jfn linux project: April 2024

April 19, 2024

10 Best Linux Distributions for Xfce Desktop

A fresh list of the best Linux distributions which offer lightweight Xfce desktop environments.

Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment focusing on speed, performance, and resource efficiency. It offers a clean and intuitive user interface without compromising functionality. It features the legacy icon and menu-driven user interface, which is time-tested for productivity. In addition, Xfce also allows users to personalize it according to their preferences.

Many Linux distributions feature Xfce as their flagship offering with various tweaks and customizations. If you love Xfce and want to adopt it for your daily driver, you may check out the below list of distributions.

The order is casually based on our recommendation and the freshness of the respective distros.

Table of Contents

Best Linux distributions with Xfce desktop

Debian with Xfce

Debian Linux, known for its stability and reliability, offers the default desktop environment as Xfce. When you install the Debian desktop ISO, it installs Xfce if you don’t choose anything particular.

This powerful combination of Debian and Xfce offers stability, security, and a vast software repository, making it excellent for all user bases. Whether you’re seeking a reliable desktop operating system or a stable platform for your server, Debian with Xfce provides a user-friendly experience that can be tailored to suit your specific needs.

If you don’t like Ubuntu but want to be in “apt” ecosystem with Xfce, you should consider Debian Linux with Xfce. It would be a perfect combination for productive and daily running distribution. Finally, you get to experience vanilla Xfce with this variant.

You can download the Debian Xfce ISO file from the below page.

Linux Mint Xfce edition

If you are a Linux Mint fan and want an Xfce desktop with it, then you should try its Xfce flavour. Although Mint’s flagship is the Cinnamon desktop, but Xfce is equally good.

Linux Mint Xfce edition brings a lot of cool Mint apps (Xapps), making the Xfce desktop more productive for you. The built-in customizations and themes also give a better look than the default Xfce feel.

In addition, you enjoy the advantage of seamless system updates, version upgrades and many system-level actions with just a few clicks. Linux Mint Xfce Edition provides a seamless and enjoyable computing experience overall and is probably the most stable and easy-to-use Xfce distro.

You can download Linux Mint Xfce ISO from the below link.

MX Linux

MX Linux is a popular and probably the most happening emerging distro, which got lots of users’ attention because of its versatility and simplicity. It is based on the Debian stable version and features a customized Xfce desktop.

At the core, MX Linux is free from Systemd. Hence you get a superfast distro that works in much older hardware with ease. MX Linux also features MX Tools to simplify various tasks which you want to perform on a desktop. These tools cover a range of functions, including system management, hardware setup, and package management, empowering users to customize their experience effortlessly.

Here are some key reasons why MX Linux is one of the worthy candidates in this list:

Based on the Debian stable version
Xfce desktop environment with option as Fluxbox
Systemd free
Excellent performance and stability
Access to a vast software repository
MX Tools for easy customization

Fedora Xfce Edition

If you are looking for Xfce with Fedora as the base, then you have limited options. One of the options is Fedora Xfce flavour which brings the latest packages and upgrades. Fedora Xfce usually offers the latest version of the Xfce desktop twice a year. In addition, Fedora Linux brings the latest tech upgrades and packages, making it the best choice for Xfce-based distribution.

The Xfce desktop in Fedora Linux is the stock version without any customization. Hence, you have a clean slate to customize Xfce desktop as per your taste and need. Furthermore, Fedora Linux brings an extensive software repository, offering a wide range of applications, libraries, and development tools.

You can download the Fedora Xfce edition from the below page.

Xubuntu

Xubuntu is a Linux distribution that integrates the popular Xfce desktop environment with the Ubuntu operating system. It offers users a lightweight and efficient computing experience with the familiar Ubuntu ecosystem. Xubuntu’s emphasis on the Xfce desktop environment allows for a fast and responsive user interface while conserving system resources.

However, Xubuntu follows Ubuntu’s underlying packages, which include Snap and other Ubuntu desktop applications. If you are OK with those, then Xubuntu is an excellent choice for a stable Xfce-based distro.

You can download Xubuntu from the below page.

EndeavourOS

It’s the first Xfce-based distribution based on Arch Linux in this list. Three years back, a small team of contributors started EndeavourOS to continue the discontinued Antergos project. And since then, EndeavourOS has become popular because of its simplicity of installation, user experience and features.

