Components of Xfce 4

The Xfce 4 components are packaged separately. This section contains a list of the available modules with a short description.

libxfce4util

Library with non-graphical helper functions.

libxfcegui4

Widget library and X Window System interaction.

libxfce4mcs

Settings management library used by most Xfce 4 modules.

xfce-mcs-manager

Settings manager. Runs in the background and provides global settings information to other Xfce components. There is a main control panel to access the configuration dialogs of Xfce components.

xfce-mcs-plugins

Settings manager plugins. These plugins provide settings dialogs for general items that are not part of a package, e.g. user interface settings (Gtk+ theme, icon theme, font settings), mouse settings, keyboard settings and display settings.

xfce4-session

Session manager. The session manager controls the startup and shutdown of the Xfce Desktop Environment. On logout it can save the state of running applications (if the application supports it) and restore them properly again the next time you log in.

xfwm4

The Xfce 4 window mananger. Manages the placement of application windows on the screen, provides window decorations and manages workspaces.

xfce4-panel

The Xfce 4 panel. Provides program lauchers, a workspace switcher, a clock, menus and more.

xfdesktop

Desktop background manager. This program sets the background image and/or color, and provides a root window menu, a menu panel plugin and a menu editor.

xfce-utils

Essential utilities and scripts. Provides a taskbar, the Xfce 4 about dialog, a run dialog, the startxfce4 script and several other important scripts. Also contains this user guide.

xffm

A fast file manager, with double pane and integrated samba network browser.

xfprint

Printing support. Provides a graphical frontend for printing. Includes xfprint4 and xfprint-manager.

xfce4-appfinder

An application finder, which allows you to search, launch and find information about applications installed on your system.

xfcalendar

Simple calendar application with reminders.

gtk-xfce-engine-2

Theme engine for GTK2. Not required for the desktop, but it's a nice theme engine so you might just as well give it a try.

xfce4-icon-theme

Default icon theme for Xfce 4, called Rodent.

xfwm4-themes

Window decoration themes for xfwm4.