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:
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:
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:
You'll need to install a new Display Manager and disable the old one:
Reboot the system and restart Fedora.
If you want to install Budgie on ArchLinux, then use the command:
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:
For Fedora, it is:
For ArchLinux, do:
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:
If you are using Fedora:
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:
For extra components, which are optional, use this command as well:
If you are using Fedora, then use the command:
You can use the ampersand (@) to designate a group install, or you can use:
For ArchLinux, use:
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:
For Fedora, use:
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:
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:
And on Fedora with:
For Archlinux:
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.
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:
- Ubuntu
- Fedora
- ArchLinux
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:
Code:
sudo apt install ubuntu−budgie−desktopThe 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:
Code:
sudo dnf install budgie-desktopYou'll need to install a new Display Manager and disable the old one:
Code:
sudo yum install lightdm
sudo systemctl disable gdm
sudo systemctl enable lightdmReboot the system and restart Fedora.
If you want to install Budgie on ArchLinux, then use the command:
Code:
sudo pacman -S budgie-desktopFigure 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:
Code:
sudo apt install cinnamon-desktop-environmentFor Fedora, it is:
Code:
sudo yum install cinnamon cinnamon-desktopFor ArchLinux, do:
Code:
sudo pacman -S cinnamon nemo-filerollerThe 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:
Code:
sudo apt install enlightenmentIf you are using Fedora:
Code:
sudo yum install enlightenmentFor 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:
Code:
sudo apt install lxdeFor extra components, which are optional, use this command as well:
Code:
sudo apt install lxde-common lxde-core lxappearanceIf you are using Fedora, then use the command:
Code:
sudo yum install @lxde-desktopYou can use the ampersand (@) to designate a group install, or you can use:
Code:
sudo yum groupinstall lxde-desktopFor ArchLinux, use:
Code:
sudo pacman -S lxdeAfter 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:
Code:
sudo apt install lxqtFor Fedora, use:
Code:
sudo yum install @lxqt-desktopIf you have errors and you cannot install LXQt, then LXQt may have a conflict with an existing Desktop Environment, so perform the following instead:
Code:
sudo yum install --allowerasing @lxqt-desktop[code]
For ArchLinux, use the command:
[code]sudo pacman -S lxqtWhen 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:
Code:
sudo apt install ubuntu-mate-desktopAnd on Fedora with:
Code:
sudo yum install @mate-desktopFor Archlinux:
Code:
sudo pacman -S mate mate-extraYou 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.
