LXDE — Mediated Wiki

{{Short description|Lightweight X11 desktop environment for Linux and BSD}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox software | name = LXDE | logo = 100px|LXDE Logo | screenshot = LXDE desktop full.png | caption = Default LXDE desktop | author = Hong Jen Yee ("PCMan") | developer = The LXDE Team | released = {{Start date and age|2006}} | latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q47123|P348|P548=Q2804309}} | latest release date = {{Start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q47123|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}} | latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q47123|P348|P548=Q51930650}} | latest preview date = {{Start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q47123|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}}}} | discontinued = yes | programming language = C (GTK 2, GTK 3) | operating system = Unix-like | platform = Linux, BSD | language =  | genre = Desktop environment | license = GPL, LGPL | website =  }}

'''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<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.linux-mag.com/cache/7520/1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911032642/http://www.linux-mag.com/cache/7520/1.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=11 September 2009 |title=Lubuntu: Floats Like a Butterfly, Stings Like a Bee |author=Christopher Smart |work=Linux Magazine |date=2009-09-09 |access-date=2009-09-10}}</ref> 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.<ref name=LICENCE>{{cite web|url=https://lxde.org/|title= LXDE|author=LXDE Team|access-date= 2008-10-26}}</ref><ref name=ABOUT>{{cite web|url=https://lxde.org/lxde|title= About LXDE|author= LXDE Team|access-date= 2008-11-01|url-status= dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014105420/http://lxde.org/lxde|archive-date= 14 October 2008}}</ref>

LXDE uses rolling releases for its individual components (or for groups of components with coupled dependencies).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.desktop.lxde.devel/1186 |title= Description of current release process |publisher= Article.gmane.org |access-date= 2014-05-19 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161013172934/http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.desktop.lxde.devel/1186 |archive-date= 13 October 2016 |url-status= dead }}</ref> 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.{{r|ABOUT}} LXDE includes GPL-licensed code as well as LGPL-licensed code.{{r|LICENCE}}

== History == The project was started in 2006 by Taiwanese programmer Hong Jen Yee ({{zh|t=洪任諭|p=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),<ref>{{cite web |last= Larabel |first= Michael |title= Power & Memory Usage of GNOME, KDE, LXDE & Xfce |url= https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=linux_desktop_vitals&num=1 |publisher= Phoronix |access-date= 30 July 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180903042338/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=linux_desktop_vitals&num=1 |archive-date= 3 September 2018 |url-status= dead }}</ref> and that it consumed less energy,<ref>{{cite web |last= Larabel |first= Michael |title= Power & Memory Usage of GNOME, KDE, LXDE & Xfce (page 2) |url= https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=linux_desktop_vitals&num=2 |publisher= Phoronix |access-date= 30 July 2011}}</ref> which suggested mobile computers with Linux distributions running LXDE 0.5 drained their batteries at a slower pace than those with other desktop environments.

=== {{Anchor|LXQt|LXDE-Qt|Razor-qt}}Qt port === {{Main|LXQt}}

Dissatisfied with GTK 3,<ref name="PCManFM Qt 0.1.0"/> Hong Jen Yee experimented with Qt in early 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.lxde.org/?p=966 |title=PCManFM file manager is ported to Qt? |publisher=LXDE Blog |date=2013-02-19 |access-date=2013-05-04}}</ref> and released the first version of a Qt-based PCManFM on 26 March 2013.<ref name="PCManFM Qt 0.1.0">{{cite web |url=http://blog.lxde.org/?p=990 |title=PCManFM Qt 0.1.0 released |publisher=LXDE Blog |date=2013-03-27 |access-date=2013-05-04}}</ref>

On 3 July 2013 Hong announced a Qt port of the full LXDE suite,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.lxde.org/?p=1013 |title= LXDE-Qt Preview |publisher=LXDE |date=2013-07-03 |access-date=2014-03-27}}</ref> and on 21 July Razor-qt and LXDE announced that they would merge the two projects.<ref>{{cite web |author=brother |url=http://blog.lxde.org/?p=1046 |title="The future of Razor and LXDE-Qt" |publisher=Blog.lxde.org |date=2013-07-22 |access-date=2014-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/razor-qt/PNvkoidV2Ik |title=The future of Razor and LXDE-Qt at Razor-qt Google group |access-date=2014-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/message.php?msg_id=31196887 |title="The future of Razor and LXDE-Qt" at the LXDE-list archive |publisher=Sourceforge.net |date=2013-07-20 |access-date=2014-05-19}}</ref> 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.<ref name="future">{{cite web |url=http://blog.lxde.org/?p=1046 |title=The Future of Razor and LXDE-Qt |publisher=Blog.lxde.org |date=22 July 2013 |access-date=19 May 2014}}</ref>

