Ubuntu 17.10: Install LXDE for desktop environment

This article will describe installing LXDE for desktop environment.

1 Install LXDE

The following command will install LXDE.

$ sudo apt install -y lubuntu-desktop
<snip>
check for a default display manager.

  1. gdm3  2. lightdm

Default display manager: lightdm
<snip>
$ sudo reboot

The following makes selecting display manager be automated.

$ sudo apt install -y expect
$ cat <<EOF | expect
set timeout -1
spawn sudo apt install -y lubuntu-desktop
expect "Default display manager: "
send "lightdm\n"
expect eof
EOF
$ sudo reboo

2 Login to LXDE

After reboot, lightdm-gtk-greeter will be started. You can select other desktop environment.

0001_Login.png

LXDE is displayed.

0002_Desktop.png

3 Uninstall LXDE

The following command will uninstall LXDE.

$ sudo apt remove -y lubuntu* lxde* openbox lightdm
$ sudo apt autoremove -y
$ sudo apt install --reinstall -y gdm3
$ sudo reboot