Difference between revisions of "Install Desktop Environments"

There are several Desktop Environments and Window Managers available for Manjaro, each with their own unique style, interface, and features. Furthermore, it is possible to install multiple environments if desired, which can be selected at the login screen at any time. Users are not restricted  to whatever comes pre-installed with a particular flavour of Manjaro.

It is worth noting that a Desktop Environment(DE) is not a single entity; it is actually a collection of different components that work together. This commonly includes a:

* The settings packages overlap so you can only have one DE pre-configured with the Manjaro theming. The others will need to have the theming applied manually.

* You can end up with more than one instance of similar applications.  For example, it is common to end up with 2 Bluetooth managers. It takes some tweaking to get a single manager working in multiple DEs

* Sometimes two different DEs will share the same configuration files causing strange things to happen, especially with theming

== XFCE == <!--T:13-->

'''[http://xfce.org/ XFCE]''' is a lightweight and versatile desktop environment that utilises a classic drop-down or pop-up menu to access applications. It is also compatible with '''[[Compiz_and_Emerald|Compiz]]'''. A little time and effort will also be required to properly customise the desktop to suit personal taste. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running XFCE uses about 390MB of memory.  As of version 18, Manjaro has moved to the gtk3 version of XFCE.

====== Install a basic XFCE environment ====== <!--T:16-->

====== Optional: Install and use LightDM, the recommended display manager for XFCE ====== <!--T:18-->

====== Optional: Install the Manjaro configuration and theming for XFCE ====== <!--T:19-->

== Gnome 3 == <!--T:37-->

'''[http://www.gnome.org/ Gnome 3]''' is an intuitive desktop environment that utilises a tablet or smartphone style interface to access applications. It is not compatible with compiz. Although Gnome is very easy to learn and use, its customisation options are quite limited, and it can be difficult to configure. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Gnome uses about 447MB of memory.

====== Install a basic gnome environment ====== <!--T:39-->

====== Optional: Install and use GDM, the recommended display manager for gnome ====== <!--T:43-->

GDM is installed as a dependency of gnome, to enable it

====== Optional: Install the Manjaro configuration and theming for gnome ====== <!--T:45-->

The '''[https://github.com/solus-project/budgie-desktop Budgie Desktop]''' is a modern desktop designed to keep out the way of the user. It features heavy integration with the GNOME stack in order for an enhanced experience. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running budgie uses about 632MB of memory.

====== Install a basic budgie environment ====== <!--T:50-->

====== Optional: Install the Manjaro configuration and theming for budgie ====== <!--T:54-->

'''[http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/ Cinnamon]''' is a desktop environment based on Gnome 3 that utilises a large panel-style menu to access applications. It is not compatible with compiz. Despite being based on Gnome, it has more customisation options and is easier to configure. Users of Windows Vista or Windows 7 may find Cinnamon's interface comfortably familiar. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Cinnamon uses about 665MB of memory.

====== Install a basic cinnamon environment ====== <!--T:60-->

====== Optional: Install the Manjaro configuration and theming for cinnamon ====== <!--T:65-->

The '''[https://www.deepin.org/en/dde/ Deepin Desktop]''' is an elegant, easy to use desktop. It is lightly configurable.  A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running deepin uses about 525MB of memory.

====== Optional: Install the deepin applications suite ====== <!--T:73-->

====== Optional: Install the Manjaro configuration and theming for deepin ====== <!--T:76-->

'''[http://www.enlightenment.org/ Enlightenment]''', sometimes known simply as E, is a lightweight desktop environment known for its configurability and tools for creating beautiful user interfaces using its Enlightenment Foundation Libraries (EFL). E started in 1997 as a stacking windows manager, emerging as a desktop environment with development release 0.17. E does not come with a broad array of tools by default, which can be an advantage for experienced users who want to customize their installation, and a disadvantage for users with little or no experience of Linux. E uses a few unique terms, for example referring to panels as “shelves”. A 64-bit installation of E uses about 160M of memory.

'''[http://lxde.org/ LXDE]''' is a super-lightweight desktop environment that is very similar to XFCE, with the exception that it is not compatible with Compiz. As with XFCE, LXDE is also a somewhat basic desktop environment, lacking some modern features that would be expected, such as a search-bar to find applications and files. However, it is also an excellent choice for less powerful computers.

====== Install a basic lxde environment ====== <!--T:89-->

The '''[https://lxqt.org/ LXQt Desktop Environment]''' LXQt is a lightweight Qt desktop environment. It will not get in your way. It will not hang or slow down your system. It is focused on being a classic desktop with a modern look and feel. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running lxqt uses about 250MB of memory.

The '''[https://mate-desktop.org/ MATE Desktop]''' Environment is the continuation of GNOME 2. It provides an intuitive and attractive desktop environment using traditional metaphors for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.  MATE is under active development to add support for new technologies while preserving a traditional desktop experience. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running MATE uses about 378MB of memory.

====== Install a basic mate environment ====== <!--T:107-->

====== Optional: Install mate applications and configuration tools ====== <!--T:109-->

====== Optional: Install and use LightDM, the recommended display manager for mate ====== <!--T:110-->

====== Optional: Install the Manjaro configuration and theming for mate ====== <!--T:111-->

Although Desktop Environments commonly provide a good range of customisation options to suit personal taste and preference, they may still be seen as somewhat restrictive or controlled in the sense that they merely allow for the personalisation of their pre-defined components. However, certain Window Managers empower users to take a 'do it yourself' approach in order to create their own desktop environments. In essence, they may be used as a foundation on which to build upon, as literally every component and every aspect of the desktop is under the direct control and choice of the user. An environment may be as elaborate or as minimalistic as desired, and it is even possible to mix and match various components from other desktop environments.  

'''Stacking window managers''' are by far the most popular, and essentially allow application windows to be moved freely around the screen, which may overlap - or 'stack' - upon one another, hence the name. All popular desktop environments (e.g. XFCE, KDE, Gnome, etc.) use stacking window Managers.