LXQt 1.2.0 for Linux and BSD: The free lightweight desktop supports Wayland for the first time
The latest version 1.2.0 of the slim and resource-saving free desktop environment LXQt has been released for POSIX-compatible operating systems such as the two Unix-like platforms Linux and BSD. The lightweight desktop based on Qt in version 5.15 LTS now receives an initial integration of Wayland for the first time.
LXQt 1.2.0 is on its way the way to Wayland
In a direct comparison to LXQt 1.1.0, which was released in April this year, there have been many changes to the desktop environment that arose from the merger of the desktop projects LXDE and Razor-qt. The basis is still the current LTS version 5.15 of the free GUI toolkit Qt.
LXQt 1.2.0 (Image: LXQt)
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LXQt 1.2.0 (image: LXQt)
The most notable thing about the LXQt 1.2.0 release is that the first changes for using the LXQt session were made under the free display server protocol Wayland. LXQt Wayland session support is still in a very early stage, but it's finally a start.
Qt 6 is already appearing on the horizon
The official release notes also indicate that the porting of the lightweight desktop to the latest Qt 6 has already started and list numerous new features, fixes and optimizations for LXQt 1.2.0.
Qt 6 is expected to be used across the board after the final version of the KDE Frameworks 6 is available.
Highlights
Like its predecessor, LXQt 1.2.0 is still based on Qt 5.15, the last LTS version of Qt5.
Porting to Qt6 was started, but it needed a stable version of KDE Frameworks 6.< /strong>
LXQt's file manager has a search history now, with separate lists for name and content searches. Also, file selection is made easier in the detailed list mode and a problem with Wayland has been fixed.
An old issue about showing correct icons of newly installed apps is fixed in libQtXdg.
A correct position is guaranteed for LXQt Runner with some window managers.
Preliminary changes have been made to LXQt Session for use under Wayland.
And other changes that can be found in change logs of LXQt components.
QTerminal has a better command parsing with its -e option.
Translations have received many updates.
LXQt 1.2.0 – Release Notes
In addition to the general improvements, the developers have also given the desktop improvements in the areas of themes, LXQt panel, energy saving options, notifications, as well as the QTerminal and QTermWidget. LXQt 1.2.0 now also introduces a search history for the LXQt file manager for the first time, while the LXQt power management has been further improved to be able to read and display the charge status of batteries even more accurately.
Added to this are the obligatory optimizations and bug fixes that come with every new release.
LXQt is waking up from hibernation
The developers are waking up the Qt desktop, which appeared in version 1.0.0 in 2021 after an eight-year delay, from hibernation and are now releasing the second major one, one year after the first final release Update.
First announced in July 2011 as a fork from LXDE and slated for a July 2013 release, the development team has now tasted blood. LXQt would like to have a piece of the “Linux desktop” cake in the future.
Coming soon in numerous repositories
LXQt 1.2.0 will soon be included in the numerous package sources of the well-known Linux distributions. Among others, openSUSE, Gentoo and Fedora as well as Arch Linux and its derivatives like Manjaro Linux have LXQt in their in-house repositories.
One of the most well-known Linux distributions that relies on LXQt as the primary desktop environment is Lubuntu, an official derivative of Ubuntu.
Using the example of the Brazilian Linux distribution Amarok Linux, the YouTube channel eBuzz Central demonstrates the advantages of LXQt and delivers corresponding impressions.