Help with alternative desktop enviroment

stephenuk

is there anyway to have an alternative desktop enviroment so it show under ports. I want to use xfce4 but there is only the option to install pixel. I did an install with raspberry lite installed xfce4 then installed retropie on top. sure i can get to desktop through the command prompt but would like to have xfce4 in ports.

mitu

@stephenuk That's relatively easy. Install xfce4 via apt-get, then create a ports configuration for it. Create a folder /opt/retropie/configs/ports/xfce and in the folder add a single emulators.cfg file

xfce = "startx xfce4"
default = "xfce"

You can replace - on the 1st line - startx xfce4 with the actual command that you used to start the WM from the command line.

Then add a new Xfce4.sh under the ports folder containing

#!/bin/bash
"/opt/retropie/supplementary/runcommand/runcommand.sh" 0 _PORT_ "xfce" ""

Restart Emulationstation and you should be able to start XFCE from the Ports menu.

As an alternative, you can skip all that and just add a simple .sh file under the ports with just startx xfce4, that should work also.

stephenuk

@mitu said in Help with alternative desktop enviroment:

@stephenuk That's relatively easy. Install xfce4 via apt-get, then create a ports configuration for it. Create a folder /opt/retropie/configs/ports/xfce and in the folder add a single emulators.cfg file
xfce = "startx xfce4"
default = "xfce"
You can replace - on the 1st line - startx xfce4 with the actual command that you used to start the WM from the command line.

Then add a new Xfce4.sh under the ports folder containing
#!/bin/bash
"/opt/retropie/supplementary/runcommand/runcommand.sh" 0 _PORT_ "xfce" ""
Restart Emulationstation and you should be able to start XFCE from the Ports menu.

As an alternative, you can skip all that and just add a simple .sh file under the ports with just startx xfce4, that should work also.

Hi Mitu thanks so much for the reply will try that.
Also I have noticed after installing xfce4 that it seems to muck up the sound driver and the sound is all distorted, and you repeatedly get the message about failing to find mixer elements etc. This doesnt appear to happen when installing Pixel from retropie-config.

mitu

@stephenuk said in Help with alternative desktop enviroment:

Also I have noticed after installing xfce4 that it seems to muck up the sound driver and the sound is all distorted [..]

Maybe xfce pulls in PulseAudio or has an additional sound service/daemon running in the background, but you'll get a better answer if you can ask in the Raspbian forums.

stephenuk

@mitu thanks mitu will do