That is easy, just purge the current DE package with apt
then install the new DE package , again with apt
Depending on how your current DE is packaged , it may leave a few things behind… that does not really matter, as long as you remove the main meta-package
Dont try to have 2 DE’s installed at once. It can be done , but is complex, especially if one of them is KDE.
Neville
Yes, Mate is a fine DE.
Hey!
I have GNOME and KDE on my Ubuntu System.
And both run fine except for some theme problems on GNOME.
Still, it doesn’t really matter because I mostly use KDE itself.
Thanks!
Regards,
Hrishikesh
Yes you can install 2 DTE.
As you say, they can interfere
I added KDE to Xfce once. The CD burner would not work. I had a lot of trouble removing all traces of KDE
If you want to do a dual DTE, I would suggest use Fedora… it is properly set up to cope with multiple DTE.
Neville
@nevj
OK, if I decide to install Mate DE, could you share some terminal commands that I need to use.
What really bugs me the most about Ubuntu is un-ability to be able to copy and paste from the desktop to home folders. Gnome3 isn’t very user friendly for me.
Yes sure.
You need to find the names of
the gnome package
the mate package
in Ubuntu.
Use apt-cache search gnome
and apt-cache search mate
You will get lots of output, have to search through it and find the top level package – called a metapackage maybe
Then you purge the gnome package
apt-get purge gnome-whatever as su
then , without logging out, install the mate package
apt-get install mate-whatever as su
Thats all, boot and mate should come up.
The hardest part is finding the names of the top level controlling package.
In Debian the gnome top level package is called gnome
the mate top level package is called mate-core
dont know if Ubuntu is same?
Regards
Neville
I’ve never had any operational issues when I’ve had two DE’s on one computer, but they do occasionally get their wires crossed with themes, setting wallpaper, etc. One way to avoid this is by having separate user accounts for each DE so that you don’t get any conflicting user configs.
Hi @Kenneth_Dotson ,
The DE that tends to conflict with others is KDE.
Separate user accounts is a good idea. One would have to be careful with things like email.
The DE is not owned by the user, it is system-wide, but the config files are user specific.so they would be separated.
Hi
Seasons greetings to all!
Is it possible to install Cosmic DE on MX Linux? I couldn’t find it in the package installer.
Will it be stable? Is it even advisable to do so?
Same questions for Deepin.
Hi Rohit,
Anything is possible, but it may be difficult. Cosmic comes from the ubuntu/popos world and is a modified Gnome… it may use things that are not in a Debian based system like MX. You would probably have to compile it from source.
Deepin DE might be easier
https://www.linux.org/threads/the-esteemed-deepin-desktop-environment-a-pinnacle-of-linux-desktop-design-warmly-embraces-its-version-upgrade.48197/
It does not list Debian, but it is available in arch or ubuntu, so it is close.
Regards
Neville
Hmmm…
Guess better stick with the vanilla Xfce for stability 
You can modernize Xfce
or you could change to Gnome or KDE or Mate or whatever else is available in the Debian repo.
You can check my github for vajra-linux, u will find ready-made macos, windows layouts here. GitHub - TypeHrishi/vajra-linux: A linux distro crafted in Bharat!
Install xfce4-panel-profiles from debian repo, select the layout zip, and apply it.
After that, you can install and use your favorite system and icon themes!
I’m personally excited for COSMIC too! Let’s see when the stable version rolls out.
There’s a guide at System76 for installing Cosmic DE on other distros - can’t remember if MX was on the list, Fedora is…
(no MX is not on the list - what is MX based on? Arch?)
MX is based on Debian and Antix. It uses both repos.
Mx23 is mostly the same as Debian 12 stable