Although several other desktops are available, EndeavourOS comes with the default Xfce desktop environment. The Xfce desktop is a little customized, and you get almost vanilla Xfce with Arch Linux based on this distro.

If you ever tried EndeavourOS, you must have “felt” how “easy” things are to perform on a desktop for the end user, being an Arch distro. The motto of this distro is to be a “general purpose” Arch Linux distribution for the masses, discarding the Arch Linux installation fear for new users and the superiority of using Arch.

It’s the best among other distros which offer Xfce with Arch Linux. You can download EndeavourOS from the below page.

Linux Lite

Linux Lite 6.0, AKA Linux Lite OS, is based on Ubuntu and follows its LTS (Long Term Support) lifecycle. That means you get a similar release schedule and security updates for five years following Ubuntu Linux. The lightweight desktop environment – Xfce is its primary and only desktop. Linux Lite OS primarily focuses on Windows users who want to kick-start their Linux journey. Hence, you may consider it a “bridging” Linux distro.

The Xfce desktop it offers is a little customized with themes, wallpapers and fonts. However, it’s another Ubuntu-derived distro with Xfce. You may give it a try.

You can also read about its performance and other aspects in the Linux Lite review.

Manjaro Xfce

Manjaro Linux is a famous and time-tested distribution which brings Arch Linux to the masses. It is well designed to provide a wrapper to the “Arch Linux is difficult” myth. In addition, once you start using it, you wouldn’t feel it is an Arch Linux. It may feel like a Debian-based or a Fedora-based distro.

Although it offers other desktop environments like KDE Plasma, its Xfce variant is also well-built with an underlying Arch Linux core. If you need another alternative Arch Linux-based distro with Xfce, you can try it.

You can learn more about this distro in several reviews which I published.

Peppermint OS

Next on the list is Peppermint OS, a Debian-stable-based distro that’s ideal for daily use. It includes pre-installed apps to help you get started and has a customized Xfce desktop environment. Previously, Peppermint OS used LXDE but recently made the switch to Xfce.

Other than the Debian base, Peppermint OS features two key applications. The Peppermint Welcome app provides new users with a basic overview of the distribution. The other app, Peppermint Hub, offers shortcuts for managing your system, such as changing themes and downloading software from the repository. If you are new to Peppermint OS, Peppermint Hub can handle most system management tasks from one convenient location.

You can give it a try, but the Xfce desktop experience would be the same as the first one on this list.

Kali Linux

Kali Linux, a well-known distro in the cyber security industry, is based on the Debian testing branch and is a must-have for this list. Although it is for a segment but the default Xfce desktop makes it another candidate in this list.

It is equipped with a variety of specialized tools for penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and digital forensics. These tools include password cracking, network scanning, and wireless attacks, making it the ideal solution for assessing and securing your systems.

Kali Linux with Xfce Desktop Environment

The Xfce desktop environment is heavily customized, which makes it one of the great-looking distributions for everyone. However, it is targeted to specialized use cases. Hence you should only use Kali for those functions.

Which is the best for you?

Well, that depends on your taste and use case. If you are not sure, I would recommend going ahead with Linux Mint Xfce or MX Linux. They should fit for all purposes.

If you have a specific need for Fedora or Arch Linux base, then try Fedora Xfce or EndeavourOS.

And the rest of them might be good for specific use cases which require Ubuntu or Debian-base.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we looked at several excellent Linux distributions which are optimized for the Xfce desktop environment. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, these distributions provide a lightweight, efficient, and customizable platform for your computing needs. Each distribution offers unique features and advantages.

I hope you get to find out your favourite Xfce-based distro.

Source: https://www.debugpoint.com/best-xfce-distributions/#

Don't like your Linux desktop? Here's how to install an alternative

Written by Jack Wallen, Contributing Writer, April 17, 2024 at 12:27 p.m. PT

If you're not happy with the desktop environment your chosen distribution uses, you have plenty of options available to you. Find out how easy it can be to install here.

Linux is all about choice. From my earliest experiences with the OS, this has been the case. If you're coming from Windows, you're probably accustomed to being able to switch your web browser, office suite, and other applications. What you can't do on Windows is change the desktop environment. The same thing holds true for MacOS.

