Easy way to try out a bunch of different DEs?

I’m planning on moving (back) to Linux from Windows, but I’m not sure which desktop environment I want to use. What’s the easiest way to try them all out? Just do a bunch of dnf/apt installs? Is there a distro or project out there that makes this easier?

Looking to try out kde, gnome, budgie, cinnamon, xfce, others

Aradia,
@Aradia@lemmy.ml avatar

Well, if you are new to Linux, it is better if you just install new distros to try them, I would go to Arch Linux as it’s the cleanest distro, I could install multiple DE without issues, but then it’s a bit mess of packages, also it’s harder to install, you need to type archinstall and understand their options. I have a desktop and laptop and I always use the laptop for testing, if you copy the ~/.config folder, you can restore all your applications settings (just copy the app settings you are using), ~/.mozilla to restore your browser as you had it before the wipe and some more settings are under ~/.local. I also copy my ~/.zshrc because I have a custom prompt, configs, add-ons, alias…

Vilian,

NixOS or fedora ostree

atzanteol, (edited )

Not sure about others but in PopOS (and I assume Ubuntu) it’s pretty simple. Probably easy with most distros.


<span style="color:#323232;">apt install gnome-desktop
</span><span style="color:#323232;">apt install kde-standard
</span><span style="color:#323232;">apt install xubuntu-desktop
</span><span style="color:#323232;">apt install cinnamon-desktop-environment
</span><span style="color:#323232;">apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodies
</span><span style="color:#323232;">etc.
</span>
pastermil,

Usually when you have multiple DEs installed, the login manager would let you choose.

Just need to make sure the autologin don’t get in the way of your choice (e.g. select it thru autologin or disable it completely).

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