=== GTK 3 port === As of May 2020, there is an experimental GTK 3 port developed by the Arch Linux community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/LXDE|title=Arch Linux LXDE|website=wiki.archlinux.org}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://archlinux.org/groups/x86_64/lxde-gtk3/|title= Group Details – lxde-gtk3 (x86_64)|access-date= 14 August 2021|author= Judd Vinet, Aaron Griffin and Levente Polyák|work= archlinux.org|year= 2021|archive-url= https://archive.today/20210814130553/https://archlinux.org/groups/x86_64/lxde-gtk3/|archive-date= 14 August 2021|url-status= live}}</ref> 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|date=March 2021}}

=== 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 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/lxde/lxterminal/blob/master/NEWS|title=LXTerminal sources news|website=github.com/lxde/lxterminal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://packages.debian.org/buster/lxterminal|title=Debian -- Details of package lxterminal in buster|website=packages.debian.org}}</ref>

==Availability== [[File:LXDE-ArchLinux.png|thumb|LXDE desktop on Arch Linux]] [[File:Peppermint-Ice-Linux.jpg|thumb|LXDE desktop on Peppermint Linux OS]] '''Default desktop''' *Loc-OS<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://loc-os.com |title=Loc-OS – Una distro como las de antes|website=loc-os.com}}</ref> *Knoppix<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-info/index-en.html|title=KNOPPIX – Live Linux Filesystem on CD|website=knopper.net}}</ref> *LXLE Linux<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lxle.net/about/|title=What is it? < The LXLE Desktop |work=lxle.net|access-date=20 October 2016}}</ref> *Trisquel Mini<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/trisquel-mini|title=Trisquel Mini|date=16 November 2021}}</ref> * wattOS<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-brought-my-aging-pc-back-to-life-with-this-lightweight-linux-os-and-its-easy-to-use/|title= I brought my aging PC back to life with this lightweight Linux OS - and it's easy to use |date=13 February 2025}}</ref> '''Alternative desktop''' *Arch Linux<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archlinux.org/packages/?q=LXDE|title=Arch Linux – Package Search|website=archlinux.org}}</ref> *Artix Linux<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1"/> *Debian<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-handbook/sect.graphical-desktops.en.html |title=13.3. Graphical Desktops |website=debian.org}}</ref> *Devuan<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.devuan.org/os/install |title=Devuan installation documentation |website=devuan.org}}</ref> *Fedora<ref>{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/01/installing-the-mate-and-cinnamon-desktops-on-fedora-18/ | title=How to install the MATE and Cinnamon desktops on Fedora 18 | last=Brodkin | first=Jon | publisher=Ars Technica | date=15 January 2013 | access-date=15 January 2013}}</ref> *Raspberry Pi OS<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/introducing-pixel/|title=Introducing PIXEL|date=28 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/bookworm-the-new-version-of-raspberry-pi-os/|title= Bookworm — the new version of Raspberry Pi OS|date=11 October 2023}}</ref> (later models use a heavily modified fork of LXDE called PIXEL which eventually added Wayland support, using Wayfire or labwc compositors)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Proven |first1=Liam |title=Raspberry Pi OS airs out some fresh options for the summer |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/09/raspberry_pi_os_5_3/ |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=The Register |date=9 July 2024}}</ref>

'''Former default desktop''' *Lubuntu (replaced by LXQt in 2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lubuntu.me/this-week-in-lubuntu-development-5/|title=This Week in Lubuntu Development #5 – Lubuntu|website=lubuntu.me|date=14 May 2018|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref> *Artix Linux<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Early Artix Linux ISOs |url=https://sourceforge.net/projects/artix-linux/files/iso/ |access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite web |title=Artix Linux minimal ISOs |url=https://artixlinux.org/download.php#minimal |access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> (now available as an alternative desktop) *Peppermint OS (replaced by Xfce in 2022)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://peppermintos.com/2022/02/peppermint-release-notes/|title=Peppermint Release Notes|date=2 November 2023 }}</ref>

== Software components of LXDE == {{See also|List of GTK applications}} Unlike other major desktop environments such as GNOME, the components of LXDE have few dependencies and are not tightly integrated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://notebooki.pcworld.pl/news/162051/LXDE...lekka.alternatywa.do.GNOME.html |author=Łukasz Bigo |title=LXDE – lekka alternatywa do GNOME |access-date=2008-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202163442/http://notebooki.pcworld.pl/news/162051/LXDE...lekka.alternatywa.do.GNOME.html |archive-date=2 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Instead, they can be installed independently of each other or LXDE itself.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lxde.sourceforge.net/about.html |title=About LXDE |publisher=Lxde.sourceforge.net |access-date=2014-05-19}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" ! 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 |}

== See also == {{Portal|Free and open-source software}} * LXQt – A lightweight desktop environment and spiritual successor to LXDE * Xfce – Another lightweight desktop environment built using GTK * Comparison of X Window System desktop environments

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category|LXDE}} * {{Official website|https://lxde.org/}} * {{sourceforge|lxde}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lxde}} Category:LXDE Category:2006 software Category:Desktop environments based on GTK Category:Free desktop environments