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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[–] NettoHikari@social.fossware.space 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] xvlc@feddit.de 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yes! There are several variations of it and I use dwall to change them according to daytime.

[–] Agility0971@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I enjoy having dynamic wallpapers from this package.

[–] RainRaining@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

I use a window manager, Openbox. It's great once you have your personal config file and shortcuts! Also, I can't be sure but I think @mutoroglin@feddit.nl recently switched to Hyperland lol

[–] Unwind2046@iusearchlinux.fyi 2 points 1 year ago

Lol read this comment first then understood the last sentence after a short stroll. Take my up vote!

[–] ABeeinSpace@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Hah! Lemmy.world issues maybe?

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[–] cocolopez@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] shartmachine@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

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[–] myxi@feddit.nl 4 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.

[–] niva@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 1 year ago

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

[–] boerbiet@feddit.nl 4 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.

[–] Admetus@sopuli.xyz 4 points 1 year ago (2 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.

[–] BelAZ75710@lemmy.fmhy.ml 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

XFCE is also very light on resources and it looks better than LXDE so I always install XFCE on old laptops.

[–] funkajunk@lemm.ee 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

[–] kyub@discuss.tchncs.de 3 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.

[–] Martin@lemmy.ml 3 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

[–] fox@vlemmy.net 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

long time i3 user, now switched to sway

[–] ABeeinSpace@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I’ve seen people mention Sway every once in a while. What’s the benefit over i3 if you don’t mind me asking?

[–] fox@vlemmy.net 2 points 1 year ago

it comes down to wayland, i3 only supports Xorg, sway only supports wayland.

as far as features goes sway was built to be pretty much a drop in replacement for i3 with a few improvements.

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[–] mutoroglin@feddit.nl 3 points 1 year ago

I recently switched to hyprland, love it!

I've switched to LXQt recently. I like KDE and use mostly Qt apps, but KDE itself has too many features I don't really need. So far so good, I can't say I miss anything.

[–] brunox@feddit.cl 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.

[–] vendion@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

I'm currently using Xmonad on my main Arch system, before that was Herbstluftwm. Occasionally I boot up KDE to check on how it's coming along or when i'm feeling nostalgic for what helped get me into Linux many years ago.

[–] open_world@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

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

[–] wirthy@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] ABeeinSpace@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I am asking about your Openbox bindings

[–] wirthy@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Win+ijkl moves the window to the next edge with the "MoveToEdge" function, snapping it around the screen.

Win+Shift+ijkl grows the window from any edge.

Win+Ctrl+ijkl shrinks the window from any edge.

Win+Cursor switches desktops, Win+Ctrl+Cursor sends window to other desktops.

It seems intuitive to me because ijkl is used for actions within the desktop, cursor keys (reaching farther) are for between desktops.

https://pastebin.com/N2w84aEx

[–] ABeeinSpace@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Makes sense to me too. That’s pretty nifty

[–] copolymer__@lemmy.one 2 points 1 year ago

Bspwm, but MATE has been my go-to for years

[–] n8schicht@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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 😊

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[–] ScottE@lemmy.world 2 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.

[–] user68k@wired.bluemarch.art 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.

Desktop - KDE

Laptop - Gnome

[–] UnstoppableMango@vlemmy.net 2 points 1 year ago

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

[–] bigmode@lemmy.ml 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).

[–] writ@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I'm using Cinnamon

[–] laskobar@discuss.tchncs.de 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.

Xfce on Manjaro VM. Love it.

[–] Lazyachiever@lemmy.world 2 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.

[–] ludz1@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 year ago

i3 user here! ;)

[–] Lord_Mac@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

I'm always returning to cinnamon, but was on Bungie for awhile

[–] mutoroglin@feddit.nl 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I recently switched to hyprland and I love. I used plasma before but wanted to touch base with a tiling wm.

Sorry for the spam. These are my first activities with Lemmy, guess I should click less and be more patient

[–] boomboxnation@lemmy.ca 2 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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[–] TheV2@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

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

[–] bour@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

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

[–] bour@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

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

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

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