Adding LXDE to FreeBSD 13.3: A Concise & Complete Guide

Adding LXDE to FreeBSD 13.3: A Concise & Complete Guide

FreeBSD 13.3 is a powerful and flexible operating system, but it doesn’t come with a graphical user interface (GUI) by default. If you’re looking to add a lightweight desktop environment, LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) is an excellent choice. This guide will walk you through the process of installing LXDE on FreeBSD 13.3, configuring necessary files, and launching it using LightDM or startx.

Prerequisites

Before beginning, ensure you have:

- A working FreeBSD 13.3 installation

- Root or sudo access

- A stable internet connection

- A user that belongs to the wheel or video group

Step 1: Install Xorg, LXDE, and LightDM

First, after updating FreeBSD in your terminal, you need to install Xorg, the display server, LXDE, and LightDM, a display manager. Execute the following commands:

pkg install xorg pkg install lxde-meta pkg install lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter

These commands will install Xorg, the LXDE meta-package, and LightDM along with its GTK greeter1.

Step 2: Configure .xinitrc

The .xinitrc file in your home directory tells the startx command which desktop environment to start. Use the ee (easy editor) to create or edit this file:

ee ~/.xinitrc

Add the following lines to .xinitrc:

#!/bin/sh exec ck-launch-session dbus-launch --exit-with-session startlxde

Save and exit the editor. This configuration ensures that LXDE starts with the necessary session and bus services1.

Step 3: Update /etc/rc.conf

The /etc/rc.conf file is used to configure system services. Open this file with ee:

ee /etc/rc.conf

Add the following lines to enable necessary services:

dbus_enable="YES" lightdm_enable="YES"

These lines ensure that the D-Bus and LightDM services start at boot, which are required for LXDE to function properly1.

Step 4: Configure /etc/fstab

The /etc/fstab file is used to define how disk partitions, various other block devices, and remote file systems should be mounted. Open this file with ee:

ee /etc/fstab

Ensure that the following lines are present to mount the proc file system:

proc    /proc   procfs  rw  0   0

This configuration is necessary for certain applications within LXDE to function correctly1.

Step 5: Launch LXDE

After completing the installation and configuration:

1. Reboot your system:

  

   reboot

  

2. Log in through the LightDM greeter

Alternatively, you can start LXDE manually:

1. Switch to your user account:

   

   su - yourusername

   

2. Start the X server:

   

   startx

Conclusion

Adding LXDE to FreeBSD 13.3 is a straightforward process that involves installing the necessary packages, configuring a few system files, and launching the desktop environment. LXDE provides a lightweight and efficient GUI that can enhance your FreeBSD experience without consuming too many resources.

Disclaimer

This guide is provided by The Distrowrite Project for educational purposes. Always ensure you have backups of your important data before making significant changes to your system.

Source

1: FreeBSD Wiki - LXDE

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