GNOME and KDE reign supreme on the Linux desktop, but there are many lesser-known desktop environments that are increasingly popular among users who are looking for lightweight alternatives that deliver more streamlined interfaces and a functional user experience with less overhead. The Xfce project, which produces one of the most polished lightweight desktop environments, recently announced the release of version 4.6.

Xfce is widely used on legacy hardware and systems that lack the resources to run more comprehensive environments. It has also recently gained a large following on Linux-based netbook devices where its fast start-time and slim profile are highly valued. Xfce is also a favorite among Linux users who prefer simpler and less intrusive software. It requires few dependencies and is built with the GTK+ toolkit. It is often praised for its high modularity, a characteristic that reflects a strong affinity with the component-oriented UNIX philosophy.

The new version of Xfce brings some significant improvements, including rich support for session management and several new configuration utilities.

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