On Tue, 25 Jul 2023 at 14:19, mwilson--- via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
I just installed Debian 12 on a new laptop and took Gnome as desktop/window manager.
I really insist on something more Xerox PARC style.
I had been using Xfce, and liked it until (following Debian 10 software updates) it began to act strangely. A few months ago it started to kick up a huge fuss about difficulties starting the Panel after a restart. About 2 weeks back, following an upgrade, the Desktop area stopped displaying anything -- no wallpaper, no icons from the Desktop folder -- just gray. That prompted this move to Debian 12.
I might go back to Xfce, and assume my troubles just resulted from being 2 major releases back, but before that, what do other people use and like?
I personally use Openbox. I loathe GNOME. On the rare occasion I want to install a "desktop" rather than just a Window Manager, I usually use LXDE which is the lightest weight of the lot. Its relative simplicity might work for you. If you're interested in window managers (not "desktop environments," per se) I maintain as complete a list as I can manage here: https://gilesorr.com/wm/table.html Apologies for the self-promotion, but it's something I'm interested in. The page isn't well suited to discovery-by-features though, it's more just a list. One odd possibility no one has mentioned is the Trinity Desktop ( http://trinitydesktop.org/ ), which is the continuation of KDE3. I haven't used it, but it's still maintained and it might be of interest in this conversation? -- Giles https://www.gilesorr.com/ gilesorr@gmail.com