this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2023
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Arch Linux

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I wanted to get a feel for everyone’s thoughts on desktop environments (or window managers if you don’t use a DE). I’m new to Lemmy, so apologies if this is too low-effort a post.

Personally I’m running KDE on my main computer, but I have an Arch virtual machine I use for more experimentation. That VM has seen KDE, i3, and will probably see hyprland at some point soon

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I enjoy having dynamic wallpapers from this package.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Kde, let me change everything every time I get bored instead of switching to a whole different WM.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm using xfce. It's on endeavros as I like to belong to the arch crowd without working with the lengthly set up from scratch.

I prefer xfce as anything of note is accessible with a few minor exceptions due to endeavros security concerns such as Bluetooth which requires a quick systemctl command.

I started off with it after discovering ubuntu and trying the xfce version. I liked it and went through a few distros including crunchbang with openbox but ultimately xfce is a very straightforward experience for me and fairly customisable. The only drawback is it doesn't look like some of the awesome screenshots I've seen of i3 or other tiling managers but as a teacher I don't do development or have that much knowledge to tinker so xfce is my go-to.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Arch now has a guided installer that makes it just as easy as any other distro

https://youtu.be/bDzGfAxWxC8

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I have Plasma installed on my Arch based installation, but I hardly use it since I also have i3 installed which I adore.

My i3 setup looks very similar to my Plasma setup, I prefer window managers because they are more productive to use.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I just use GNOME with a few extensions. Works fairly well for me.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I have tried tiling WM's but they are not for me. KDE Plasma offers the right balance of customisability, look consistency and features to always come back on top again. It's been my go-to desktop environment since KDE3.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Gnome. It just seems simple, elegant and smooth. It does what I need from a DE (not that much, I do a lot in terminal and Emacs). It has good keybindings out of the box and good virtual desktop mechanisms. It was also the first DE with good Wayland support. At first I was unsure if I liked Gnome's concept and restrictions, but I've grown to like it fast.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'm currently using Gnome, but I'd like to switch to a tiling WM at some point

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I use Xfce on my computers except my Pi where I use Window Maker. Window Maker with its lower resource needs really helps when the Pi is used with resolutions over 1080p.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I use xmonad on my laptop with my small screen, and xfce on my desktop with a slightly roomier screen. I think tiling window managers tend to matter less and less as emacs has begun to take over all of my time on the computer everything tends to stay in one or two emacs frames (and many buffers).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'm switching between Arch and Manjaro, but I'm using mostly Gnome. Recently I had some weeks with KDE, but since Evolution is not well integrated, I'm using Gnome now again. Kmail is uncomfortable and total illogical for me. I don't get it to work the way I need it. Maybe the redesigned Thunderbird changes my mind, but there was a lot illogical other workflows on KDE on top. So I think I stay with Gnome or switch to XFCE.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'm using Cinnamon

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

long time i3 user, now switched to sway

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Xfce on Manjaro VM. Love it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Just i3, very simple. I am considering testing wayland (sway probably) sometime soon, but i'm not too knowledgeable in case something goes awry and my laptop has a discreet nvidia so RIP.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

AwesomeWM and KDE as a fallback when I mess my configuration.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I used to build e17 / Enlightenment on Arch for years, was kinda cool and I learned a lot about building packages, but now I don't care anymore and I just use gnome. Or rather I'm using Firefox and a terminal and that's pretty much it. Oh and Gimp every once in a while. But most of the time it's fullscreen Firefox so who cares what de is behind it as long as it just works

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

XFCE with the WM replaced with Openbox. Ask me about my Openbox keyboard bindings for window moving and resizing :)

I kind of want to try KDE again, but I still feel it's too laggy, at least on my machine with intel graphics.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

None - I don't run any DE, just a WM - i3. All I need is a terminal, browser, sublime-text for larger projects, and that's about it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

For years I was using KDE, but since 2-3 years I'm now using Cinnamon: it's fast, it's uncluttered, it gets the job done. I like it 😊

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I just switched from GNOME to Xfce after many years of the former. I had enough after some extensions broke for the millionth time. And the amount of resources used was bonkers. Currently working on setting up Xfce to my liking

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I always liked XFCE cuz I was a sucker for gnome2 back in the day, more recently tho I have found myself on KDE, it seemed the most polished and feature rich lately. However, I admittedly don’t use Linux on desktop anymore, most of my Linux usage nowadays is just my servers.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Desktop - KDE

Laptop - Gnome

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I have been using Arch+KDE plasma for ~5years on my main rig, I love it!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I have been using Arch+KDE plasma for ~5years on my main rig, I love it!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Hyprland window manager on my PC and laptop at the moment, but I might switch (back) to KDE soon for some QoL stuff and bc why not lol

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Gnome for 10+years... Across a variety of PCs... Intel NUC, mac pro 13, several dell laptops, and dell XPS 9560 and 9570 ATM.

[–] cyanarchy 1 points 1 year ago

qtile and picom. It took some getting used to but I never want to leave the luxury of dynamic tiling.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Sway. I look around every few months but nothing usually, um, erm pendulates my interest. I have hyprland installed...but my config file breaks with every update, and it's rice first, function later. I'm an opposite-ricer. I like to strip all decorations.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I just jumped up on the Hyprland band wagon (4 weeks ago). Very pleased with it so far!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I enjoy gnome with the arcMenu extension https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/3628/arcmenu/ I will include usually some other extensions, but arcMenu is what makes the experience a lot better than the stock one for me.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I'm not an Arch user (I stayed in Fedora because convenience at the time), but I use Qtile these days. I have my own little scripts for making the colorscheme the same as the wal colorscheme.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

i3 with dmenu and polybar. Such a great and efficient setup for school and work, love it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use windowmaker and plasma. I also dabble in icewm

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Haven’t heard of windowmaker before

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I am a die hard Cinnamon guy. I used to like MATE and then I played with Linux Mint for a short while and Cinnamon became my thing. Cinnamon works really well in Arch too. I just wish that its window manager, Muffin, would support Wayland. I really want to drop xorg like a bad habit.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

i3 user here! ;)

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

herbstluftwm - I remember there were reasons why I chose it, but I don't remember them xD

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

On my laptop I run Cinnamon. The classic, easy to use layout works best for me there.

On desktop I'm using Gnome. Having a full keyboard for the various navigating shortcuts makes it easier.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Totally get it! Cinnamon uses a layout Windows pioneered a long time ago. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?

Gnome is cool. I used it for a while but couldn't get comfy without a bunch of tweaks and extensions. KDE was intimidating (and i3 doubly so), but as I got used to it it was fine

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

KDE, for kwin's superior window management tools.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Kwin is pretty cool

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