Manjaro Install Desktop Environments

Install Desktop Environments

From Manjaro
Revision as of 20:40, 22 July 2018 by imported>Dalto (Removed KDE4(no longer available), updated xfce, plasma and gnome to be more complete with currently available packages)


Overview

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.


Desktop Environments

It is worth noting that a desktop environment is not a single entity; it is actually a collection of different components that work together. This commonly includes a:

  • window manager to display, move and resize application windows
  • file manager to visually browse, copy and access files, etc.
  • background provider to display wallpapers, etc.
  • panel to provide a menu and to display information such as the time
  • settings/configuration manager to change the look of the environment


And so on. Most desktop environments will also come with their own preferred applications, in addition to various widgets, addons, and extensions to provide extra features. As such, upon entering the commands provided below in your terminal to download and install a desktop environment, you may be prompted to choose from a selection of components provided for it. To install a full desktop environment - complete with its own preferred file manager, applications, and so on - simply press <enter> when prompted. Everything will be downloaded and installed by default.


Note
If you install this way to use multiple desktop environments, you may find certain applications seem to appear several times in your application menus. For example, several different terminals may be available, as many desktop environments come with their own preferred version, which can also be used in other desktops.


Where additional (and optional) extras for a desktop environment are availble, the terminal commands to obtain these have also been provided. These commands have been listed seperately to those for obtaining the desktop environments themselves.


XFCE

XfceDE.png


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. 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.

To install a basic XFCE environment
sudo pacman -S xfce4 xfce4-goodies network-manager-applet
Optional: Install and use LightDM, the recommended display manager for XFCE
sudo pacman -S lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings
sudo systemctl enable lightdm.service --force
Optional: Install the Manjaro configuration and theming for XFCE
sudo pacman -S manjaro-xfce-settings manjaro-settings-manager

Either create a new user or enter the following command to update the current user

/usr/bin/cp -rf /etc/skel/. ~

To configure LightDM to match the official iso replace the contents of /etc/lightdm/lightdm-gtk-greeter with

[greeter]
background = /usr/share/backgrounds/breath.png
font-name = Cantarell 10
xft-antialias = true
icon-theme-name = Vertex-Maia
screensaver-timeout = 60
theme-name = Vertex-Maia
cursor-theme-name = xcursor-breeze
show-clock = false
default-user-image = #avatar-default
xft-hintstyle = hintfull
position = 50%,center 50%,center
clock-format =
panel-position = bottom
indicators = ~host;~spacer;~clock;~spacer;~language;~session;~a11y;~power


KDE Plasma 5

KDEPlasmaDE.png


The KDE community offers Plasma, a feature-rich and versatile desktop environment that provides several different styles of menu to access applications. Its default window manager is kwin, but is also compatible with Compiz. An excellent built-in interface to easily access and install new themes, widgets, etc, from the internet is also worth mentioning. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running KDE uses about 455MB of memory.

To install a basic KDE Plasma environment
sudo pacman -S sudo pacman -S plasma kio-extras
Optional: Install and use SDDM, the recommended display manager for KDE is SDDM

SDDM is installed as a dependency of plasma. To enable it

sudo systemctl enable sddm.service --force
reboot
Optional: Install the Manjaro configuration and theming for plasma
sudo pacman -S manjaro-kde-settings sddm-breath-theme manjaro-settings-manager-knotifier manjaro-settings-manager-kcm

Either create a new user or enter the following command to update the current user

/usr/bin/cp -rf /etc/skel/. ~

Open plasma settings, go to Startup & Shutdown->Login Screen and select "Breath"


Gnome 3


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.

To install Gnome
sudo pacman -S gnome
Optional: To install extra themes, games, and features
sudo pacman -S gnome-extra
Optional: Install and use GDM, the recommended display manager for gnome

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

sudo systemctl enable gdm.service --force
Optional: Install the Manjaro configuration and theming for gnome
sudo pacman -S manjaro-gnome-assets manjaro-gdm-theme manjaro-settings-manager

Either create a new user or enter the following command to update the current user

/usr/bin/cp -rf /etc/skel/. ~



Cinnamon


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 350MB of memory. To install Cinnamon, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S cinnamon

If you are installing Cinnamon alone on the NET Edition, then it is essential to install a terminal as well, as one will not be provided with Cinnamon by default. The command to install the Gnome terminal is:

sudo pacman -S gnome-terminal



LXQt


LXQt is the Qt5 port and the upcoming version of LXDE, the Lightweight Desktop Environment. It is the product of the merge between the LXDE-Qt and the Razor-qt projects: A lightweight, modular, blazing-fast and user-friendly desktop environment. Use this command to install it:

sudo pacman -S lxqt

Additionally, some essential packages (window manager, terminal, and icon pack) are required in order to get a basic Desktop Environment:

sudo pacman -S openbox qterminal oxygen-icons


LXQt does not install a Display/Login Manager for you. The recommended Display/Login Manager for LXQt is SDDM.


