A preview of the Xfce 4.4 Desktop environment
FAST AND EASY
Xfce is a light and flexible desktop alternative. We took a look at what’s coming with the latest version.
If you want a user friendly and GUI-configurable desktop without the glut of Gnome and KDE applications, you may wonder if you have any choices. You can build Fluxbox into a nicely functional desktop once you add components such as a icon manager and pager, but it is still has some limitations. If you have slightly older hardware that cannot run KDE and GNOME at a usable speed, and if you’re looking for an alternative that provides this middle ground between the big desktops and the lightweight window managers, try Xfce. Xfce is designed to be lightweight but still easy to use and configure – without the need for manual editing of configuration files. The Xfce developers have created a desktop that is fast but still visually appealing. Xfce embodies the traditional UNIX philosophy of modularity and re-usability. The Xfce environment consists of a number of components that together provide a desktop with full functionality.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
USB4 Maintainer Leaves Intel
Michael Jamet, one of the primary maintainers of USB4 and Thunderbolt drivers, has left Intel, leaving a gaping hole for the Linux community to deal with.
-
Budgie 10.9.3 Now Available
The latest version of this elegant and configurable Linux desktop aligns with changes in Gnome 49.
-
KDE Linux Alpha Available for Daring Users
It's official, KDE Linux has arrived, but it's not quite ready for prime time.
-
AMD Initiates Graphics Driver Updates for Linux Kernel 6.18
This new AMD update focuses on power management, display handling, and hardware support for Radeon GPUs.
-
AerynOS Alpha Release Available
With a choice of several desktop environments, AerynOS 2025.08 is almost ready to be your next operating system.
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for more than two weeks.
-
RingReaper Malware Poses Danger to Linux Systems
A new kind of malware exploits modern Linux kernels for I/O operations.
-
Happy Birthday, Linux
On August 25, Linux officially turns 34.
-
VirtualBox 7.2 Has Arrived
With early support for Linux kernel 6.17 and other new additions, VirtualBox 7.2 is a must-update for users.
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.