FERRAMENTAS LINUX: Xfce’s Xfwm4 Embraces Wayland with wlroots: A Milestone for Linux Desktop Evolution

quarta-feira, 28 de maio de 2025

Xfce’s Xfwm4 Embraces Wayland with wlroots: A Milestone for Linux Desktop Evolution

 

Wayland

Xfce’s Xfwm4 window manager merges native Wayland support via wlroots, signaling a major shift for Linux desktops. Learn how this impacts performance, security, and Xfce 4.22’s 2026 release—plus expert comparisons to GNOME/KDE compositors.

Xfwm4’s Native Wayland Compositor Marks a Turning Point

Merged yesterday into Xfwm4—Xfce’s flagship window manager—is a built-in Wayland compositor powered by wlroots, ending years of reliance on X11 for core functionality. 

This breakthrough enables native Wayland support for Xfce, a lightweight Linux desktop environment long favored for its efficiency and customization.

Until now, Xfce users seeking Wayland compatibility had to resort to third-party compositors, but this integration leverages wlroots—the same library driving Sway, Hyprland, and other premium Wayland compositors—to deliver seamless performance.

Why wlroots? The Engine Behind Modern Wayland Adoption

The choice of wlroots is strategic:

  • Proven stability: Backed by Sway’s success and adopted by cutting-edge projects like Hyprland

  • Hardware acceleration: Optimized for low-latency rendering and multi-GPU setups

  • Modular design: Simplifies maintenance and future upgrades

This positions Xfce 4.22 (slated for late 2026) as a viable Wayland alternative without sacrificing X11 backward compatibility—a critical feature for enterprise and legacy users.

Commit

Xfce’s Wayland Roadmap: What to Expect

While Xfce 4.22’s release remains distant, this merge signals:

 Reduced fragmentation: No need for external compositors like Wayfire or Mutter

 Performance gains: wlroots’ efficient rendering pipeline could boost FPS in gaming and multimedia workflows

 Future-proofing: Aligns Xfce with Fedora, Ubuntu, and Arch’s push toward Wayland

FAQ: Xfwm4 Wayland Support

Q: When will Xfce 4.22 launch?

A: Expected December 2026, per Xfce’s 3–4-year release cycle.

Q: Is wlroots better than Mutter/GNOME’s compositor?

A: wlroots excels in modularity, while Mutter integrates tightly with GNOME. Benchmark comparisons [internal link] coming soon.

Q: Can I test this now?

A: Yes—compile the Xfwm4 Wayland branch, though production use isn’t advised yet.

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