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Category:Desktop environment: Difference between revisions

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m First version of category (it could be expanded to have the default configuration of all desktop environments on one page)
m Added COSMIC displayManager and desktopManager names
 
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It is very easy to install and change desktop environments in NixOS. For the default settings its only needed to use a few lines of code:
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<translate>
<!--T:1-->
Linux desktop environments are graphical user interfaces and sets of tools for a PC. They allow you to manage windows, edit settings, and much more, as well as offering different sets of features and user experiences. For users interested in more minimal or manual control over their graphical sessions, see the [[:Category:Window managers|Window Managers]] category.


<syntaxHighlight lang=nix>
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services.xserver.enable = true;
Contrary to most other Linux distributions, it is trivial to install and change desktop environments in NixOS. For example, the use of a fully functional GNOME desktop environment only requires the following lines in your configuration.
services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.enable = true;
services.xserver.desktopManager.gnome.enable = true;
</syntaxHighlight>
Changing the desktopManager and choosing an appropiate displaymanager is needed to change the desktop environment. Only some desktop environments require more configuration options for the default experience.


<!--T:3-->
{{file|/etc/nixos/configuration.nix|nix|<nowiki>
  # Pre 25.11
  services.xserver.enable = true;
  services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.enable = true;
  services.xserver.desktopManager.gnome.enable = true;
  # As of 25.11
  services.displayManager.gdm.enable = true;
  services.desktopManager.gnome.enable = true;
</nowiki>}}
<!--T:4-->
Changing the <code>desktopManager</code> and <code>displayManager</code> options should be enough to select a different desktop environment. Applying the configuration and rebooting the system should greet you to your new environment. Only some desktop environments require additional configuration options. Because of how NixOS works, the system will not become bloated when experimenting with different desktop environments by their various tools and dependencies: The default applications of a desktop environment are only here when said desktop environment is active, or when you manually install programs from another desktop environment.
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Desktop Environment
!displayManager (others may work too)
!desktopManager
!additionally needed
|-
|Gnome
|gdm
|gnome
|
|-
|KDE/Plasma5
|sddm
|plasma5
|
|-
|KDE/Plasma6
|sddm
|plasma6
|services.displayManager.sddm.wayland.enable = true;
|-
|Cinnamon
|lightdm
|cinnamon
|
|-
|Mate
|lightdm
|mate
|
|-
|XFCE
|lightdm
|xfce
|
|-
|Budgie
|lightdm
|budgie
|
|-
|Deepin
|lightdm
|deepin
|
|-
|Pantheon
|lightdm
|pantheon
|
|-
|CDE
|lightdm
|cde
|
|-
|COSMIC
|cosmic-greeter
|cosmic
|see [[COSMIC]]
|-
|LXQT
|lightdm
|lxqt
|
|-
|Lumina
|lightdm
|lumina
|
|}
<!--T:6-->
[[Category:Desktop]]
[[Category:Desktop]]
</translate>

Latest revision as of 12:04, 9 July 2025

Linux desktop environments are graphical user interfaces and sets of tools for a PC. They allow you to manage windows, edit settings, and much more, as well as offering different sets of features and user experiences. For users interested in more minimal or manual control over their graphical sessions, see the Window Managers category.

Contrary to most other Linux distributions, it is trivial to install and change desktop environments in NixOS. For example, the use of a fully functional GNOME desktop environment only requires the following lines in your configuration.

❄︎ /etc/nixos/configuration.nix
  # Pre 25.11
  services.xserver.enable = true;
  services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.enable = true;
  services.xserver.desktopManager.gnome.enable = true;

  # As of 25.11
  services.displayManager.gdm.enable = true;
  services.desktopManager.gnome.enable = true;

Changing the desktopManager and displayManager options should be enough to select a different desktop environment. Applying the configuration and rebooting the system should greet you to your new environment. Only some desktop environments require additional configuration options. Because of how NixOS works, the system will not become bloated when experimenting with different desktop environments by their various tools and dependencies: The default applications of a desktop environment are only here when said desktop environment is active, or when you manually install programs from another desktop environment.

Desktop Environment displayManager (others may work too) desktopManager additionally needed
Gnome gdm gnome
KDE/Plasma5 sddm plasma5
KDE/Plasma6 sddm plasma6 services.displayManager.sddm.wayland.enable = true;
Cinnamon lightdm cinnamon
Mate lightdm mate
XFCE lightdm xfce
Budgie lightdm budgie
Deepin lightdm deepin
Pantheon lightdm pantheon
CDE lightdm cde
COSMIC cosmic-greeter cosmic see COSMIC
LXQT lightdm lxqt
Lumina lightdm lumina

Pages in category "Desktop environment"

The following 11 pages are in this category, out of 11 total.