Desktop Environment Configurations - buggerman/re-arch GitHub Wiki

Detailed information about all supported desktop environments and their configurations.

🎨 Supported Desktop Environments

Re-Arch supports four desktop environments, each with carefully curated package selections and optimizations:

1. KDE Plasma (Recommended)

Why KDE Plasma:

  • Most mature: Longest development history with extensive features
  • Performance: Excellent resource management and responsiveness
  • Customization: Highly configurable without compromising stability
  • Wayland support: Full Wayland compatibility with fallback to X11
  • Gaming: Best gaming experience with built-in optimizations

Key Packages:

  • plasma-desktop - Core desktop environment
  • plasma-nm - Network management integration
  • plasma-pa - Audio management integration
  • powerdevil - Power management
  • sddm - Display manager with native KDE integration
  • konsole - Terminal emulator
  • dolphin - File manager
  • discover - Package manager GUI (native KDE)

Configuration:

# Installation command
archinstall --config-url https://re-arch.xyz/config-kde.json --creds-url https://re-arch.xyz/creds.json

2. GNOME

Why GNOME:

  • Modern interface: Clean, touch-friendly design
  • Accessibility: Excellent accessibility features
  • Wayland-first: Built primarily for Wayland
  • Integrated ecosystem: Tight integration between applications
  • Corporate support: Backed by Red Hat and other major companies

Key Packages:

  • gnome-shell - Core desktop environment
  • gnome-control-center - System settings
  • gnome-terminal - Terminal emulator
  • gdm - Display manager with GNOME integration
  • gnome-software - Package manager GUI
  • gnome-power-manager - Power management
  • gnome-bluetooth - Bluetooth integration
  • xdg-desktop-portal-gnome - Desktop portal for sandboxed apps

Configuration:

# Installation command
archinstall --config-url https://re-arch.xyz/config-gnome.json --creds-url https://re-arch.xyz/creds.json

3. XFCE

Why XFCE:

  • Lightweight: Minimal resource usage
  • Stability: Rock-solid and reliable
  • Familiarity: Traditional desktop paradigm
  • Customization: Extensive theming options
  • Older hardware: Excellent for older or lower-spec systems

Key Packages:

  • xfce4 - Core desktop environment
  • xfce4-goodies - Additional utilities and plugins
  • xfce4-terminal - Terminal emulator
  • lightdm - Lightweight display manager
  • lightdm-gtk-greeter - GTK-based login screen
  • gnome-software - Package manager GUI (best Flatpak frontend)
  • xfce4-power-manager - Power management
  • xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin - Audio integration

Configuration:

# Installation command
archinstall --config-url https://re-arch.xyz/config-xfce.json --creds-url https://re-arch.xyz/creds.json

4. Hyprland

Why Hyprland:

  • Modern tiling: Advanced tiling window manager
  • Wayland-native: Built specifically for Wayland
  • Performance: Excellent performance and responsiveness
  • Customization: Highly configurable with scripting support
  • Advanced users: For users who prefer keyboard-driven workflows

Key Packages:

  • hyprland - Core window manager
  • waybar - Status bar
  • wofi - Application launcher
  • lightdm - Display manager
  • lightdm-gtk-greeter - Login screen
  • gnome-software - Package manager GUI
  • xdg-desktop-portal-hyprland - Desktop portal for Hyprland
  • polkit-gnome - Authentication agent

Configuration:

# Installation command
archinstall --config-url https://re-arch.xyz/config-hyprland.json --creds-url https://re-arch.xyz/creds.json

🔧 Display Managers

Each desktop environment uses an appropriate display manager:

SDDM (KDE)

  • Features: Native KDE integration, theme support, user switching
  • Config: /etc/sddm.conf
  • Themes: Breeze theme by default

GDM (GNOME)

  • Features: Wayland support, accessibility, user switching
  • Config: /etc/gdm/custom.conf
  • Integration: Deep GNOME integration

LightDM (XFCE/Hyprland)

  • Features: Lightweight, customizable, multi-desktop support
  • Config: /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf
  • Greeter: GTK-based login screen

🎯 Package Manager Integration

Native Package Managers

Each desktop environment includes its preferred package manager:

  • KDE: discover - Native KDE package manager with Flatpak support
  • GNOME: gnome-software - Native GNOME package manager
  • XFCE: gnome-software - Best Flatpak frontend available
  • Hyprland: gnome-software - Standard Flatpak frontend

Why gnome-software for Non-GNOME DEs?

gnome-software is used across multiple desktop environments because:

  • Best Flatpak support: Superior Flatpak integration compared to alternatives
  • Mature codebase: Well-tested and stable
  • Universal compatibility: Works well with all desktop environments
  • Active development: Regular updates and improvements

🌊 Wayland vs X11 Support

Wayland Support (Default)

  • KDE: Full Wayland support with X11 fallback
  • GNOME: Wayland-first design
  • XFCE: Limited Wayland support (primarily X11)
  • Hyprland: Wayland-only (no X11 support)

X11 Fallback

Available for KDE, GNOME, and XFCE if Wayland issues occur:

  • Select X11 session at login screen
  • Modify session configuration if needed

🔧 Configuration Files

KDE Plasma

  • User config: ~/.config/
  • System config: /etc/xdg/
  • SDDM config: /etc/sddm.conf

GNOME

  • User config: ~/.config/ and ~/.local/share/
  • System config: /etc/gconf/ and /etc/dconf/
  • GDM config: /etc/gdm/custom.conf

XFCE

  • User config: ~/.config/xfce4/
  • System config: /etc/xdg/xfce4/
  • LightDM config: /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf

Hyprland

  • User config: ~/.config/hypr/
  • System config: /etc/hypr/
  • LightDM config: /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf

🎨 Customization Options

KDE Plasma

  • Themes: System Settings → Appearance
  • Widgets: Right-click desktop → Add Widgets
  • Layouts: System Settings → Workspace → Desktop Behavior

GNOME

XFCE

  • Themes: Settings → Appearance
  • Panels: Right-click panel → Panel → Panel Preferences
  • Desktop: Settings → Desktop

Hyprland

  • Config: Edit ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf
  • Keybindings: Custom key combinations
  • Layouts: Multiple tiling layouts available

📱 Mobile/Touch Support

Touch-Friendly DEs

  • GNOME: Designed for touch interfaces
  • KDE: Good touch support with tablet mode

Traditional DEs

  • XFCE: Primarily mouse/keyboard focused
  • Hyprland: Keyboard-centric workflow

🎮 Gaming Considerations

Best for Gaming

  1. KDE Plasma: Best overall gaming experience
  2. GNOME: Good performance with some optimizations
  3. XFCE: Lightweight, leaves more resources for games
  4. Hyprland: Advanced users only due to tiling complexity

Gaming-Specific Features

  • Steam integration: All DEs support Steam
  • Controller support: Built-in controller support
  • Performance: All configurations include gaming optimizations

🔄 Switching Desktop Environments

⚠️ Not recommended - Each configuration is optimized for its specific DE.

If you need to switch:

  1. Fresh installation is recommended
  2. Manual package management required
  3. Configuration conflicts likely
  4. Display manager conflicts possible

Better approach: Test in virtual machine first, then choose your preferred DE for installation.

For installation instructions, see the Installation Guide.