LXDE


LXDE is a free desktop environment with comparatively low resource requirements. This makes it especially suitable for use on older or resource-constrained personal computers such as netbooks or system on a chip computers.

Overview

LXDE is 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.
In 2010, tests suggested that LXDE 0.5 had the lowest memory-usage of the four most-popular desktop environments of the time, and that it consumed less energy, which suggests mobile computers with Linux distributions running LXDE 0.5 drained their batteries at a slower pace than those with other desktop environments.
LXDE is the default desktop environment of Knoppix, LXLE Linux, Artix and Peppermint Linux OS - among other distributions. For many years it was the desktop for Lubuntu until replaced by LXQt in 2018. Further the PIXEL desktop environment of Raspberry Pi OS is a highly modified version of LXDE.
LXDE uses rolling releases for its individual components. 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.
LXDE includes GPL-licensed code as well as LGPL-licensed code.

History

The project was started in 2006 by Taiwanese programmer Hong Jen Yee, also known as PCMan, when he published PCManFM, a new file manager and the first module of LXDE.
Comparing Linux distribution rankings for DistroWatch in early January 2011 for the year 2010 versus 2009, Ladislav Bodnar noted the increase in popularity of LXDE versus other desktop environments. He said:

Qt port

Dissatisfied with GTK+ 3, Hong Jen Yee experimented with Qt in early 2013 and released the first version of a Qt-based PCManFM on.
On Hong announced a Qt port of the full LXDE suite, and on 21 July Razor-qt and LXDE announced that they would merge the two projects. This merger meant that the GTK+ and the Qt versions would coexist for some time but that, eventually, the GTK version would be dropped and all efforts focused on the Qt port.

Software components of LXDE

Unlike other major desktop environments such as GNOME, the components of LXDE have few dependencies and are not tightly integrated. Instead, they can be installed independently of each other or LXDE itself.
ComponentsDescriptionsNotes
PCMan File ManagerFile manager and Desktop metaphor provider
LXInputMouse and keyboard configuration tool
LXLauncherEasy-mode application launcher
LXPanelDesktop panel
LXSessionX session manager
LXAppearanceGTK+ theme switcher
GPicViewImage viewer
LXMusicA frontend for the XMMS2 audio player
LXTerminalTerminal emulatorLXTerminal can be configured to hide the menu bar and the scrolling bar
LXTaskTask manager
LXRandRA GUI to RandR
LXDMX display manager
LXNMLightweight network connection helper daemon. Supports wireless connections.Discontinued
LeafpadText editorNot developed by the LXDE project
Openbox Window managerNot developed by the LXDE project
ObConfA GUI tool to configure OpenboxNot developed by the LXDE project
XarchiverFile archiverNot developed by the LXDE project