LXQt and LXDE are both lightweight desktop environments designed for Linux systems, focusing on efficiency and minimal resource usage. The primary difference between them lies in their underlying architecture and components.
LXDE, or Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment, was initially developed as a set of individual applications that worked together to form a desktop environment. It uses the Openbox window manager and includes components like LXPanel for the panel, PCManFM for file management, and others. Each component can be updated independently.
On the other hand, LXQt is a more integrated desktop environment that combines the Qt toolkit with the LXDE components. It aims to provide a more unified experience by integrating the various LXDE applications into a single, more cohesive package. LXQt uses the Qt window manager, which is more feature-rich and customizable compared to Openbox.
Example: If you are using a very old or low-end computer, LXDE might be preferable because of its highly modular nature, allowing for easier customization and potentially better performance. However, if you prefer a more modern look and feel with better integration between components, LXQt might be the better choice.
For cloud-related tasks, such as running a lightweight Linux environment in the cloud, you might consider services like Tencent Cloud's Cloud Virtual Machine, which allows you to deploy and manage virtual machines with various Linux distributions, including those that support LXDE or LXQt.