Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

LXQt VS Arcan

Compare LXQt VS Arcan and see what are their differences

LXQt logo LXQt

The LXQt team is proud to announce the release of qtermwidget and qterminal, both in version 0. 8. 0. Read more..

Arcan logo Arcan

Game engine and multimedia framework and display server.
  • LXQt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-24
  • Arcan Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-14

LXQt features and specs

  • Lightweight Performance
    LXQt is designed to be a lightweight desktop environment, which means it consumes fewer system resources compared to other environments like GNOME or KDE Plasma. This makes it an excellent choice for older hardware or systems with limited resources.
  • Modularity
    LXQt is highly modular, allowing users to pick and choose the components they need. This flexibility can lead to a more customized and efficient system.
  • Quick and Responsive
    Due to its lightweight nature, LXQt tends to be very quick and responsive, leading to a smoother user experience, especially on less powerful machines.
  • Qt Framework
    Being based on the Qt framework, LXQt benefits from Qtโ€™s powerful libraries and tools, leading to a potentially richer and more consistent user experience.
  • Active Development
    LXQt is under active development, which means it receives regular updates, bug fixes, and improvements, ensuring it remains relevant and stable.
  • Customizability
    The environment offers a significant level of customizability, allowing users to tweak the interface to their liking without consuming too many resources.
  • Better Integration with KDE Applications
    LXQt can integrate better with KDE applications due to its use of the Qt framework, making for a more seamless experience if you rely on those applications.

Possible disadvantages of LXQt

  • Lack of Features
    Compared to more extensive desktop environments like GNOME or KDE Plasma, LXQt may lack certain advanced features and functionalities, which some users might miss.
  • Aesthetics
    While functional, LXQt's default aesthetic might be seen as less polished or modern compared to other desktop environments. Users may need to invest time in customizing the look.
  • Smaller Community
    LXQt has a smaller user base and community compared to major desktop environments. This can mean fewer available resources, themes, and community support.
  • Application Ecosystem
    The ecosystem of applications specifically designed for or optimized for LXQt is smaller compared to environments like GNOME or KDE Plasma.
  • Potential Qt Issues
    Being based on the Qt framework can sometimes lead to compatibility issues or inconsistencies, especially when mixing and matching applications from different desktop environments.
  • Complex Customization
    Though customizable, LXQtโ€™s customization options can sometimes be less straightforward or user-friendly compared to other environments, potentially leading to a steeper learning curve for new users.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    While under active development, LXQt doesn't receive updates as frequently as some other desktop environments, which might lead to slower integration of new features.

Arcan features and specs

  • Open Source
    Arcan is open-source, allowing developers to access, modify, and improve the source code according to their needs. This fosters a community-driven environment and enhances transparency.
  • Versatility
    Arcan is designed to handle a wide array of graphical and multimedia tasks, making it suitable for various applications beyond just a display server.
  • Security Focus
    The platform emphasizes security by design, providing mechanisms to isolate and protect components and users, which is crucial in multi-user or multi-tenant systems.
  • Performance
    Arcan is optimized for performance, aiming to deliver efficient rendering and resource utilization, which is beneficial for both desktop environments and embedded systems.

Possible disadvantages of Arcan

  • Complexity
    Due to its extensive feature set and adaptable nature, Arcan's framework may have a steep learning curve for new users or developers unfamiliar with its architecture.
  • Limited Adoption
    Compared to more established systems like X11 or Wayland, Arcan has a smaller user base, which can limit community support, third-party integrations, and documentation.
  • Compatibility Challenges
    As Arcan offers a unique approach to handling graphical tasks, it might face compatibility issues with software or systems not specifically designed to work with its environment.

LXQt videos

Lubuntu 18.10 Review - Now with LXQt Desktop

More videos:

  • Review - LXQt review!
  • Review - Debian 10.2 LXQT the Most Up-To-Date Desktop Environment
  • Review - Lubuntu 21.04 overview | Welcome to the Next Universe.

Arcan videos

A Quick Review of Arcan XL3000 Low Profile Floor Jack

More videos:

  • Review - Arcan 2 Ton Jack For The Lexus Gsf
  • Review - Arcan 3 Ton Aluminum Low Profile Jack Review On The Jeep Wrangler YJ

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LXQt and Arcan)
Linux
81 81%
19% 19
Operating Systems
82 82%
18% 18
Desktop Environments
89 89%
11% 11
Window Manager
78 78%
22% 22

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare LXQt and Arcan

LXQt Reviews

9 Best Linux Desktop Environments to Use in 2023
LXQT is another fantastic lightweight desktop environment. LXQT is a modern edition of LXDE that is suited for cloud servers and outdated infrastructure owing to its low RAM and CPU usage. LXQT is unmatched in its capacity to perform on even the most primitive devices.
Source: geekflare.com
The 8 Best Ubuntu Desktop Environments (22.04 Jammy Jellyfish Linux)
LXQt is a default desktop environment on Lubuntu. One of the features of LXQt is that it has comparatively low resource requirements.
Source: linuxconfig.org
The 12 Best Linux Desktop Environments
LXQt is one of the lightest Linux desktop environments on the list, so it is created by the merger between LXDEโ€™s Qt port and Razor-Qt. In case you donโ€™t like Lubuntu, it will be hard to build interest in LXQt because it is quite similar to Lubuntu.
Source: linuxhint.com
The Best Desktop Environments For Linux (We Tested Them So That You Donโ€™t Have To)
Even though LXQt tries to present a modern look without comprising the performance, it is still not the most intuitive experience out there. Of course, if you need performance over the look and feel, LXQt is an impressive choice.
Source: itsfoss.com

Arcan Reviews

We have no reviews of Arcan yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Arcan seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 21 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

LXQt mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of LXQt yet. Tracking of LXQt recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Arcan mentions (21)

  • ร‰toilรฉ โ€“ desktop built on GNUStep
    Chisnall has stated several times over on Lobsters that he's thinking of basing is future project on Arcan (https://arcan-fe.com/). It's a very interesting project. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • In praise of grobi for auto-configuring X11 monitors
    Yes, multi-protocol display servers like Arcan are the future. https://arcan-fe.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Dear sir, you have built a compiler (2022)
    You should take a look at arcan, it's almost exactly that: http://arcan-fe.com - https://arcan-fe.com/2022/10/15/whipping-up-a-new-shell-lashcat9/ - https://arcan-fe.com/2024/09/16/a-spreadsheet-and-a-debugger-walks-into-a-shell/ I am not using it as a daily driver, because, emacs, but I keep an eye on it because, well, emacs. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Xpra: Persistent Remote Applications for X11
    This was very cool, and is made in Arcan! https://arcan-fe.com/ a project I just recently discovered and am very excited about. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ideal OS: Rebooting the Desktop Operating System (2017)
    A lot of this seems like it's done by Arcan (https://arcan-fe.com). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing LXQt and Arcan, you can also consider the following products

Xfce - Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for UNIX-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and low on system resources, while still being visually appealing and user friendly.

Wayfire - Wayland compositor with 3d effects.

KDE Plasma Desktop - Plasma Workspaces is the umbrella term for all graphical environments provided by KDE.

Unity8 - Mir compositor with Wayland apps support.

LXDE - Why will you like it? Less resource needs. You can use it on your less-pricey embedded board or salvaged computer. Component-based design. Don't want something in LXDE, or you don't want to use LXDE but only part of it?

UKUI - UKUI is a lightweight desktop environment based on pluggable framework for Linux and other Unix-like Distributions.