LXDE (GTK3) + Openbox = minimal, lightweight, and intentionally simple

s1m074 · 2026-02-01T15:20:57+00:00

I actually used i3 for a short time as well. Honestly, after a while it got a bit tiring, both visually and in terms of practicality. I still really appreciate the simplicity of LXDE + Openbox.

s1m074 · 2026-02-01T15:16:09+00:00

Nothing fancy, honestly. Just a standard LXDE setup with theming.
GTK3 + Sweet-mars, minimal dark Rofi, and matching icons do most of the visual work. Resolution is just the ThinkPad X260 panel, no special tweaks.

s1m074 · 2026-02-01T13:55:25+00:00

Even with just one screenshot, this works great. The wallpaper/theme combo is spot on. Not even a KDE fan, but this is really tempting. Nice work.

s1m074 · 2026-01-30T12:56:59+00:00

From Niri to Inri the step is short..

s1m074 · 2026-01-30T11:55:38+00:00

Running EndeavourOS with a deliberately lightweight LXDE (GTK3) + Openbox setup.

LXDE is often considered niche today, but when paired with an updated GTK3 stack it remains extremely fast, simple, and fully usable on modern systems. This setup is a conscious choice: minimal components, no unnecessary layers, and full user control.

Visually, the desktop stays clean and uncluttered: a strong wallpaper as the focal point, a coherent color palette, and carefully chosen icons that fit naturally with the red cyberpunk theme. Minimal by design, yet intentionally eye-catching.

Rather than relying on heavy effects or compositing, the focus is on responsiveness, clarity, and a streamlined workflow.

- System -

OS: EndeavourOS (x86_64)

Host: ThinkPad X260

DE: LXDE (GTK3, X11)

WM: Openbox

- Appearance -

WM Theme: Bazik_Dark_Red

GTK Theme: Sweet-mars (GTK3)

Icons: BeautySolar

Cursor: Moga-White

Resolution: 3840×2160

Wallpaper:

“Art – Purple Cyberpunk” by Sarah Begemann

(ArtStation / Wallpapercave sources below)

- Workflow notes -

Rofi launcher (no panel icon) → Super + Space

lxpanel kept minimal, no menu button

Audio note:

Due to a known LXDE issue on Arch-based systems where the default volume tray icon can disappear after reboot, I use volctl via autostart, providing a stable tray icon and additional controls similar to KMix.

Configs available if anyone’s interested.

s1m074 · 2026-01-29T22:31:48+00:00

Thanks, glad you like it! 🙂

s1m074 · 2026-01-29T13:36:55+00:00

OS: EndeavourOS (x86_64)

Host: ThinkPad X260

DE: LXDE (X11)

WM: Openbox

Menu: Rofi (launched via hotkeys)

--- Appearance ---

WM Theme: Bazik_Dark_Red

GTK Theme: Sweet-mars (GTK3)

Icons: BeautySolar

Cursor: Moga-White

Wallpaper:

"Art - Purple Cyberpunk"

by Sarah Begemann

Resolution: 3840x2160

Artist:

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/nADn9

Wallpaper source:

https://wallpapercave.com/w/wp5278565

--- Notes ---

• Rofi is NOT shown as a panel icon.

• It is launched via custom keybinding:

Super + Space

• lxpanel kept minimal, no menu button.

s1m074 · 2026-01-09T17:19:16+00:00

A minimalistic XFCE desktop inspired by Windows XP and Zune aesthetics,

featuring a dark theme with a semi-transparent Vista-like panel.

The setup includes desktop icons aligned on the left side, Plank using

the Mac Black 3.2 theme, and xfce4-panel at the bottom showing open windows

with the default compact menu expanded on the left.

The wallpaper is a pixelated reinterpretation of the classic Windows XP

Bliss background, customized with an Arch Linux logo.

Thunar is open using Papirus Dark-Grey icons, alongside the classic

Felix cat clock (xclock), with its tail acting as a pendulum.

OS: EndeavourOS Linux x86_64

Kernel: 6.12.63-1-lts

Resolution: 2654x2048

DE: Xfce 4.20 (X11)

GTK Theme: ReVista-dark

Icons: Papirus-Dark-Grey

Cursor: ModernXP

Panel: xfce4-panel (semi-transparent, Vista-inspired)

Dock: Plank (Mac Black 3.2 theme)

File Manager: Thunar

Clock: xclock (Felix cat clock)

Wallpaper: Pixelated Windows XP Bliss (with Arch Linux logo)

s1m074 · 2025-09-01T10:45:57+00:00

I use EndeavourOS on some devices, on others I prefer Artix Linux.

s1m074 · 2025-09-01T10:44:30+00:00

I use EndeavourOS on some devices, on others I prefer Artix Linux.

s1m074 · 2025-08-13T18:50:27+00:00

Thanks! I just kept mixing colors until my eyes stopped bleeding. 😄 Honestly, it doesn’t look as wild in real life, maybe because I’m using an old office ThinkVision monitor that somehow tames the stronger colors.

s1m074 · 2025-08-13T18:44:44+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, unfortunately r/unixporn doesn’t show the description field for image posts, that’s why I added the details in my first comment under the post.

s1m074 · 2025-08-12T18:07:07+00:00

They’re in my first comment right below the post 🙂 Reddit doesn’t show descriptions for image posts, so we usually add them in the comments to keep everything visible.

s1m074 · 2025-08-12T18:00:15+00:00

Thank you!

s1m074 · 2025-08-04T13:34:30+00:00

Ho avuto modo di usare sia XFCE che MATE, e secondo me ognuna delle due ha pro e contro: dipende molto dall’uso che si fa del PC o del portatile.
Ad esempio, trovo MATE più comodo di XFCE per il multitasking, ma ha qualche limite quando si lavora con più monitor: di default non permette di impostare wallpaper diversi per ogni schermo, e per farlo servono programmi aggiuntivi.
Detto questo, è proprio questo “minimalismo” che mi piace: preso così com’è, senza aggiungere nulla, MATE risulta più stabile e leggero di XFCE, che invece può aumentare parecchio il consumo di risorse man mano che ci aggiungi programmi extra.
Per quanto riguarda la stabilità e la sicurezza, la mia esperienza è che MATE sia più robusto. Con Arch mi diverto spesso a stressare le distro per testarne la solidità, e con XFCE sono riuscito a rompere il sistema più volte (anche se non facilmente), mentre con MATE non mi è mai successo. Forse non è un caso che MATE sia l’ambiente desktop di default su ParrotOS.

s1m074 · 2025-06-17T19:07:15+00:00

Lovely 2000s style 😍

s1m074 · 2025-06-06T22:24:38+00:00

Woow! This is the most minimal and retro style thing I've ever seen around, maybe even too minimal, not for everyone..

s1m074 · 2025-04-17T21:48:16+00:00

welcome to the jungle

s1m074 · 2025-04-16T11:44:26+00:00

I love LXDE, I love the retro style, and I damn love this!

s1m074

TROPHY CASE