> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://book.bsdcn.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://book.bsdcn.org/ask/flat/chapter-10-desktop-environments/di-10.4-jie-xfce.md). # 10.4 Xfce Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment based on GTK+, providing a simple, efficient, and easy-to-use desktop experience. It is fully configurable, featuring a main panel with menus, applets, and application launchers, and provides a file manager and sound manager with theme support. Due to its fast, lightweight, and efficient nature, it is well-suited for computers with lower specifications or limited memory. It is worth mentioning that the Xfce logo is a mouse 🐀. A user once shared an anecdote claiming that because the default Xfce wallpaper featured a mouse 🐀, their computer screen was scratched by a cat 🐈 (SanjaytheToilet. \[joke] The default desktop startup screen causes damage to monitor!\[EB/OL]. (2015-08-04)\[2026-04-04]. .). ## Installing the Xfce Desktop Environment * Install via pkg ```sh # pkg install xorg lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter xfce wqy-fonts xdg-user-dirs xfce4-goodies lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings ``` * Or install via ports: ```sh # cd /usr/ports/x11/xorg/ && make install clean # cd /usr/ports/x11-wm/xfce4 && make install clean # Note the number 4 in the package name # cd /usr/ports/x11/xfce4-goodies/ && make install clean # cd /usr/ports/x11-fonts/wqy/ && make install clean # cd /usr/ports/x11/lightdm/ && make install clean # cd /usr/ports/x11/lightdm-gtk-greeter/ && make install clean # cd /usr/ports/x11/lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings/ && make install clean # cd /usr/ports/devel/xdg-user-dirs/ && make install clean ``` ### Package Description | Package | Description | | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | `xorg` | X Window System | | `lightdm` | Lightweight Display Manager LightDM | | `lightdm-gtk-greeter` | LightDM GTK+ login screen plugin | | `xfce` | Xfce Desktop Environment | | `wqy-fonts` | WenQuanYi Chinese Fonts | | `xdg-user-dirs` | Manage user home directories | | `xfce4-goodies` | Xfce add-ons and plugins collection | | `lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings` | Graphical tool for configuring the LightDM GTK+ login screen | ## startx Command Write the Xfce startup script to the **\~/.xinitrc** file to start Xfce using the startx command: ```sh $ echo "/usr/local/etc/xdg/xfce4/xinitrc" > ~/.xinitrc ``` Write the Xfce startup script to the **\~/.xsession** file to start Xfce via the display manager: ```sh $ echo "/usr/local/etc/xdg/xfce4/xinitrc" > ~/.xsession ``` ## Starting Services Set the D-Bus service to start on boot: ```sh # service dbus enable ``` Set the LightDM display manager to start on boot: ```sh # service lightdm enable ``` ## Setting the Chinese Environment Edit the **/etc/login.conf** file: find the `default:\` section and change `:lang=C.UTF-8` to `:lang=zh_CN.UTF-8`. You also need to rebuild the capability database based on the **/etc/login.conf** file: ```sh # cap_mkdb /etc/login.conf ``` ## Screenshots ![FreeBSD Install Xfce](/files/Mq5gb2RrTkavkOlOe09Y) ![FreeBSD Install Xfce](/files/aVHie84lV2uPZ62wWr3J) ![FreeBSD Install Xfce](/files/ZmH4N8cMYefhwazPH0UF) ## Global Menu (Optional) Install using pkg: ```sh # pkg install xfce4-appmenu-plugin appmenu-gtk-module appmenu-registrar ``` Or install using Ports: ```sh # cd /usr/ports/x11/xfce4-appmenu-plugin/ && make install clean # cd /usr/ports/x11/gtk-app-menu/ && make install clean # cd /usr/ports/x11/appmenu-registrar/ && make install clean ``` Review the post-installation instructions and configure accordingly. ```sh $ xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Gtk/ShellShowsMenubar -n -t bool -s true # Enable GTK menubar display $ xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Gtk/ShellShowsAppmenu -n -t bool -s true # Enable GTK application menu display $ xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Gtk/Modules -n -t string -s "appmenu-gtk-module" # Set GTK module to appmenu-gtk-module ``` ## XTerm Terminal Dynamic Title ### sh Edit the **\~/.shrc** file and add: ```sh if [ -t 1 ]; then while :; do printf '\033]0;%s\007' "$PWD" printf '\n$ ' if ! IFS= read -r cmd; then break fi printf '\033]0;%s\007' "$cmd" eval "$cmd" done exit fi ``` > **Warning** > > This script uses `eval` which poses an injection risk! Use with caution. ### csh Edit the **\~/.cshrc** file and add: ```sh if ( $?TERM && $TERM =~ xterm* ) then set host = `hostname` alias postcmd 'rehash; printf -- "\033]2;%s\007" "${user}@${host}: ${cwd}"' endif ``` ### tcsh Edit the **\~/.tcshrc** file and add: ```sh switch ($TERM) case xterm*: set prompt="%{\033]0;%n@%m: %~\007%}%# " breaksw default: set prompt="%# " breaksw endsw ``` ### Bash Edit the **\~/.bashrc** file and add: ```sh case $TERM in xterm*) PS1="\[\033]0;\u@\h: \w\007\]bash\\$ " ;; *) PS1="bash\\$ " ;; esac ``` ### Zsh Edit the **\~/.zshrc** file and add: ```sh autoload -Uz add-zsh-hook function xterm_title_precmd () { print -Pn -- '\e]2;%n@%m %~\a' [[ "$TERM" == 'screen'* ]] && print -Pn -- '\e_\005{2}%n\005{-}@\005{5}%m\005{-} \005{+b 4}%~\005{-}\e\\' } function xterm_title_preexec () { print -Pn -- '\e]2;%n@%m %~ %# ' && print -n -- "${(q)1}\a" [[ "$TERM" == 'screen'* ]] && { print -Pn -- '\e_\005{2}%n\005{-}@\005{5}%m\005{-} \005{+b 4}%~\005{-} %# ' && print -n -- "${(q)1}\e\\"; } } if [[ "$TERM" == (Eterm*|alacritty*|aterm*|foot*|gnome*|konsole*|kterm*|putty*|rxvt*|screen*|wezterm*|tmux*|xterm*) ]]; then add-zsh-hook -Uz precmd xterm_title_precmd add-zsh-hook -Uz preexec xterm_title_preexec fi ``` ### References * Oracle Corporation. 6.1 Dynamically Setting the Title Does Not Work\[EB/OL]. \[2026-03-25]. . The bash configuration is from this source. * Wamphyre. BSD-XFCE\[EB/OL]. \[2026-03-25]. . Configuration reference collection. * Arch Linux Project. Zsh\[EB/OL]. \[2026-03-25]. . This document provides a detailed tutorial on Zsh configuration; the Zsh configuration in this section is derived from it. ## Troubleshooting and Outstanding Issues To dynamically display the current process, currently only sh supports this functionality. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. 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