XFCE Pre-Installation Configuration

If you're using the Bash Startup Files then run the commands below. Otherwise make sure that the values you want are properly set.

Installation Strategies

NOTE: These instructions are for Xfce-4.3.99.2. This is release candidate 2 for Xfce-4.4. Keep this in mind when selecting the installation prefix.

If you're committed to Xfce as your desktop, you will likely install it in the /usr hierarchy. If less committed, or you prefer to install Xfce in an easy to remove location, the /opt hierarchy may be more suitable.

Installing Xfce into /usr

Create an addition to the Bash Startup Files:

cat > /etc/profile.d/30-xfce.sh << "EOF"
# Begin /etc/profile.d/30-xfce.sh

export XFCE_PREFIX=/usr

export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS="${XDG_CONFIG_DIRS}${XDG_CONFIG_DIRS+:}/etc/xfce/xdg"

# End /etc/profile.d/30-xfce.sh
EOF

source /etc/profile

Installing Xfce into /opt

Create the /opt/xfce directory:

install -v -m755 -d /opt/xfce

Add the Xfce services directory to the D-BUS config:

sed -i "/<servicedir>\/usr\/share/a\  <servicedir>/opt/xfce/share/dbus-1/services</servicedir>" /etc/dbus-1/session.conf

Non-Multilib

Create an addition to the Bash Startup Files:

cat > /etc/profile.d/30-xfce.sh << "EOF"
# Begin /etc/profile.d/30-xfce.sh

export XFCE_PREFIX=/opt/xfce

if [ $EUID -eq 0 ]; then
  export PATH="${PATH}:${XFCE_PREFIX}/sbin"
fi
export PATH="${PATH}:${XFCE_PREFIX}/bin"

export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="${PKG_CONFIG_PATH}${PKG_CONFIG_PATH+:}${XFCE_PREFIX}/lib/pkgconfig"

export XDG_DATA_DIRS="${XDG_DATA_DIRS}${XDG_DATA_DIRS+:}${XFCE_PREFIX}/share"
export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS="${XDG_CONFIG_DIRS}${XDG_CONFIG_DIRS+:}/etc/xfce/xdg"

# End /etc/profile.d/30-xfce.sh
EOF

source /etc/profile

Add a new entry to /etc/ld.so.conf for the libraries that Xfce is going to install:

cat >> /etc/ld.so.conf << "EOF"
# Begin XFCE addition to /etc/ld.so.conf

/opt/xfce/lib

# End XFCE addition
EOF

Multilib

Create an addition to the Bash Startup Files:

cat > /etc/profile.d/30-xfce.sh << "EOF"
# Begin /etc/profile.d/30-xfce.sh

export XFCE_PREFIX=/opt/xfce

if [ $EUID -eq 0 ]; then
  export PATH="${PATH}:${XFCE_PREFIX}/sbin"
fi
export PATH="${PATH}:${XFCE_PREFIX}/bin"

export PKG_CONFIG_PATH32="${PKG_CONFIG_PATH32}${PKG_CONFIG_PATH32+:}${XFCE_PREFIX}/lib/pkgconfig"
export PKG_CONFIG_PATHN32="${PKG_CONFIG_PATHN32}${PKG_CONFIG_PATHN32+:}${XFCE_PREFIX}/lib32/pkgconfig"
export PKG_CONFIG_PATH64="${PKG_CONFIG_PATH64}${PKG_CONFIG_PATH64+:}${XFCE_PREFIX}/lib64/pkgconfig"

export XDG_DATA_DIRS="${XDG_DATA_DIRS}${XDG_DATA_DIRS+:}${XFCE_PREFIX}/share"
export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS="${XDG_CONFIG_DIRS}${XDG_CONFIG_DIRS+:}/etc/xfce/xdg"

# End /etc/profile.d/30-xfce.sh
EOF

source /etc/profile

Add a new entry to /etc/ld.so.conf for the libraries that Xfce is going to install:

cat >> /etc/ld.so.conf << "EOF"
# Begin XFCE addition to /etc/ld.so.conf

/opt/xfce/lib
/opt/xfce/lib32
/opt/xfce/lib64

# End XFCE addition
EOF