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XFCE 4.20 Aims To Bring Preliminary Wayland Support

By sk
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The XFCE community is eagerly anticipating the release of XFCE 4.20, which promises to bring some major improvements. One of the most exciting features of this upcoming release is the introduction of preliminary Wayland support. The XFCE developers are aiming to release the XFCE version 4.20 in December 2024.

While XFCE has always been known for its lightweight and customizable X11 desktop environment, XFCE 4.20 is taking a big step towards embracing the future of display server technology.

What is Wayland?

Wayland is a modern display server protocol that is designed to replace the older X11 system. It comes with several benefits:

  • Better Performance and Security: Wayland’s simpler design and direct communication between applications and the display server result in smoother graphics, less input lag, and improved security.
  • Enhanced Support for HiDPI Displays: Wayland natively supports high-resolution displays, making everything look sharper and more visually appealing on modern hardware.
  • Compositor-Centric Approach: Wayland gives compositors more control over the user interface, allowing them to manage window management, animations, and effects more effectively.

XFCE 4.20: Building the Foundation for Wayland

XFCE 4.20 aims to introduce preliminary Wayland support to its core components without losing compatibility with X11. This means that users can continue to enjoy their familiar XFCE experience while also having the option to try out Wayland.

Key Components Getting Wayland Support

Several important XFCE components are already making progress in supporting Wayland:

  • xfce4-panel: The panel has been successfully adapted for Wayland using the wlroots compositor framework, ensuring that it works smoothly on Wayland.
  • xfdesktop: The desktop manager has also been ported to Wayland, with ongoing efforts to support features like workspaces and window listing.
  • libxfce4ui: The core UI library has been updated to ensure compatibility with both X11 and Wayland.
  • xfce4-settings: The settings manager now includes a counterpart for Wayland, allowing users to configure their Wayland environment. The display settings have also been adapted to work separately for X11 and Wayland.

Challenges and Future Plans

While the XFCE community is making good progress with Wayland support, there are still some challenges. For example, xfwm4, the window manager, is still being developed for Wayland. Additionally, support for various panel plugins and applications is being actively worked on.

The long-term goal is to provide a fully-fledged XFCE Wayland session, but the exact timeline is still uncertain. The developers are focused on ensuring a smooth transition for users, keeping X11 compatibility in place for the foreseeable future.

XFCE 4.20 Release Schedule

Here’s the current plan for the release of XFCE 4.20:

  • November 1, 2024: XFCE 4.20pre1 (Feature + String Freeze)
  • December 1, 2024: XFCE 4.20pre2 (Code Freeze)
  • December 15, 2024: XFCE 4.20pre3 (Final Freeze) - Optional release
  • December 15, 2024 (around December 29, 2024 with pre3): XFCE 4.20 (Final Release)

Conclusion

In my opinion, XFCE 4.20 will be a major release! With its initial Wayland support, XFCE is set to offer a modern, fast, and customizable desktop experience for both current and future users.

While a full transition to Wayland is still in the future, XFCE 4.20 is going to be an important milestone in that journey, ensuring that this popular desktop environment remains a strong choice for years to come.

Although it's often criticized for its slow development pace, I'm optimistic that XFCE will continue to evolve steadily, maintaining its core values of simplicity, efficiency, and user-centric customization.

This cautious approach ensures that each new release is well-tested and reliable, providing a stable desktop experience for users who appreciate a lightweight and uncluttered Linux desktop environment.

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