Lumina DE is a lightweight desktop environment designed for PC-BSD that prioritizes user task efficiency and minimal system overhead. It aims to streamline application management and user interface while complying with freedesktop standards, and it features easy configuration options and support for multiple screens and workspaces. Future developments include advanced system modes, a new UI, and power-saving features, with active participation encouraged from the community.

1. Lumina DE:
A New Desktop
Environment for PC-BSD
Ken Moore
PC-BSD/iXsystems
Ohio LinuxFest
October 24, 2014

2. Definitions:
Panel Plugin
(User Button)
Desktop Plugins
(App Launchers)
Desktop Plugin
(Calendar)
Panel Plugins
(System tray, clock,
system dashboard)
Panel
Desktop

3. Definition:
Desktop Environment
● Common Definition (Wikipedia):
“In computing, a desktop environment (DE) is
an implementation of the desktop metaphor
made of a bundle of programs running on top of
a computer operating system, which share a
common graphical user interface (GUI).”
● Why does it have to be so complicated?
– Does it need to include a bundle of
applications?
– Do all applications need to share a common
interface?

4. Definition:
Desktop Environment
● Possibly a better definition:
“A graphical interface providing user-level
functionality of the operating system while
simplifying the management and usage of
applications.”
● Visual Example:
OS
DE
App 1
App 2
App 3
User Input

5. Definition:
Window Manager
“A window manager is system software that controls
the placement and appearance of windows within a
windowing system in a graphical user interface.
Most window managers are designed to help
provide a desktop environment.” (Wikipedia)
● Compliance with ICCCM/EWMH standards allows
applications to work consistently between OS's
● The level of integration between the DE and WM
generally varies depending on the level of
experience of the target user.
● Most “full featured” DE's require/provide a specific
WM for better user support and integration.

6. Define: Lumina-DE
● Lumina is a lightweight, BSD-licensed
desktop environment that focuses on
streamlining the ability of the user to get
work done (via 3rd-party applications) while
minimizing system overhead.
● Goals:
– Minimize runtime dependencies.
– Minimize the number of background daemons
– Streamline launching/using applications
– Simplify the usage of basic OS functionality
– Strong focus on user-level customization

7. Define: Lumina-DE
● What Lumina is NOT:
– An application-development toolkit (uses Qt)
– A graphical subsystem (uses X.org)
– An application installation or runtime system
(simply manages/uses applications that are
registered with the system via the
FreeDesktop standards)
– An OS initialization/configuration system
(uses pre-defined OS-specific interactions)

8. Dependencies
● Runtime:
– Fluxbox (WM)
– X.org/Xlib with Qt 4.8+ (Graphical systems)
– Xscreensaver, xterm, and numlockx
– Oxygen Icon Theme
– xbrightness or xbacklight (optional)
● Does NOT use:
– DBUS
– HAL
– Systemd
Fresh PC-BSD 10.0.3 installation with Lumina 0.6.2
Total System: ~0.5% CPU and ~120MB active memory use

9. Design Goal Example:
Streamline App Launching
● The UserButton
– User Favorites
(including desktop
files/entries)
– All Applications
– Browse Home Dir
– Configuration
Utilities

10. Design Goal Example:
Streamline OS Interface
● The System
Dashboard
– Battery Status
– Volume Control
– Workspace
Switching
– Screen Brightness
– Log Out Options

11. Design Goal Example:
Enhanced Desktop
● Panels with plugins
● Desktop plugins
● Right-click menu
with plugins
● Touch screen
compatible with
traditional desktop
layout

12. Design Goal Example:
Simplify Configuration
● Single utility for most
tasks
– Appearance/theme
– Desktop background
– Panels
– Plugins
– Keyboard Shortcuts
– Session options
– Default applications

13. Design Goal Example:
Easy Filesystem Usage
● Standard file
interaction
● Multi-tab support
● Simple multimedia
player
● Image slideshow
● ZFS file recovery
● Mark as favorite
● Set/use bookmarks
Options become available as necessary

14. Current Status
● FreeDesktop (XDG)
standards compliance
– Application registration
– Icon theme support
– Environment variables
– Mime-types
– Localization
– System tray
● Multiple screen support
● Multiple workspace support
● OS-specific support
– Control panel
– Application “store”
– QtConfig
– External device detection
– Screen Brightness
– Audio Volume/Mixer
– Battery status
– Shutdown/Restart/Lock

15. Work In Progress
● Theming
– Simple to use
– Color scheme
independent
– Custom Font size and
appearance
– Easily create new color
schemes and apply to
existing themes
– Can extend to apply to
all Qt applications
system-wide
● Search/Run Utility
– Quick search
● Run application
● Open favorites
– Full search
● Home directory or
system
● Types of files
● Search by partial
name or file
extension

16. Future Plans
● Professional system modes
– Kiosk mode
– Whitelist-restricted access
– Single-app
– Daily/Weekly time restrictions
● New “HUD” UI as an
alternative to the panel
system
– Appears/disappears
– Wraps around screen edges
– Great for smaller screens or
touchscreens
– Retains “desktop” functionality
w/ system tray, task manager,
etc.
● Qt-based window manager?
● Distribution Configuration
Standardization
– Default theme
– Default desktop layout and
plugins
– Default key bindings
– Simple to setup for an
administrator
● Power savings
– Suspend/resume plugins
based on visibility
– Internal Qt-based screensaver

17. Get Involved!
● Full source repo available on GitHub
https://github.com/pcbsd/lumina
● Submit new plugins! (desktop/panel)
● Porting to an OS?
– Look in the “libLumina” subdirectory, and create
a “LuminaOS-<OS-name>.cpp” file
(Template available)
– Already ported to:
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, DragonFlyBSD, kFreeBSD,
“Linux” (Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, Puppy, others?)
● Test it out and submit bug reports!
https://bugs.pcbsd.org/

18. Questions?