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#language en
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[Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for unix-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and lightweight, while still being visually appealing and easy to use. ~-[[DebianWiki/EditorGuide#translation|Translation(s)]]: English - [[pt_BR/Xfce|Brasileiro]] - [[fr/Xfce|Français]] - [[it/Xfce|Italiano]] - [[ko/Xfce|한국어]] - [[ru/Xfce|Русский]] - [[sv/Xfce|Svenska]] - [[es/Xfce|Español]] - [[zh_CN/Xfce|简体中文]]-~
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Xfce 4 is a complete rewrite of the previous version. It's based on the GTK+ toolkit version 2. Xfce 4 has a radically different architecture from Xfce 3. It embodies the traditional UNIX philosophy of modularity and re-usability. All of Xfce 4's core components have been written from scratch in order to fit into the new architecture. ----
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Another priority of Xfce 4 is adhereance to standards, specifically those defined at freedesktop.org. This allows Xfce 4 to seamlessly interoperate with programs written for other desktop environments, if those programs follow the specified standards. || {{https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Xfce_logo.svg|Xfce Logo (GPLv2)|width=200}} || {{https://screenshots.debian.net/screenshots/000/018/423/large.png|Xfce Logo (GPLv2|height=200)}} ||
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Xfce 4 consists of a number of components that together provide the full functionality of the desktop environment. They are packaged separately and you can pick and choose from the available packages to create the best personal working environment. <<TableOfContents(3)>>
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Xfce is all free software. The separate components are released under either the BSD license, the GNU LGPL or the GNU GPL (see the section called “Copyright and Licences for details). ----
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(from http://www.loculus.nl/xfce/documentation/xfce4-intro.html) == Introduction ==
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See also: '''Xfce''' is a lightweight [[DesktopEnvironment]]desktop environment]] for Unix-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and lightweight, while still being visually appealing and easy to use.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XFce Xfce is based on [[GTK|GTK+]] version 2 (like [[Gnome|Gnome 2]]). One of Xfce's priorities is adherence to standards, specifically those defined at freedesktop.org. This allows Xfce to seamlessly interoperate with programs written for other desktop environments, if those programs follow the specified standards.

Xfce consists of a number of components that together provide the full functionality of a desktop environment. They are packaged separately and you can pick and choose from the available packages to create the best personal working environment.

== Installation ==

=== Install a new Debian system with Xfce ===

During [[DebianInstaller|Debian installation]], select `Xfce desktop environment` at the [[https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/ch06s03#pkgsel|Selecting and Installing Software]] installation step.


Alternatively, at the [[DebianInstaller|Debian Installer]] boot prompt, press the `Tab` key to edit the command line, then add `desktop=xfce`.

For a complete rundown refer to the [[DebianDesktopHowTo|Debian Desktop Howto]].


=== Debian Live with Xfce ===

A [[DebianLive|Debian live system]] with Xfce is available at https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current-live/amd64/iso-hybrid/


=== Install Xfce in an already installed system ===

You can install Xfce as the only desktop environment on your computer, or alongside another desktop environment. Your [[DisplayManger|display manager]] should allow you to select a the appropriate desktop before logging in.


Optional: If you want to uninstall GNOME and its dependencies first, do:
{{{
aptitude purge `dpkg --get-selections | grep gnome | cut -f 1`
aptitude -f install
aptitude purge `dpkg --get-selections | grep deinstall | cut -f 1`
aptitude -f install
}}}

Be aware that this can leave you with a broken system. Use caution.

To install Xfce, do the following: {{{
apt-get install xfce4
}}}

This will install a metapackage, which will install the core Xfce modules and scripts to get it to work.

There are many useful utilities that come with Xfce, to install these: {{{
apt-get install xfce4-goodies
}}}

In some Debian 8 minimal version installations (for example Google Compute Engine VMs), the following issue may occur after installing Xfce:

 * The icons for applications and files in file browser do not appear.

The above issue could indicate some Xfce dependencies are missing. One solution to this is to install "task-xfce-desktop" (DebianPkg:task-xfce-desktop): {{{
sudo apt-get install task-xfce-desktop
}}}

The above installs the needed dependencies and resolves the issue. Please note: task-xfce-desktop will also install the desktop environment, display manager and other programs (such as LibreOffice) if not yet present on the system.


== Run Xfce ==

=== With a display manager ===

For '''GDM, KDM and LightDM''' choose xfce4-session.

For '''slim''' boot session in /etc/slim.conf:
{{{
login_cmd exec ck-launch-session /bin/bash -login /etc/X11/Xsession %session
}}}

You also can install DebianPkg:xdm to login in start Xfce.


=== From the console ===

If you don't use a login manager but start Xfce from console, you need to take
care of few stuff in order to get a complete Xfce session with full permission
(mount, suspend/shutdown/hibernate etc.) This is because Debian now uses PolicyKit/ConsoleKit to manage policies for things like device and power management.
 * only use startx, without any argument
 * don't use a .xinitrc, add in file ~/.xsession:
{{{
exec ck-launch-session startxfce4
}}}
This is because ConsoleKit ships an init script (/etc/X11/Xsession.d/90consolekit), but the /etc/X11/Xsession.d/ scripts are only executed if you don't use any .xinitrc. See startx (1) for more information.

