> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.t3gemstone.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Desktop

> Desktop image

Desktop image is a lightweight yet feature-rich desktop environment designed for
stability and efficiency. We carefully selected components to ensure a seamless user experience while maintaining low
resource usage—ideal for single-board computers (SBCs).

## 1. Features

We evaluated several desktop environments and made the following decisions:

* **Xfce over LXDE**: While LXDE is lightweight, it lacks system-wide settings panels and other features that Xfce
  provides out of the box.
* **X11 over Wayland**: Wayland offers modern features but is not yet mature enough for T3 Gemstone boards. Many
  applications still rely on X11, and we prioritized stability for our users.
  ([Adaptation work continues.](/en/roadmap#wayland-transition))

Our Xfce4-based distro includes the following core components:

### 1.1. Core System

* **Configuration Management**: `xfconf`
* **Desktop Manager**: `xfdesktop4`
* **Display (Login) Manager**: `lightdm` with `lightdm-gtk-greeter`
* **Panel**: `xfce4-panel` with plugins:
  * `xfce4-indicator-plugin` (system indicators)
  * `xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin` (audio control)
  * `xfce4-xkb-plugin` (keyboard layout management)
* **Session Manager**: `xfce4-session`
* **Settings Manager**: `xfce4-settings`
* **Window Manager**: `xfwm4`

### 1.2. Utilities

* **Application Launcher**: `xfce4-appfinder`
* **Disk Usage Analyzer**: `baobab`
* **Network Management**: `network-manager` + `network-manager-gnome`
* **Task Manager**: `xfce4-taskmanager`

### 1.3. Applications

* **Archive Manager**: `engrampa`
* **Calculator**: `mate-calc`
* **File Management**: `thunar` with plugins:
  * `thunar-archive-plugin` (archive support)
  * `catfish` (file search support)
* **Image Viewer**: `ristretto`
* **Media Player**: `parole`
* **PDF Viewer**: `atril`
* **Terminal**: `xfce4-terminal`
* **Text Editor**: `mousepad`
* **Web Browser**: `firefox`

## 2. Installation

As described in the [Quick Start](../quickstart#1-installation) section, connect Gemstone to your computer, launch the
Gemstone Imager application, and click on the **Operating System** section.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/t3gemstone-754bcb96/oFj6OOIrYSQVBj-3/images/gem-imager/select-os.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=oFj6OOIrYSQVBj-3&q=85&s=229ae8eec777891c973747f9c63cc256" width="820" height="655" data-path="images/gem-imager/select-os.png" />
</Frame>

In the Operating System selection screen, clicking on Ubuntu or Debian images will display options like Desktop, Kiosk,
and Minimal. Select the Desktop image to complete the writing process.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/t3gemstone-754bcb96/oFj6OOIrYSQVBj-3/images/gem-imager/select-desktop.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=oFj6OOIrYSQVBj-3&q=85&s=ac1096733c8f8a0c180199ecc8f3bbae" width="820" height="655" data-path="images/gem-imager/select-desktop.png" />
</Frame>

Connect Gemstone to a monitor via HDMI cable. Connect USB Type-C cable to power-on the board. After the boot operation
is successful you will be greeted with the login screen.

<Frame caption="Login screen">
  <img height="720" width="1280" src="https://mintcdn.com/t3gemstone-754bcb96/S1XNwAfVXiylpyYD/images/desktop-login-screen.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=S1XNwAfVXiylpyYD&q=85&s=a3f55a5a2ccfc46626b9e1c57aeaebc1" data-path="images/desktop-login-screen.png" />
</Frame>

## 3. Configuration

The `xfce4-settings` program provides a centralized way to customize your desktop environment. You can access these
settings via the **Setting Manager** icon in the panel, by clicking `Settings > Settings Manager` from the applications menu
or by running `xfce4-settings-manager` in the terminal.

<Frame caption="Settings manager">
  <img height="720" width="1280" src="https://mintcdn.com/t3gemstone-754bcb96/S1XNwAfVXiylpyYD/images/desktop-settings-manager.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=S1XNwAfVXiylpyYD&q=85&s=19a0fabcbf703356997d9cd2bb790c0f" data-path="images/desktop-settings-manager.png" />
</Frame>

### 3.1. Appearance

* **Styles**: Change the global theme (e.g. T3-Gemstone, Greybird), icons, and fonts.
* **Settings**: Adjust font DPI, enable/disable anti-aliasing.

### 3.2. Desktop

* **Styles**: Change the desktop background.
* **Settings**: Adjust desktop icons.

### 3.3. Panel

* **Styles**: Adjust autohide, panel size, panel location and transparency.
* **Settings**: Customize panel plugins (e.g. applications menu, launchers, clock).

### 3.4. Window Manager

* **Styles**: Switch between window themes (e.g., T3-Gemstone, Greybird).
* **Keyboard Shortcuts**: Define shortcuts for window operations.

### 3.5. Display

* **Settings**: Set screen resolution and refresh rate. Arrange displays and configure primary screen.

### 3.6. Keyboard

* **Settings**: Add/remove keyboard layouts (e.g., Turkish, English).
* **Keyboard Shortcuts**: Define shortcuts for launching applications.

### 3.7. Mouse and Touchpad

* **Styles**: Change cursor theme, adjust cursor size.
* **Settings**: Adjust cursor speed, double click and drag & drop time.
* **Keyboard Shortcuts**: Define shortcuts for launching applications.

### 3.7. Session and Startup

* **Settings**: Manage applications launched at login. Choose actions for logout (save/restore sessions).

### 3.8. Settings Editor

* **Settings**: Graphical tool for directly modifying low-level Xfce configuration properties. Unlike
  `xfce4-settings-manager`, this editor exposes raw configuration channels
  and properties used by Xfce components. Used for fine-tuning settings not available in standard UI.

## 4. Conclusion

By leveraging Xfce4’s modularity and mature ecosystem, we aim to deliver a **fast, customizable, and stable** desktop
experience. The selected applications ensure compatibility while minimizing resource usage.