Replace Budgie with Deepin on Manjaro
Tags: linux, opensource
Published: 2019-06-28 02:31:13

[Manjaro](https://manjaro.org/) is a GNU/Linux distribution based on Arch Linux that has a rolling release update model, which means that system and end user apps receive continuous updates so you don't have to reinstall the system when a new version is available.

Manjaro is available on different flavors, some of the most popular desktop environments (DE) and window managers, XFCE, KDE, Architect and GNOME, maintained by the project itself; Mate, Cinnamon, Openbox, Awesome, BSPWM, i3 and Deepin, that are community editions.

I've been using Manjaro with [xfce](https://xfce.org/) since 2013, but last year I installed Manjaro Budgie on a Lenovo G480 to try this desktop environment that I heard good comments about.

Budgie is a desktop environment developed by the [Solus](https://getsol.us/) project that receive contributions from Manjaro, Ubuntu and other distros that have a Budgie edition available.

The Manjaro project has a [wiki](https://wiki.manjaro.org/) where you can find information on how to install any of these DEs and window managers if you want to have more than one desktop installed or replace the one installed by default.

This week I installed Arch Linux on an Acer Aspire E11 and after spending a whole day (haven't used Arch Linux in 6 years) configuring the system, finally got the distribution working with the Deepin DE.
![Arch Linux + Deepin](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/gnn9cpjbzgdcah8kokqk.png)<figcaption>Arch Linux + Deepin</figcaption>

[Deepin](https://deepin.org) is a GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian's stable branch and it is developed by Wuhan Deepin Technology Co., Ltd., a company from China focused on the R&D and service of Linux-based Chinese operating system. Deepin is also the name of the desktop environment on this distribution.

So after installing Arch Linux, I decided to replace Budgie with Deepin on Manjaro. The wiki of Manjaro has a section where you can find instructions that you can follow up to install any other desktop environment. Prior to installation, you need to remove the package group and configuration files corresponding to the DE installed by default.

## Instructions
### Uninstalling Budgie
- First of all, log out of the system.
- Open a TTY by pressing `Ctrl + Alt + F1` (or any key between F1 to F6).
- Log in again with a user with superuser privileges (the user you log in with).
- Uninstall additional components.
```bash
$ sudo pacman -Rsn budgie-extras
$ sudo pacman -Rsn gnome-terminal dconf-editor nautilus nautilus-admin nautilus-empty-file python-nautilus
```

- Uninstall Budgie. If your replacing other DE, go to to the **[Install Desktop Environments](https://wiki.manjaro.org/index.php?title=Install_Desktop_Environments)** section in the wiki to find out what packages. For Budgie remove the following:
```bash
$ sudo pacman -Rsn budgie-desktop network-manager-applet gnome-control-center gnome-screensaver gnome-calendar
```

- Remove LightDM configuration app and theme for Budgie.
```bash
$ sudo pacman -Rsn lightdm-slick-greeter lightdm-settings
```

- Remove Manjaro configuration and theming for Budgie.
```bash
$ sudo pacman -Rsn manjaro-budgie-settings manjaro-settings-manager manjaro-setting-manager-notifier papirus-maia-icon-theme
```

- After uninstalling the packages above, make sure to remove orphaned dependencies.
```bash
$ sudo pacman -Rsn $(sudo pacman -Qtdq)
```

- Remove the file that stores the DE configuration for the user.
```bash
$ rm ~/.config/dconf/user
```

### Installing Deepin
- Install the package group of Deepin.
```bash
$ sudo pacman -S deepin
```

- Install the package group of the deepin applications suite.
```bash
$ sudo pacman -S deepin-extra
```

- Install the package group of the Manjaro configuration and theming for Deeping
```bash
$ sudo pacman -S deepin-manjaro
```

- Then edit `/etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf`, under *[Seat:*]* replace the greeter-session setting with **greeter-session=lightdm-deepin-greeter**.

- Reboot, for changes to take effect.

After login again, you finally will have a working desktop environment.
![Manjaro + Deepin](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/8a1in50cpsukejfl7ecw.png)