But with Linux, there's always a choice from the top down, including the desktop environment. In the past, I've used a single distribution with multiple desktop environments to choose from: GNOME, KDE Plasma, Pantheon, Enlightenment… the list goes on and on.

Also: The first 5 Linux commands every new user should learn

If you find yourself unhappy with the desktop environment installed on your current distribution, never fear because your package manager is here to help you out.

Before we dive into this, know that I'm not going to cover every desktop environment for every distribution. The aim here is to give you a general idea of how it's done. You can then take it from there and piece together the combination you want.

With that said, I'll demonstrate the process on two different distributions: Ubuntu and Fedora, which means we're dealing with the apt and dnf package managers. What's interesting to some (and possibly frustrating to others) is that some desktop environments can be installed via your distribution's GUI app store, while others have to be installed via the command line. Because of that, we're going to stick with the command line. The good news is that the process will result in a successful installation.

And with that, let's install.

1. GNOME

Let's say your distribution ships with KDE Plasma, and you'd rather use the modern take on minimalism, GNOME. If your distribution is Ubuntu (22.04 LTS and earlier), open the terminal window and install it with:

sudo apt-get install vanilla-gnome-desktop vanilla-gnome-default-settings

The reason why we use vanilla-gnome is because the Ubuntu default desktop is based on GNOME, with several tweaks.

If your distribution is Fedora, the process for installing GNOME is as simple as the command:

sudo dnf group install gnome

The above command will install GNOME and all of its included applications (such as Software, Maps, Weather, etc.).

Once you've installed GNOME, restart your machine and you should see the GNOME option in your login screen.

2. KDE Plasma

Next, we go to the beautiful KDE Plasma desktop, which might remind you a bit of Windows 10 or 11 but with far more configuration options (and without the Windows bit holding you back). On an Ubuntu desktop machine, you can install KDE Plasma, thanks to Kubuntu (which is the official KDE Plasma spin of Ubuntu) with the command:

sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

If your distribution is Fedora, the command would be:

sudo dnf install @kde-desktop

3. Budgie

Budgie is one of my favorite desktops because it offers a great ratio of modernity and useability. It's beautiful and simple.

To install Budgie on Ubuntu, the command would be:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-budgie-desktop

On Fedora, you have to issue a few commands. First, you must enable the necessary repository with:

sudo dnf copr enable stenstorp/budgie

Next, install Budgie with:

sudo dnf install budgie-desktop

You can also install a number of recommended packages with:

sudo dnf install nautilus gnome-terminal gnome-system-monitor arc-theme arc-icon-theme gedit budgie-extras

4. Cinnamon

If you're looking for simplicity at its best, give Cinnamon a try. On Ubuntu, the installation of this desktop is as simple as:

sudo apt-get install cinnamon

On Fedora, the command is:

sudo dnf group install cinnamon

5. Deepin

Deepin has long been one of the most beautiful desktops on the Linux market. To install Deepin on Ubuntu, you must first add the necessary repository with:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntudde-dev/stable

Next, install Deepin with:

sudo apt-get install ubuntudde-dde

On Fedora, you only need to run a single command:

sudo dnf group install "Deepin Desktop"

6. Xfce

Xfce is a powerhouse of configuration options and can be made to look and behave exactly as you need/want.

Xfce on Ubuntu is made possible via Xubuntu (an official spin) and can be installed with the command:

sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

On Fedora, the command to install Xfce is:

sudo dnf group install xfce

And there you have it.

Because you're using Linux, you don't have to settle for the desktop you were given by the distribution you chose. And if the desktop environment you want to try isn't listed above, you should be able to figure out how to get started installing the one you want.

Also: Dynebolic is a portable Linux distribution that can be used without installation

And don't forget, you're not just limited to one or two desktop environments. You can install as many as you need and switch between them on a whim. Not every desktop environment can be installed on every distribution, though, and some desktop environments might conflict with others, so make sure to install with care.

Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/dont-like-your-linux-desktop-heres-how-to-install-an-alternative/

Written by Jack Wallen, Contributing Writer, April 17, 2024 at 12:27 p.m. PT

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