Xfce – Xfce Desktop Environment

Last Updated on July 13, 2021

Xfce is a free software desktop environment which aims to be fast and lightweight, yet at the same time being attractive and easy to use. Its configuration is entirely mouse-driven and the configuration files are hidden from the desktop user.

Xfce is mainly used for its ability to run a modern desktop environment on relatively modest hardware.

The Xfce project contains several separated projects for each part of the desktop. The core components include a window manager, session manager, panel, printing helper, desktop manager, and a settings manager.

Included in the Xfce project are also various desktop applications such as a text editor (called Mousepad), a terminal emulator, a modern file manager (called Thunar), a frontend CD/DVD burning application (Xfburn), a simple calendar application, a media player based on the xine engine, an image viewer (called Ristretto), an archive manager (Xarchiver), and more.

Features include:

• Lightweight desktop environment.
• Basic and lightweight applications.
• Goodies for maximum features:
  • Xfwm integrates its own compositing manager.
  • Orage – calendar that integrates well into the Xfce desktop.
  • Thunar – a file manager designed for speed and a low memory footprint, which resembles GNOME Files. It has advanced features such as a bulk file renaming capability.
  • Text editor.
  • Settings manager to customize your desktop environment.
  • Session manager – save the current session, autostart applications, shutdown, reboot, suspend or hibernate your computer.
• Real multiscreen and Xinerama.
• Kiosk mode to restrict the configuration.
• Configuration is entirely mouse-driven.
• Translated in more than 40 languages.
• Freedesktop specifications compliance:
  • Extended Window Manager hints.
  • Desktop Menus.
  • Icon themes.
  • XDG Base directory.
  • XSETTINGS protocol.
  • Drag-and-Drop protocol.

Website: xfce.org
Support: Xfce Goodies Project
Developer: Olivier Fourdan (Project Leader), and many other core developers
License: GNU GPL and LGPL

Xfce is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

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