Here are all common ways to install and run XFCE on Void Linux, depending on whether you want a full desktop environment, a minimal setup, or to start it manually.

⭐ 1. Install the Full XFCE Desktop Meta-Package

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This is the easiest method.

sudo xbps-install -S xfce4
sudo xbps-install -S lightdm lightdm-gtk3-greeter
sudo ln -s /etc/sv/lightdm /var/service/
reboot

What this gives you: ✓ All XFCE core components ✓ LightDM display manager ✓ XFCE session starts automatically at login

⭐ 2. Install a Minimal XFCE Session (no meta-package)

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If you want only the essential parts of XFCE:

sudo xbps-install -S xfce4-session xfce4-panel xfce4-settings xfwm4 xfdesktop xfce4-terminal thunar

Start manually (no display manager):

echo "exec startxfce4" > ~/.xinitrc
startx

What this gives you: ✓ Minimal XFCE (panel, WM, settings, terminal, Thunar) ✓ No login manager

⭐ 3. Start XFCE via a Display Manager (DM)

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Using LightDM

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sudo xbps-install -S lightdm lightdm-gtk3-greeter
sudo ln -s /etc/sv/lightdm /var/service/

Using SDDM

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sudo xbps-install -S sddm
sudo ln -s /etc/sv/sddm /var/service/

XFCE will appear in the session selector.

⭐ 4. Start XFCE without a DM (using startx)

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Useful for minimal/WM-style setups.

Install XFCE (minimal or full), then:

echo "exec startxfce4" > ~/.xinitrc
startx

⭐ 5. Run XFCE Inside Wayland (Experimental)

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XFCE is still primarily X11-based, but you can run it under XWayland inside a Wayland compositor like Sway or labwc.

Example with Sway:

sudo xbps-install -S sway xwayland xfce4-panel xfce4-terminal thunar

Start Sway:

sway

Then run XFCE components manually (hybrid setup):

xfwm4 --replace
xfce4-panel &

⭐ 6. Run XFCE in a Headless/Remote Session

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Using Xvnc (for VNC desktop)

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sudo xbps-install -S tigervnc xfce4

~/.vnc/xstartup:

#!/bin/sh
exec startxfce4

Start server:

vncserver

⭐ 7. Run XFCE in a Container (chroot/LXC/Docker)

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Example with Docker:

docker run -it --rm voidlinux/voidlinux bash
xbps-install -S xfce4 tigervnc
startxfce4

Useful for sandboxing or remote desktop.

⭐ Summary of All Methods

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