Desktop environments & utilities¶
Documentation in progress…
The Optimised Software links marked in bold have a more detailed description. The other links redirect to the old documentation (available on DietPi.com Forum). We need your help to create and update this documentation ! Thank you
Desktops¶
- LXDE - Highly optimized ultra lightweight desktop
- LXQt - Slick and optimized lightweight desktop
- MATE - Popular Gnome 2 desktop
- Xfce - Lightweight desktop
- GNUstep - Alternative/unique desktop
Desktop Utilities¶
- Chromium - Web browser
- GIMP - Image editor
- QuiteRSS - RSS and Atom news feeds reader
- Xfce4 Power - Power manager with brightness
Return to the Optimised Software list
How do I run DietPi-Software and install Optimised software ?
To install any of the DietPi Optimised Software listed below run from the command line:
dietpi-launcher
dietpi-software
Choose Software optimised and select one or more items. Finally click on Install. DietPi will do all the necessary steps to install and start these software items.
To see all the DietPi configurations options, review DietPi Tools section.
LXDE - ultra lightweight desktop¶
LXDE is highly optimized and ultra lightweight desktop. It works well with computers on the low end of the performance spectrum such as new generation netbooks and small computers, or older resource-constrained machines.
After installation, desktop can be run by typing
startx
To start different programs when the SBC starts, run from the command line the main DietPi tool:
dietpi-launcher
dietpi-autostart
LXQt - Optimized lightweight desktop¶
Optimized lightweight desktop without the bloatware. Slick and fluid GUI, however, more resource heavy than LXDE.
After installation, desktop can be run by typing
startx
Using dietpi-autostart you can have DietPi boot directly to the desktop
MATE - Popular Gnome2 desktop.¶
Popular Gnome2 based desktop environment.
After installation, desktop can be run by typing
startx
Using dietpi-autostart you can have DietPi boot directly to the desktop
Xfce - Lightweight desktop¶
After installation, desktop can be run by typing
startx
Using dietpi-autostart you can have DietPi boot directly to the desktop
GNUstep - Alternative/unique desktop¶
After installation, desktop can be run by typing
startx
Using dietpi-autostart you can have DietPi boot directly to the desktop
Desktop utilities¶
Chromium - Web browser¶
Does my device support GPU acceleration?¶
Not all devices support GPU acceleration with Chromium. - RPis supports native OpenGL and will be configured during installation. - Odroids support OpenGLES and will be configured during installation. - Other devices will most likely be limited to software rendering.
Where can I check the status of GPU acceleration?¶
Once Chromium is running, simply go to the following address:
Enable support for Widevine DRM protected content on RPi¶
- Manually: https://blog.vpetkov.net/2019/07/12/net … -chromium/
- with scripts: https://blog.vpetkov.net/2020/03/30/ras … many-others/
GIMP - Image editor¶
MS Paint on steroids. If you need to edit pixels with a vast number of tools, GIMP is the only program you’ll need.
https://www.gimp.org/
QuiteRSS - Atom news feeds reader¶
QuiteRSS is a open-source cross-platform RSS / Atom news feeds reader, with the main idea to be fast and comfortable to the end-user.
Xfce4 Power - Power manager with brightness¶
Enables laptop users to set up a power profile for two different modes on battery power and on AC Power while still allowing desktop users to at least change the DPMS settings and CPU frequency using the settings dialogue.
