LXQt 2.3.0 released
The LXQt team has announced the release of LXQt 2.3.0, a significant update to the Lightweight Qt Desktop Environment. This version brings about several key improvements and new features that enhance user experience.
One of the notable advancements is in Wayland support, particularly with LXQt Panel, which now includes a desktop switcher compatible with Labwc and niri. Additionally, a backend specifically designed for Wayfire has been incorporated into LXQt Panel, making it more versatile than KWin-Wayland regarding supported panel actions. Moreover, the Custom Command plugin has been made more flexible and can handle structured output, allowing users to tailor it according to their needs.
Furthermore, ScreenGrab, a screenshot tool, has seen improvements on both Wayland and X11 platforms. The LXQt team has also added lxqt-qdbus as part of the lxqt-wayland-session package to facilitate easier use of qdbus commands across various Wayland compositors. This enhancement contributes significantly to user convenience.
Other notable additions include "Safely Remove" in the side-pane context menu of PCManFM-Qt, allowing users to safely eject removable storage devices when possible. Users can also disable file tooltips on their desktop if they prefer a clutter-free interface.
In addition to these changes in various components, LXQt has seen improvements in its overall infrastructure. The team has launched an updated Wiki with enhanced search functionality and a more visually appealing layout at lxqt-project.org/wiki. Although the old Wiki pages are still available for reference purposes, users can now access more comprehensive information through the new platform.
LXQt's domain name has also been restored to its original lxqt.org address, which now redirects users to the current site.
In the LXQt Panel specifically, several key updates have taken place. The Desktop Switcher is not only enabled for Wayland compositors supporting the ext-workspaces-v1 protocol, like Labwc and Niri, but can also be used in conjunction with other Wayland compositors that support it. Furthermore, the Custom Command plugin has seen significant improvements by allowing users to create more complex workflows.
The LXQt team has made the initial configuration file available outside of LXQt itself to prevent an empty panel on startup. Users can now activate the Show Desktop plugin upon drag-and-drop and adjust backlight settings using their mouse wheel for a more intuitive interface. Locale-aware sorting is also now employed in the Fancy Menu and Main Menu, providing users with better organization.
In the LXQt (Wayland) session, lxqt-qdbus has been added to facilitate access to various qdbus commands for users working on Wayland compositors. Additionally, auto-start applications are categorized correctly within the session settings.
Other notable updates include improvements in LibFM-Qt/PCManFM-Qt, such as adding "Safely Remove" to the side-pane context menu and allowing users to disable file tooltips on their desktop for a cleaner interface.
QTerminal and QTermWidget have also seen enhancements. Users can now access emoji flags within these applications. The "Toggle Bookmarks" option has been added to the view context menu, making it easier for users to manage bookmarks. Finally, the "Do not ask again" prompt dialog option has been removed to provide a more streamlined experience.
LXQt Power Management has seen the addition of a new section dedicated to turning off monitors on Wayland platforms supporting KWin, Niri, and Hyprland.
Finally, LXQt Archiver has introduced support for LZ4 compression. The handling of incorrect passwords in 7z archives has been fixed. Additionally, the enabled states of delete and view actions have been set appropriately within the archiver interface.
