LXDE is a lean code, open source desktop environmentW for Linux, Unix and related operating systems. (In simple terms, it's the part of the system that manages the user interface, i.e. menus and windows.)

It is focused on ease of use and low resource use. Being light and fast, it:

  • works well with old and lower-spec computers, such as netbooks and other small computers.
  • is a good candidate for ICT4D applications (Information and Communication Technologies for Development), where it allows the use of low-cost hardware, reduces the need for hardware upgrades, and uses less electricity.

It is available on various Linux distributions including Mandriva, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora and openSUSE; it is default on desktop environment of Knoppix, Lubuntu and U-lite. Components of LXDE are used other systems such as CrunchBang (though less in version 10 than in previous versions). LXDE's coding philosophy[1] leads to a modular desktop, where you can easily take the panel, terminal or other component, and use it on any Linux system with few compatibility worries.

Resource use[edit | edit source]

Green advantage?[edit | edit source]

See Green desktop environments. LXDE potentially offers an advantage, but more testing needs to be carried out to prove this.

Memory (RAM)[edit | edit source]

LXDE generally uses much less memory than other popular DEs. Testing on Ubuntu showed LXDE using a modest amount less RAM than Xfce and much less than GNOME or KDE.[2] As the comparison was carried out with Ubuntu, it may have favored GNOME, the default Ubuntu desktop. More even-handed benchmark testing is needed.[expansion needed]

See also[edit | edit source]

  • CrunchBang Linux[1] - a distro which is Ubuntu-based (up to version 9.04) Debian-based (version 10 and higher, now in Beta). Aiming for a mid-point in ease-of use and lightness, being lighter and harder to use than LXDE, but* CrunchBang Linux[2] - a distro which is Ubuntu-based (up to version 9.04) Debian-based (version 10 and higher, now in Beta). Aiming for a mid-point in ease-of use and lightness, being lighter and harder to use than LXDE, but still with a GUI and much easier than most ultra-light Linux distros, still with a GUI and much easier than most ultra-light Linux distros.

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. Design Principles - extracting small sections of code rather than requiring the full library; No unnecessary daemons; Configuration via GUI whenever possible; Simple and intuitive user interface simple and intuitive; Follow the habit of most users; Shorten the startup time; Keep maximal compatibility with lower gtk+ versions (gtk+ 2.6 is preferred).
  2. Power & Memory Usage Of GNOME, KDE, LXDE & Xfce

External links[edit | edit source]

FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Page data
Authors Chris Watkins
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Language English (en)
Related 0 subpages, 3 pages link here
Impact 581 page views
Created August 27, 2010 by Chris Watkins
Modified June 9, 2023 by StandardWikitext bot
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.