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Difference Between Xfce and GNOME
Xfce and GNOME are two popular desktop environments for Linux and other open-source operating systems. While both provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to interact with the system, there are numerous variations between Xfce and GNOME in terms of design philosophy, user interface, resource utilization, and customization choices.
Read this article to find out more about Xfce and GNOME and how they are different from each other.
What is Xfce?
Xfce is a small, open-source desktop environment popular on Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It is designed to be fast, effective, and simple to use, making it a good alternative for those who seek a lightweight and configurable desktop environment.
Xfce was initially released in 1996 and is written in the C programming language. It is based on the GTK+ toolkit, which is also used by the popular GNOME desktop environment. Xfce, like GNOME, is free and open-source software licenced under the GNU General Public Licence.
Thunar, Xfce's file manager, is a lightweight and fast file manager that offers basic file management functions such as copying, moving, renaming, and deleting files and folders. Thunar also supports custom actions and scripts, allowing users to automate operations or add new features to the file manager.
Xfce includes a variety of customization choices, including themes, icons, fonts, and desktop backgrounds. Users can select from a variety of pre-installed themes or use the built-in theme editor to create their own custom themes. Desktop widgets and other customizations, such as custom keyboard shortcuts and mouse actions, are also supported by Xfce.
What is GNOME?
GNOME was released in 1999 and is mostly written in the C programming language. It is based on the GTK+ toolkit and uses a client-server architecture to maintain the user interface separate from the underlying system. GNOME is free and open-source software since it is licenced under the GNU General Public Licence.
GNOME's modern, minimalist design is one of its most distinguishing features. The top bar of the desktop environment contains the system menu, application launcher, and system status indicators. The Activities Overview, accessed by pressing the Super key (also known as the Windows key), offers an easy method to browse between open windows, search for apps, and access virtual desktops.
GNOME includes a file manager (Nautilus), an image viewer (Eye of GNOME), a document viewer (Evince), and a web browser (Epiphany) among its powerful applications. These applications are designed to be user-friendly and to provide an identical user interface throughout the GNOME desktop environment.
GNOME is also well-known for its accessibility features, which include support for assistive devices like screen readers, magnifiers, and on-screen keyboards. The accessibility features of GNOME are designed to make the desktop environment accessible to disabled people and to create an inclusive computing experience.
Difference Between Xfce and GNOME
The following table highlights the major differences between Xfce and GNOME −
Characteristics |
Xfce |
GNOME |
|---|---|---|
User Interface |
Traditional desktop layout with a taskbar, system tray, and customizable desktop panel |
Modern, minimalist design with a top bar that contains the system menu, application launcher, and system status indicators |
Applications |
It provides a range of essential applications, including a file manager, an image viewer, and a text editor. |
It provides a range of powerful applications, including a file manager, image viewer, document viewer, and web browser. |
Target audience |
Xfce is suitable for users who prefer a lightweight and customizable desktop environment with a traditional layout. |
GNOME is suitable for users who prefer a modern, user-friendly desktop environment with a minimalist design and advanced features. |
Popular distros |
Xubuntu, Manjaro Xfce, and MX Linux |
Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian |
Accessibility |
Xfce provides some accessibility features, but they are not as extensive as those in GNOME. |
GNOME is known for its extensive accessibility features, including support for assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, and on-screen keyboards. |
Customizability |
Xfce provides a range of customization options, including themes, icons, fonts, and desktop backgrounds. |
GNOME provides a range of customization options, including themes, icons, fonts, and desktop backgrounds. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Xfce and GNOME are two popular desktop environments in the Linux and open-source worlds, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Xfce is a lightweight and fast desktop environment that emphasizes simplicity and customizability, making it a good alternative for those who enjoy conventional desktop layouts and want to operate their system on older or less powerful hardware. GNOME, on the other hand, is a modern and feature-rich desktop environment that prioritizes user experience and accessibility, with new features and a polished, minimalist style.
While GNOME requires more system resources than Xfce, it provides a more modern and advanced user interface. Finally, the decision between Xfce and GNOME comes down to personal preferences and the user's individual demands, with both desktop environments providing a suitable foundation for a Linux-based operating system.
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