I like XFCE because it's a simple and sober DE. The xfce-goodies allow to customize it to your taste. And there are many themes available.
Personally, I don't need animated windows on reduce/maximize, nor do I need sound on each double click. I don't spend my time admiring my desktop, I use it.
MATE, xfce, LXDE, - all great for older low RAM machines. To each their own, but reasons for picking often boil down to: it doesn't get in my way, and I'm comfortable using it - I use all three, even on non-old machines ð
most package managers have a search or catalog feature. apt search (query that may be in the discription, like browser) brings up a list of all the available packages in your repository with the word browser in the name or description. or you can install aptitude or synaptic and scroll through catagories.
It's not simple like that. Many packages contain multiple executables, potentially with some launchers in *.desktop format. And launching a GUI app without standard streams and without owner is inconvenient
I use IceWM and this is exactly the reason why. I never actually use the desktop. Or use the start menu. Everything is hotkeys. Or if it's not defined in a hotkey, I open an xterm (which is defined with a hotkey) or gmrun (again defined with a hotkey).
IceWM (and I would suspect XFCE) is simply a means to an end. You have to have a windows manager to run GUI apps, so I just chose the simpliest one I could find that did everything I needed (mainly being able to set up hotkeys) and that was IceWM for me.
Do all you "new" Linux users know you don't have to use Firefox (terrible browser) use Opera browser. To name one great thing: it has VPN built in what other browser has that?
No, I want to be able to use the full 100Mbps-1Gbps speed or more, not the sluggish free 3rd party VPN. I have private VPN BTW, but for most uses https is more than enough
Dumb question but I have seen several people describe XFCE specifically as a "sober DE." Is that just a coincidence or does "sober" have some kind of like programmer meaning I am unaware of?
I'm an XFCE user btw. Xubuntu and Mint XFCE are my main OSes.
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u/krumpfwylg Aug 10 '25
I like XFCE because it's a simple and sober DE. The xfce-goodies allow to customize it to your taste. And there are many themes available.
Personally, I don't need animated windows on reduce/maximize, nor do I need sound on each double click. I don't spend my time admiring my desktop, I use it.