LXDE

Infobox Software
name = LXDE



caption = A screenshot of LXDE
developer = The LXDE Team
released = 2006
latest release version =
latest_release_date =
latest preview version = 0.3.2.1
latest_preview_date = release date and age|2008|04|20
frequently_updated = yes
programming language = C, GTK+
platform = Cross-platform (Linux, BSD)
language = Multilingual (more than 35 different languages)Fact|date=September 2008
status = active
genre = Desktop environment
license = GNU General Public License, LGPL and Proprietary
website = [http://www.lxde.org www.lxde.org]

LXDE is an open source desktop environment for Unix and other POSIX compliant platforms, such as Linux or BSD. The name LXDE stands for "Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment".

LXDE is designed to work well with computers on the low end of the performance spectrum such as the new generation netbooks and other small computers. LXDE is energy efficient and fast compared to other desktops. [cite web | url = http://www.geek.com/lxde-may-let-netbooks-run-even-faster-20080808/ | author = Todd Ogasawara| title = LXDE may let netbooks run even faster | accessdate = 2008-08-08] [cite web | url = http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3614747114.html | author = Eric Brown | title = Lightweight GNOME alternative emerges | accessdate = 2008-08-07] . LXDE can be built on top of various Linux distributions such as Ubuntu or Debian.

History and community

The project was started in 2006 by Taiwanese hacker Hong Jen Yee, also known as PCMan, when he published PCManFM, a new file manager and the first module of LXDE. Other developers from around the world joined development shortly thereafter.Fact|date=September 2008

Goals of the LXDE project

The LXDE project aims include:

* a desktop environment which is fast and saves energy
* designed to be easily usableFact|date=September 2008
* keep the resource usage low, including low RAM, low CPU and low disk space usage.
* full featured desktop
* multilanguage support

Current releases are already achieving these goals. Tests have shown that LXDE and applications running on the LX desktop need less CPU power and RAM resulting in less electrical energy consumption Fact|date=August 2008.

LXDE can also help to prolong the lifecycle of computer products as it increases the performance of applications on older hardware. Thus older hardware can be used longer without compromising usability speed. [cite web | url = http://www.webmonkey.com/blog/Lightweight_Linux_Desktop_Proves_Popular_with_Netbooks | author = Scott Gilbertson| title = Lightweight Linux Desktop Proves Popular with Netbooks | accessdate = 2008-08-07]

Development

LXDE is built in the programming language C and runs on Unix and other POSIX compliant platforms, such as Linux and BSD.

Components

Unlike in other desktop environments, the components of LXDE are not tightly integrated. [cite web | url = http://notebooki.pcworld.pl/news/162051/LXDE...lekka.alternatywa.do.GNOME.html | author = Łukasz Bigo| title = LXDE - lekka alternatywa do GNOME | accessdate = 2008-08-08] Instead, they can run independently of each other with few dependencies. [ [http://lxde.sourceforge.net/about.html About LXDE] ]

LXDE consists of several components:
* PCMan File Manager
* LXLauncher, easy-mode application launcher
* LXPanel, desktop panel
* LXSession, session manager
* LXAppearance, theme switcher
* leafpad, text editor
* Xarchiver, archiving
* GPicView, image viewer
* LXTerminal, terminal emulator
* LXTask, task manager
* LXNM, lightweight network connection helper daemon for LXDE supporting wireless connections (Linux-only)
* Openbox, window manager

Toolkit

LXDE uses the GTK+ toolkit. GTK+ is commonly used in many GNU/Linux distributions and allows applications to run on different platforms. The LXDE team optimized GTK+ for faster performance of certain functions.

Applications

Major applications on the standard desktop of LXDE (when running the PUD linux distribution) include free software as well as some non-free software applications.
* OpenOffice.org
* Skype
* Firefox
* Thunderbird
* Pidgin
* Synaptic
* Audacity
* SMPlayer

Release Cycle

The LXDE team releases new versions on a regular basis.Fact|date=September 2008

There are a currently only development versions and no stable versions of LXDE.

Licencing

LXDE includes GPL licensed code as well as LGPL licensed code.

Hardware compatibility

LXDE currently supports many computer processor architectures including Intel and MIPS.Fact|date=September 2008

The LXDE development team has plans to port the desktop environment to other hardware architectures in the future. These may include ARM which are often used in embedded devices like mobile phones.Fact|date=September 2008

Distributions including LXDE

* PUD GNU/Linux: Ubuntu-based installable live cd with LXDE [cite web | url = http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=04826 | author = Distrowatch| title = Development Release: PUD GNU/Linux 0.4.8.6 LXDE Edition | accessdate = 2008-04-05]
* Greenie: Ubuntu-based OS with LXDE and GNOME desktop environments [cite web | url = http://greenie.sk | author = | title = Greenie Operating System Website | accessdate = 2008-09-05]
* Ubuntulite [cite web | url = http://www.webmonkey.com/blog/Lightweight_Linux_Desktop_Proves_Popular_with_Netbooks | author = Scott Gilbertson| title = Lightweight Linux Desktop Proves Popular with Netbooks | accessdate = 2008-08-07] [cite web | url = http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS4275692353.html | author = Dekstoplinux, Henry Kignman| title = "UbuntuLite" reviewed | accessdate = 2008-08-27]
* VectorLinux Light
* Myah OS 3.0 Box edition: LXDE flavor of Myah OS

LXDE screenshots

References

External links

* [http://lxde.org/ LXDE] Homepage
* [http://sourceforge.net/projects/lxde/ LXDE] project page on sourceforge