdir' in a Command-Line Interface (CLI) when you have no GUI installed.

Starting a new Desktop Environment

Once you’ve installed a desktop, you can logout and at the logon screen, select your user name. In the lower right corner, there should be a cog wheel or another button. Once you click the button, you’ll get a list of installed Desktop Environments.

From the list, just select the Desktop Environment you want to use and then type in your password and log into the system with a new desktop.

For ArchLinux, the button is on the top right.

After changing the Display Manager for Fedora, the option is on the top left of the login screen.

I will concentrate on three different systems to install the Desktop Environments:

1. Ubuntu
2. Fedora
3. ArchLinux

NOTE: For ArchLinux, I installed a desktop not used in this article to install the others from the CLI.

Also, be sure to perform an update from the repositories for your distro.

Budgie

Budgie has efficient performance. There are quite a few distros that come with Budgie already installed when you install the OS.

For Ubuntu, go to a terminal and type in the following command:

sudo apt install ubuntu−budgie−desktop

The system may prompt you to install a Display Manager. You’ll have a choice of 'gdm3' or 'lightdm'. Either should work, but sometimes 'lightdm' works better on most distros. For ArchLinux, I used GDM since the other caused errors during boot.

For Fedora, use:

sudo dnf install budgie-desktop

You'll need to install a new Display Manager and disable the old one:

sudo yum install lightdm
sudo systemctl disable gdm
sudo systemctl enable lightdm

Reboot the system and restart Fedora.

If you want to install Budgie on ArchLinux, then use the command:

sudo pacman -S budgie-desktop

Figure 1 shows the Budgie Desktop Environment on Ubuntu.

FIGURE 1

Cinnamon

The Cinnamon Desktop Environment can be a good choice from transitioning from Windows since the layout is similar to Windows 10.

To install on Ubuntu, use the command:

sudo apt install cinnamon-desktop-environment

For Fedora, it is:

sudo yum install cinnamon cinnamon-desktop

For ArchLinux, do:

sudo pacman -S cinnamon nemo-fileroller

The Cinnamon Desktop on Ubuntu is in Figure 2.

FIGURE 2

Enlightenment

The Enlightenment Desktop Environment is both efficient and is visually pleasing to the eye.

For Ubuntu, use:

sudo apt install enlightenment

If you are using Fedora:

sudo yum install enlightenment

For ArchLinux:

[sudo pacman -S enlightenment[/code]

When Enlightenment starts, it will ask you for a simple setup information before starting. In Figure 3, you’ll see the Desktop Environment for Enlightenment on Ubuntu.

FIGURE 3

LXDE

LXDE is a lightweight desktop that is good for older machines. It is minimalistic in its approach as a GUI. LXDE stands for 'Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment'.

To install LXDE on Ubuntu:

sudo apt install lxde

For extra components, which are optional, use this command as well:

sudo apt install lxde-common lxde-core lxappearance

If you are using Fedora, then use the command:

sudo yum install @lxde-desktop

You can use the ampersand (@) to designate a group install, or you can use:

sudo yum groupinstall lxde-desktop

For ArchLinux, use:

sudo pacman -S lxde

After you update the repositories, the system might prompt you about installing extras. Just press ENTER to allow all LXDE extras to be installed as well.

LXDE on Ubuntu is in Figure 4.

FIGURE 4

LXQt

LXQt is a lightweight desktop built on the Qt framework. Qt is a cross-platform application development software for making GUIs. Do not confuse Qt with QuickTime, these are two different things.

LXQt is 'Lightweight Desktop Environment'. It is LXDE made with Qt, so it is faster.

To install on Ubuntu, use:

sudo apt install lxqt

For Fedora, use:

sudo yum install @lxqt-desktop

If you have errors and you cannot install LXQt, then LXQt may have a conflict with an existing Desktop Environment, so perform the following instead:

sudo yum install --allowerasing @lxqt-desktop[code]

For ArchLinux, use the command:

[code]sudo pacman -S lxqt

When prompted for extras, press ENTER to select all.

