XFCE is fantastic for "I need a quick and dirty GUI for this server". Absolutely fantastic.
I know it can be made "pretty", but I don't have the patience for that.
this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2026
33 points (97.1% liked)
Linux
14850 readers
197 users here now
Welcome to c/linux!
Welcome to our thriving Linux community! Whether you're a seasoned Linux enthusiast or just starting your journey, we're excited to have you here. Explore, learn, and collaborate with like-minded individuals who share a passion for open-source software and the endless possibilities it offers. Together, let's dive into the world of Linux and embrace the power of freedom, customization, and innovation. Enjoy your stay and feel free to join the vibrant discussions that await you!
Rules:
-
Stay on topic: Posts and discussions should be related to Linux, open source software, and related technologies.
-
Be respectful: Treat fellow community members with respect and courtesy.
-
Quality over quantity: Share informative and thought-provoking content.
-
No spam or self-promotion: Avoid excessive self-promotion or spamming.
-
No NSFW adult content
-
Follow general lemmy guidelines.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Xfce was once impressively lightweight, and last time I checked was still less demanding than GNOME and Plasma. I used it for years, until Gtk 3 brought changes that I couldn't stand.
I kind of miss Thunar.
I used XFCE in 2009 when I had an underpowered netbook. It was ugly then though, and as far as I know it's still ugly today.
"Ugly" is a subjective opinion, it's extremely modular. The window decorations can be themed to look like anything, really. Get a modern set of icons like papirus or numix and it looks totally different.
I also use compiz with it, which makes it way less resource friendly, but it behaves like any modern OS.
I mean nowadays I need features from this decade like mixed dpi so Xorg isn't an option anyway.
Yo momma still ugly today, FishFace.
Digested HN comments:
I really do feel like XFCE on x11 is the logical choice, it "just works" and every app runs well
Also try LXDE and LXQT if you would like a 'lighter KDE' vibe instead of the 'lighter gnome 2' vibe of XFCE.
I'm a longtime fan of XFCE. I try all sorts of DEs from time to time on spare computers, but I reliably come back to XFCE, which is really just a fairly low-resource, stable embodiment of the classic GNOME feel.
I'm genuinely wondering why everybody hates modern GNOME.
Wayland just seems really unstable to me
Xfce is the definition of comfy computing.
In an ideal world where corporations kept all their laptops which windows 11 forced upgrade breaks, XFCE would be a great solution.
Simple enough to lock down and easy enough for most users to understand without too much training.
This aint an ideal world though.
Been happy with XFCE for many years now. I switched to it, when they scrapped Gnome 2. I don't care much about looks, though. It never distracts from what I actually want to work on, has all the functionality I need and more, and never gets in my way.
Yeah, I'll keep it.
I just can’t get xfce to look right with my monitor resolution
In what way does the resolution matter?