Ade Malsasa Akbar contact
Senior author, Open Source enthusiast.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at 11:45

Beginner LXQt Desktop Usage Guide


LXQt is a newcomer desktop environment for Linux. It is a lightweight desktop with modern look. LXQt is suitable for old computers, same with LXDE. LXQt is actually LXDE + Qt (LXDE but reconstructed with Qt Framework). LXQt was born from merger between LXDE and Razor-Qt project. It is also similar with Windows in which they have same layout. But LXQt is for those who like LXDE simplicity but prefer Qt against GTK. Note for you, KDE is created from Qt and LXDE is created from GTK. Using LXQt is similar to using LXDE with KDE look. This article is for beginner Linux user especially those who never used LXQt before. I use LXQt 0.7.0 on Manjaro Ascella for this article.

Anatomy


  1. Menu. 
  2. Workspace switcher. 
  3. Shortcut icons on panel. 
  4. Taskbar. 
  5. System tray. 
  6. Shortcut icons on desktop. 

Concepts


  1. LXQt has traditional desktop layout, same with Windows. You see the menu, taskbar, and system tray are on the same bottom panel. 
  2. LXQt has minimalistic effects. It is a consequence to be lightweight. 
  3. LXQt is basically a LXDE desktop with KDE look.

Launch Apps





To launch an app, click menu > select category > click app. LXQt has no search bar.

Create Shortcut



To create an application shortcut, select one app from menu > drag into taskbar > drop it. You must drop it on the shortcuts group. This is the easiest way in LXQt.

Alt+Tab




To switch between running apps, press Alt+Tab.

Multiple Desktop

LXQt has multiple desktop like another Linux desktop. You will see 4 boxes beside the menu button on the taskbar panel. They are your workspaces. To switch between those workspaces, just click on the box you want.

Work with Workspaces


Same with another desktop, you can move a window to another workspace. To do that, right-click on the app on the taskbar > To Desktop > select one number.

System Tray



LXQt system tray is similar with Windows' one, and is basically same with LXDE's one. From left to right: 

  1. Network manager. You connect to a network by this. 
  2. Device indicator. You mount or unmount removable media (DVD, USB Stick, HDD) by this. 
  3. Time and calendar. Your clock and calendar.

Notes


  • Qt is a set of programming libraries that used to create KDE. 
  • GTK is a set of programming libraries, just like Qt, that used to create GNOME, XFCE, and LXDE. 

Notes

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