After logging back in with the LXQt desktop on Ubuntu or ArchLinux, the system might prompt you to specify which desktop manager you want to use. I chose 'OpenBox' and had no issues.

Figure 5 shows the LXQt desktop on Ubuntu, and if you compare it to LXDE (Figure 4), you can see that they are similar.

FIGURE 5

MATE

The name MATE is after the South American plant yerba mate. It is a fork of the GNOME 2 desktop.

You can install MATE on Ubuntu by:

sudo apt install ubuntu-mate-desktop

And on Fedora with:

sudo yum install @mate-desktop

For Archlinux:

sudo pacman -S mate mate-extra

You can see MATE on Ubuntu in Figure 6.

FIGURE 6

Conclusion

This should give you a basic understanding of setting up a different Desktop Environment on your system.

Hopefully, this can help you see how modular Linux can be so you can replace portions of your distro to create the Linux system you want on your machine.

 

[Mike-BTU]

IMO, KDE Plasma beats the other DEs hands down. Are you going to cover it someday, too?

Of course, KDE is not available in some distros. I wanted it, so I quit LM.

 

[wizardfromoz]

Of course, KDE is not available in some distros. I wanted it, so I quit LM.

Mike - you can actually install KDE Plasma on LM, it is simply no longer provided as a separate .iso.

You'll only get as recent as 5.27 though, not 6 before June 2026.

I'll leave the first part of your Post for the OP.

Cheers

Wizard

 

[909mjolnir]

...LXQt brings back really good memories of mine of my Lubuntu days. Nice.

And kind of like what Wiz was talking about, MATE is still available on Manjaro, but not as a specific ISO, and it might be only from a certain time frame. But I reinstalled it just a couple of days ago alongside my current XFCE and it's fine. The only crosstalk I get is the MATE notifications appearance settings override my XFCE notification appearance settings. But I really only use MATE as a safety backup and for experiments. But I do like how it's clean and minimal as a GUI.

Even when I'm not using MATE, I still occasionally use Caja in XFCE and I still use it's Engrampa too.

 

[Chickencatcher]

I am 72Yrs old, don wanna buy a new PC, as I am now officially an OAP. I mainly use my Pc to speak with my Children/Grandchildren back in Aus, and I do my music collection on it, no comlicated games, and I use A data system to keep track of my music and Home brew.
I just have to watch my money now, so I can't afford to keep buying new things all the time, specialy expensive things like PC's my computoe says It is not compatible with windows 11. So I'm seeking an alternative. A friend says he's bin using Linus for a while noe good a so far and no probs at all. I am just a little nervous about attempting a very large job like installing something like Linus, But mebbe I'll have to try

 

[Brickwizard]

I am just a little nervous about attempting a very large job like installing something like Linus,

Hi welcome to the forums, we have many antipodean members but most are likely to be readying for bed [so where are you now residing]
please look at the links in my signature below and have a read, then come back with your questions, and please tell us the full make and model of your machine, it may make a difference to what we impart to you

 

[MikeWalsh]

@Chickencatcher :-

Hallo.....and

to Linux.org (the friendliest Linux forum on the web).

You'll be in good hands with my colleague @Brickwizard . And please be aware; so long as you have some basic computer skills - and don't mind following instructions - Linux is really, really simple to install AND to use.

I think that, for you, the well-known distro (short for 'distribution') Linux Mint would be an extremely good starting point. Not only is it very similar to Windows in appearance and general operation, it also has a huge user-base, is well-supported, and there are thousands of people out there who will be more than happy to help with any problems. Which is a big plus point in its favour, and for you will be a win-win.

Never hesitate to ask questions, no matter how daft they may seem. That's why most of the regulars are here.......because we LIKE helping people, assisting them to achieve FULL control of their own machines & handing them the keys to true computing freedom.

That, in a nutshell, is what Linux is all about.


Mike.

 

[dos2unix]

Fedora is another option.

Fedora Spins

fedoraproject.org