I'm deciding between installing Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or waiting for the next LTS release. I'm not too picky about the version itself, but I'm interested in changing the desktop environment (DE). I've heard that installing another DE can sometimes create clutter with duplicate apps. Is there a way to add multiple DEs without cramming the system with redundant applications? Can I just install a clean version of the DE without all the extras?
6 Answers
Which desktop environment are you thinking of? Honestly, it only takes about ten minutes to reinstall everything, so don’t stress too much if things get messy. Sometimes, starting fresh can lead to a cleaner setup overall.
If you’re planning to switch your DE right away, why not just install a flavor that already has the DE you want? You'd save yourself a lot of hassle.
Honestly, if you're worried about stacking DEs, it's better to go with an Ubuntu flavor that features your preferred one straight out of the box, like Kubuntu for KDE Plasma.
You could run different DEs for each user, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. There's also the chance that Ubuntu updates might mess things up, but you could probably manage it.
If you're looking to switch out your desktop environment but want to stick with Ubuntu, you should check out the different Ubuntu Flavors. They come preloaded with various DEs like XFCE, Cinnamon, etc., so you might find one that fits your needs without needing to customize from a standard install.
Why do you need several DEs installed? It seems unnecessary to me, but if you find it useful, that's your call.
That makes sense! I just want to make Ubuntu my main OS and experiment with different DEs like Ubuntu GNOME, KDE, and possibly others to see what I like best.