Xfce is great

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Starting point for new Linux users

  • Some argue Xfce is the best on-ramp: classic “Windows XP–style” desktop, low “BS,” predictable behavior that’s easy to navigate.
  • Others counter that its defaults look dated and “config-file-ish,” which can scare newcomers; they recommend GNOME, KDE, or COSMIC as more familiar and polished starting points.

Performance and responsiveness

  • Many report Xfce feels dramatically more responsive than Windows, GNOME, or KDE, with near-zero perceived click-to-action latency even on powerful machines.
  • It’s widely praised for running smoothly on very old or low-spec hardware and over VNC.
  • One commenter criticizes its modular X11-era architecture as a performance anti-pattern for modern Wayland-style compositing, but multiple replies say any latency is theoretical and not observable in practice.

Customizability, aesthetics, and UX philosophy

  • Xfce is described as un-opinionated and “boring but working”: panels, menus, and behavior are easy to reconfigure; it doesn’t push a paradigm.
  • Some find it ugly by default and “90s-like,” but see that as intentional: beauty is secondary to staying out of the way.
  • There is extensive discussion of themes (Greybird, Arc, Nord, Zukitre, Chicago95, etc.) and icon packs; many users effectively hide most of the DE behind full-screen apps and a thin panel.
  • Classic shortcuts (e.g., Super/Alt + drag for moving/resizing, desktop zoom) and modularity (mixing Xfce panel or Thunar with tiling WMs) are appreciated.

Comparisons to other desktops and WMs

  • Against GNOME: Xfce is seen as less opinionated, more configurable, and more consistent over time; GNOME is called modern and clean by some, restrictive and extension-dependent by others.
  • Against KDE Plasma: Plasma is praised for Wayland, HiDPI, gaming, and features, but some find it heavy or fragile; others say it has matured into a flagship DE.
  • Alternatives for “lightweight” use include MATE, LXDE/LXQt, and various tiling/floating WMs (i3, sway, xmonad, fvwm, IceWM, etc.).

HiDPI, multi-monitor, and Wayland

  • Experiences with HiDPI and heterogeneous multi-monitor setups are mixed: some find Xfce “borderline unusable,” others report it works fine once DPI and themes are tuned.
  • Small resize handles are a recurring annoyance, often worked around with keyboard/mouse shortcuts or themes.
  • Xfce is still primarily X11; Wayland support exists but is incomplete. Some users are worried about the long-term transition; others value Xfce precisely because it lets them avoid Wayland for now.