LXDE
LXDE is a lightweight desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It is designed to be resource-friendly and modular while still being visually appealing and user-friendly.
lightweight
resourcefriendly
modular
visually-appealing
userfriendly
LXDE: Lightweight Desktop Environment
LXDE is a lightweight desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It is designed to be resource-friendly and modular while still being visually appealing and user-friendly.
What is LXDE?
LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) is an open source desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It is designed to be lightweight, modular, and resource-friendly, making it a good choice for older or less powerful hardware.
Some key features and characteristics of LXDE:
- Very low memory and CPU usage compared to heavier DEs like KDE, GNOME, etc.
- Modular design allowing users to only load components they want/need
- Good visual appeal and integration despite small footprint
- Supports modern technologies like HTML5, CSS3, etc.
- Highly customizable and themeable visuals and UI
- Includes all essential tools and applications for daily desktop use
- Active development community with updates and bug fixes
LXDE makes an excellent choice for Linux distros on netbooks, mobile devices, older computers, or any hardware where you need to optimize for speed and lower resource usage. The mix of small footprint and visual polish allows it to rival or surpass the look and feel of heavier DEs on such devices.
LXDE Features
Features
- Lightweight desktop environment
- Modular design
- Low resource usage
- Customizable interface
- Basic set of applications included
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Very fast and responsive
Low RAM usage
Good performance on older hardware
Easy to customize
Active development community
Cons
Limited configuration options
Fewer features than full desktops like GNOME/KDE
Less polished look and feel
Limited app ecosystem compared to other desktops
Official Links
The Best LXDE Alternatives
Top Os & Utilities and Desktop Environments and other similar apps like LXDE
Here are some alternatives to LXDE:
Suggest an alternative ❐
GNOME
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KDE Plasma
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Xfce
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Cairo Shell
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Emerge Desktop
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Enlightenment
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LXQt
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CDE (Common Desktop Environment)
The Common Desktop Environment (CDE) is a desktop environment that was commonly used in commercial UNIX operating systems in the 1990s. It was developed through a collaboration between HP, IBM, Sun Microsystems, and other major UNIX vendors at the time.CDE provided an integrated graphical user interface for UNIX systems, featuring...
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a free and open-source desktop environment designed for the Linux operating system. Developed as part of the Mint Linux distribution, Cinnamon aims to provide an elegant and intuitive user experience.Some key features of Cinnamon include:Familiar graphical desktop metaphor interface, making it easy for users coming from Windows or...
Window Maker
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EasyPeasy
EasyPeasy is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution targeted at netbooks and other systems with relatively low-power hardware specifications. Some key features of EasyPeasy include:Lightweight UI optimized for netbook screensCustomized interface with large icons and easy access to key functionsBundled with popular applications like Firefox, VLC media player, OpenOffice, and moreCarefully tweaked...
UKUI
UKUI is a lightweight desktop environment based on GNOME and developed primarily for Chinese Linux distributions. It focuses on simplicity, efficiency, and ease of use.Some key features of UKUI include:Simple and intuitive user interface designed to be easy to use for Linux beginners.Very lightweight and fast, ideal for older hardware...
IceWM
IceWM is a window manager for the X Window System graphical infrastructure. It aims to be fast, simple, and lightweight while still being highly customizable and functional.Some key features and characteristics of IceWM:Uses very little system resources, making it well-suited for older or low-powered hardwareLightning fast performance thanks to its...
GNUstep
GNUstep is an open source implementation of the Cocoa and Cocoa Touch application development frameworks used by Apple on platforms like macOS, iOS, iPadOS and watchOS. It provides a free software replacement for these frameworks that allows developers to build Cocoa-like applications that run on other operating systems like Linux,...
Lumina Desktop Environment
Lumina Desktop Environment (Lumina for short) is a free, open-source desktop environment designed for UNIX and UNIX-like operating systems such as Linux, FreeBSD, and OpenIndiana. Lumina aims to provide a lightweight, resource-efficient, and intuitive desktop experience.Some key features and goals of Lumina include:Minimal resource usage - Lumina is designed to...
Bluetile
Bluetile is an open-source tiling window manager for Linux operating systems. Unlike traditional window managers that allow windows to float freely on the desktop, Bluetile organizes open application windows in a grid-like layout to make efficient use of screen real estate.Some key features of Bluetile include:Keyboard-driven navigation and window management...
Unity Desktop Environment
Unity Desktop Environment is a graphical desktop environment that was originally developed by Canonical Ltd. for the Ubuntu Linux operating system. First released in 2010, Unity aimed to provide an intuitive and elegant desktop experience for Ubuntu users.Some key features and goals of the Unity desktop include:Simplified user interface -...
Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE)
Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) is a fork of the KDE 3 desktop that aims to continue the KDE 3.5 legacy for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It provides a lightweight, stable, fast and customizable desktop environment that resembles the look and feel of the KDE 3.5 releases.TDE was created...
Phosh
Phosh is a desktop shell designed specifically for Linux-based mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. It aims to provide an intuitive and user-friendly graphical interface optimised for touchscreen inputs.Some key features of Phosh include:A mobile-centric user interface with large buttons and components ideal for touchscreens.Gesture navigation - swipes, taps...
Moksha
Moksha is a modular open source desktop environment that emphasizes flexibility, stability and a non-intrusive user interface. It is based on the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries (EFL) and aims to provide a lightweight yet powerful and customizable desktop experience for Linux and BSD systems.Some key features of Moksha include:Modular architecture -...
Razor-qt
Razor-qt is a lightweight, fast, and user-friendly desktop environment for Linux and BSD operating systems. It uses Openbox as the window manager and has a clean and intuitive interface.Some key features of Razor-qt include:Very low memory and CPU usage, making it suitable for older hardwareCustomizable themes and layouts using OpenboxIntuitive...
