LXQt 2.1.0 Released: Enhancements and Wayland Support

/ LXQt, Wayland, Desktop Environment, Linux, Release

Exciting New Features in LXQt 2.1.0

The LXQt team has officially announced the release of LXQt 2.1.0 on November 5, 2024, marking a significant advancement in the Lightweight Qt Desktop Environment. This version introduces robust support for Wayland sessions, which expands capabilities for users seeking a modern desktop experience.

Key Highlights

Wayland Support

With the new lxqt-wayland-session component, LXQt 2.1.0 now supports seven distinct Wayland sessions: Labwc, KWin, Wayfire, Hyprland, Sway, River, and Niri. This powerful addition not only enhances usability on Wayland, but also introduces two Wayland back-ends in lxqt-panel to ensure maximum compatibility.

For a seamless experience, users must install at least one compatible Wayland compositor alongside lxqt-wayland-session. The Wayland sessions can easily be accessed in the LXQt Session Settings under a newly created section labeled Wayland Settings.

Usability Improvements

The LXQt Wayland sessions are fully operational, distinguishing themselves based on the features offered by their respective Wayland compositors:

  • Labwc: Offers a lightweight and stable session, with a highly responsive support team.
  • KWin: Delivers the most comprehensive session, especially when paired with additional KDE packages, supporting specific functions like the LXQt Panel’s desktop switcher.
  • Wayfire & Hyprland: Both add visual flair with fancy effects, even providing tiling management options.

LibFM-Qt / PCManFM-Qt Enhancements

This release comes with various fixes and notable enhancements, such as:

  • Support for separate multi-screen desktops within Wayland environments.
  • Translucency for desktop backgrounds when using external wallpaper applications.
  • The ability to use relative paths for customized folder icons, alongside enabling path entries in the LXQt file dialog.
  • Options to disable thumbnails on remote file systems, improving overall performance.

LXQt Panel Improvements

The LXQt Panel has also seen advancements, enabling its task-bar functionalities under Wayland. Noteworthy improvements include:

  • Addition of two Wayland back-ends for better compatibility with kwin_wayland and wlroots based compositors.
  • Enhanced menu filtering capabilities and scrolling operations.

New LXQt Wayland Session

This crucial addition allows users to select a Wayland session directly from LXQt Session Settings. Users can choose their preferred compositor to optimize their LXQt experience. Security features like screen-locking are available through tools such as waylock or swaylock according to the compositor in use.

Configuration Center Updates

The Configuration Center has been adapted to function effectively with Wayland. It features more engaging tooltips and offers customization options to enhance user experience.

QTerminal Fixes

Recent updates to QTerminal resolve previous issues related to settings conflicts when multiple instances were running, alongside providing a more intuitive user interface.

Conclusion

This release signifies a commendable leap forward for LXQt users, particularly those keen on exploring the capabilities of Wayland. For a deeper dive into the specifics of each component's changes, users are encouraged to check the individual release pages for detailed notes.

Stay updated with LXQt developments by visiting the official announcement from the LXQt team.

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