Then you need to fine-tune your pam installation so ConsoleKit can be sure that
your user is correctly authenticated. For that, you need to install libpam-ck-connector and put '''before''' pam_ck_connector.so in /etc/pam.d/common-session.
{{{
session optional pam_loginuid.so
}}}


== Other Packages ==

Other packages that can be found with: {{{
apt-cache search xfce4
}}}

To install all xfce4 packages do: {{{
apt-get install `apt-cache search xfce | cut -d ' ' -f1`
}}}

''Please think twice before using this option because it causes installation of a large amount of software that may impact your overall system stability.''

== Troubleshooting ==

'''I see [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_tearing|screen tearing]]:''' Try disabling [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compositing_window_manager|compositing]] in `Window manager` settings.


== Versions ==

 * [[DebianUnstable|Debian Unstable]] contains Xfce 4.14.0
 * [[DebianTesting|Debian Testing]] contains Xfce 4.12.5
 * [[DebianBuster|Debian Buster]] contains Xfce 4.12.5
 * [[DebianStretch|Debian Stretch]] contains Xfce 4.12.3
 * [[DebianJessie|Debian Jessie]] contains Xfce 4.10.1
 * [[DebianWheezy|Debian Wheezy]] contains Xfce 4.8.0.3

== External Links ==

 * [[http://www.xfce.org|Xfce Desktop Environment - Official website]]
 * [[WikiPedia:Xfce|Xfce - Wikipedia]]
 * [[https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xfce|Xfce - ArchWiki]]
 * [[irc://irc.freenode.net/%23xfce|#xfce]] - [[IRC]] channel
 * Bugs: [[DebianBug:xfce4|Debian BTS]], [[https://bugzilla.xfce.org/|Xfce bugzilla]]
 * [[Teams/DebianXfceGroup]] - The Debian Xfce packaging team



----

CategoryDesktopEnvironment | CategorySoftware

Translation(s): English - Brasileiro - Français - Italiano - 한국어 - Русский - Svenska - Español - 简体中文


Xfce Logo (GPLv2)

Xfce Logo (GPLv2


Introduction

Xfce is a lightweight DesktopEnvironmentdesktop environment]] for Unix-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and lightweight, while still being visually appealing and easy to use.

Xfce is based on GTK+ version 2 (like Gnome 2). One of Xfce's priorities is adherence to standards, specifically those defined at freedesktop.org. This allows Xfce to seamlessly interoperate with programs written for other desktop environments, if those programs follow the specified standards.

Xfce consists of a number of components that together provide the full functionality of a desktop environment. They are packaged separately and you can pick and choose from the available packages to create the best personal working environment.

Installation

Install a new Debian system with Xfce

During Debian installation, select Xfce desktop environment at the Selecting and Installing Software installation step.

Alternatively, at the Debian Installer boot prompt, press the Tab key to edit the command line, then add desktop=xfce.

For a complete rundown refer to the Debian Desktop Howto.

Debian Live with Xfce

A Debian live system with Xfce is available at https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current-live/amd64/iso-hybrid/

Install Xfce in an already installed system

You can install Xfce as the only desktop environment on your computer, or alongside another desktop environment. Your ?display manager should allow you to select a the appropriate desktop before logging in.

Optional: If you want to uninstall GNOME and its dependencies first, do:

aptitude purge `dpkg --get-selections | grep gnome | cut -f 1`
aptitude -f install
aptitude purge `dpkg --get-selections | grep deinstall | cut -f 1`
aptitude -f install

Be aware that this can leave you with a broken system. Use caution.

To install Xfce, do the following:

apt-get install xfce4

This will install a metapackage, which will install the core Xfce modules and scripts to get it to work.

There are many useful utilities that come with Xfce, to install these:

apt-get install xfce4-goodies

In some Debian 8 minimal version installations (for example Google Compute Engine VMs), the following issue may occur after installing Xfce:

  • The icons for applications and files in file browser do not appear.

The above issue could indicate some Xfce dependencies are missing. One solution to this is to install "task-xfce-desktop" (task-xfce-desktop):

sudo apt-get install task-xfce-desktop

The above installs the needed dependencies and resolves the issue. Please note: task-xfce-desktop will also install the desktop environment, display manager and other programs (such as LibreOffice) if not yet present on the system.

Run Xfce

With a display manager

For GDM, KDM and LightDM choose xfce4-session.

For slim boot session in /etc/slim.conf:

login_cmd exec ck-launch-session /bin/bash -login /etc/X11/Xsession %session

You also can install xdm to login in start Xfce.

From the console

If you don't use a login manager but start Xfce from console, you need to take care of few stuff in order to get a complete Xfce session with full permission (mount, suspend/shutdown/hibernate etc.) This is because Debian now uses ?PolicyKit/ConsoleKit to manage policies for things like device and power management.

  • only use startx, without any argument
  • don't use a .xinitrc, add in file ~/.xsession:

exec ck-launch-session startxfce4

This is because ?ConsoleKit ships an init script (/etc/X11/Xsession.d/90consolekit), but the /etc/X11/Xsession.d/ scripts are only executed if you don't use any .xinitrc. See startx (1) for more information.

Then you need to fine-tune your pam installation so ?ConsoleKit can be sure that your user is correctly authenticated. For that, you need to install libpam-ck-connector and put before pam_ck_connector.so in /etc/pam.d/common-session.

session   optional  pam_loginuid.so

Other Packages

Other packages that can be found with:

apt-cache search xfce4

To install all xfce4 packages do:

apt-get install `apt-cache search xfce | cut -d ' ' -f1`

Please think twice before using this option because it causes installation of a large amount of software that may impact your overall system stability.

Troubleshooting

I see screen tearing: Try disabling compositing in Window manager settings.

Versions


CategoryDesktopEnvironment | CategorySoftware