Intermediate to advanced users can follow (parts of) this guide to a Minimal LXQt installation.



Razor-QT

Note
You will need to manually edit Razor-QT's configuration file ~/.config/razor/session.conf to set the window manager.


Razor-QT is a lightweight desktop environment still under development. It has no window manager of its own, although it can be configured to use Compiz as such (not using the Fusion-Icon, however). It is designed with lower-end computers in mind. At its current stage of development, Razor-QT may not be suitable for all users. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Razor-QT uses about 300MB of memory. To install Razor-QT, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S razor-qt

To install the recommended Window Manager, use USB devices, and shutdown/reboot from Razor-QT, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S openbox upower udisks



LXDE

Note
Installing LXDE will also result in installing Openbox as its default window manager. The LXDM display manager will also be downloaded, although it will be necessary to enable this yourself if you wish to replace your existing display manager.


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, as a 64 bit installation of Manjaro running LXDE uses only about 150MB of memory. To install LXDE, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S lxde


Enlightenment

E20-Green Onix 760.png


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 (DR 0.17, more popularly known as E17). As of E18 compositing has been incorporated by default and development has focused on readying E for the Wayland display server protocol (available, but not considered completely stable, in E20). 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. Use this command to install it:

sudo pacman -S enlightenment

To install a selection of Manjaro themes for E, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S enlightenment-manjaro-themes

Enlightenment does not install a Display/Login Manager (DM) for you. However, you can install the EFL-based Entrance DM from the AUR. If you have yay installed, this command will install Entrance:

 yay -S entrance-git



Window Managers

Note
By nature, building your own desktop environment from a Window Manager will take substantially more time and effort than simply downloading a pre-defined desktop environment.


Warning
The images provided below are purely for illustrative purposes only. You will have you put in the necessary time and effort to configure them.


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.

Therefore extremely powerful and versatile, these window managers also carry the additional benefit of being faster and more resource efficient than pre-defined desktop environments. Interestingly, the super-lightweight LXDE environment is itself built on the Openbox window manager. There are two types of Window Manager: Stacking and Tiling. These names denote how application windows will behave on your desktop.


Stacking Window Managers

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.


Openbox

Manjarobox.png


Openbox is by far the most popular Window Manager available. Due to its popularity there is excellent documentation available, as well as a good choice of additional themes that may be downloaded. To install Openbox, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S openbox

To install a logout script, configuration application, menu-editor, and extra themes specifically for Openbox, enter the following command:

sudo pacman -S oblogout obconf obmenu openbox-themes



FluxBox

Fluxbox2.png


FluxBox is another popular Window Manager. It is particularly notable for providing some features not seen in Openbox, such as tabbing, which allows for windows to be grouped together. To install FluxBox, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S fluxbox

To install the newsfetcher and workspace pager specifically for fluxbox, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S fbnews fluxter



IceWM

Icewm2.jpg


IceWM is a Window Manager notable for perhaps being closer to a full desktop environment than Openbox or FluxBox. This includes providing a panel complete with menu, in addition to a workspace switcher. To install IceWM, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S icewm

To install a suite of tools and themes specifically for IceWM, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S icewm-utils icewm-themes



Tiling Window Managers

Tiling window managers - as the name would suggest - tile application windows; each will have their own place on the screen, just like conventional tiles do not overlap. However, unlike conventional tiling, these window managers are usually very flexible, and allow for a multitude of different tiling patterns to suit personal taste and preference. Where stacking window managers focus on using the mouse for navigation, tiling window managers focus on the utilisation of the keyboard instead. As such, they can be much faster to use.


Awesome

Awesome.png


Awesome is a popular tiling Window Manager, notable for using the Lua lagnuage for configuration. To install Awesome, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S awesome

To install some extra widgets for Awesome, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S vicious



i3

I3wm.png


i3 is arguably the most popular tiling window manager available, and notable for using a single, completely self-contained configuration file. To install i3, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S i3-wm

To install a status bar and screen-locker for i3, enter the command:

sudo pacman -S i3lock i3status



See Also

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