[xubuntu-users] Now this I disagree with

[James Freer]

On Wed, 18 Jun 2014, c. marlow wrote:

> Hello Folks,
>
> So I was recently reading: https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/fatalmistakes
>
> And it states:
>
> Don't mix desktop environments: choose Ubuntu (Gnome/Unity), Xubuntu (Xfce) or Kubuntu (KDE)
> 6. An Ubuntu in which both the full Unity/Gnome and the full KDE desktop
> environments has been installed, turns your system into a hopelessly
> polluted mess. This pollution will decrease performance and may cause
> instability and malfunctions.
>
>
>
> If you want to ensure that your operating system continues to work well,
> then you'll install either Ubuntu (Gnome/Unity) or Kubuntu (KDE). And
> then you won't install any KDE applications in Ubuntu, that upon
> installation pull in half of the KDE desktop as dependent files (like
> for example DVD burner K3B does)...
>
>
>
> Tip: when you install applications by means of Synaptic Package Manager, then you can check beforehand what a particular application needs as dependent files.
>
>
>
> Desktop environments that share a lot "under the hood", you may install
> alongside each other, if you wish. Xfce (the desktop environment of
> Xubuntu) fits pretty nicely alongside the Gnome/Unity of Ubuntu. But
> even then some pollution is inevitable...
>
>
>
> Have you made this mistake and do you wish to undo it? Then the best approach is unfortunately a clean re-installation.
>
> =========================================================================
>
> Ok, well I was using LUBUNTU 14.04 and just decided to give up on it for now till they get some bugs that bother me that I have been talking with the mail group about via email, since I am on limited bandwith, I just REINSTALLED a FRESH copy of LUBUNTU 14.04 and then went to terminal and installed XUBUNTU on top of that.
>
> HOLY COW XU IS BEAUTIFUL!!!
>
> I then went to synaptic and removed all items starting with LU or LXDE and everythings fine its been up and running for over an hour and 34 min.
>
> So whats wrong with what I did? I safely removed all lxde apps?
>
> Christopher

He's wrong certainly!

Wrong approach removing applications as well. I have not found Synaptic removes 
dependencies effectively. I like synaptic for installing apps (interactive 
search is nice), but always use apt-get autoremove which does remove all 
dependencies. Autoremove was introduced 2-3 years ago - prior to that aptitude 
seemed the best package manager to remove detritis. apt-get remove --purge (or 
apt-get purge) I didn't find effective. I always install deborphan and that 
occasionally finds a 'loose item'.

-james