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nat-418/a-sensible-nixos-xfce-configuration.md

Last active December 1, 2025 23:12
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A sensible NixOS Xfce configuration
Raw
a-sensible-nixos-xfce-configuration.md

A sensible NixOS Xfce Configuration

NixOS provides good support for the Xfce desktop environment out-of-the-box, but the defaults are minimal. The files in this Gist provide a more complete experience, including a suite of basic software and plugins as well as an optional home-manager configuration for theming.

The key additions to the default Xfce provided by NixOS are:

  • Complete bluetooth / audio support with panel indicators and apps
  • LightDM with theme
  • Extra Xfce apps for calendaring, disk partitioning, etc.
  • Various quality-of-life improving non-essentials
Raw
configuration.nix
{ config, pkgs, lib, ... }:
{
imports = [
./hardware-configuration.nix
./xfce.nix
];
# the rest of your nixos configuration
}
Raw
home.nix
{ config, pkgs, lib, ... }:
{
imports = [
./xfce-home.nix
];
# the rest of your home-manager configuration
}
Raw
xfce-home.nix
{ config, pkgs, lib, ... }:
{
gtk = {
enable = true;
iconTheme = {
name = "elementary-Xfce-dark";
package = pkgs.elementary-xfce-icon-theme;
};
theme = {
name = "zukitre-dark";
package = pkgs.zuki-themes;
};
gtk3.extraConfig = {
Settings = ''
gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme=1
'';
};
gtk4.extraConfig = {
Settings = ''
gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme=1
'';
};
};
programs.gpg.enable = true;
services.gpg-agent.enable = true;
}
Raw
xfce.nix
{ pkgs, ... }:
{
environment = {
systemPackages = with pkgs; [
blueman
chromium
deja-dup
drawing
elementary-xfce-icon-theme
evince
firefox
foliate
font-manager
gimp-with-plugins
gnome.file-roller
gnome.gnome-disk-utility
inkscape-with-extensions
libqalculate
libreoffice
orca
pavucontrol
qalculate-gtk
thunderbird
wmctrl
xclip
xcolor
xcolor
xdo
xdotool
xfce.catfish
xfce.gigolo
xfce.orage
xfce.xfburn
xfce.xfce4-appfinder
xfce.xfce4-clipman-plugin
xfce.xfce4-cpugraph-plugin
xfce.xfce4-dict
xfce.xfce4-fsguard-plugin
xfce.xfce4-genmon-plugin
xfce.xfce4-netload-plugin
xfce.xfce4-panel
xfce.xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin
xfce.xfce4-systemload-plugin
xfce.xfce4-weather-plugin
xfce.xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin
xfce.xfce4-xkb-plugin
xfce.xfdashboard
xorg.xev
xsel
xtitle
xwinmosaic
zuki-themes
];
};
hardware = {
bluetooth.enable = true;
};
programs = {
dconf.enable = true;
gnupg.agent = {
enable = true;
enableSSHSupport = true;
};
thunar = {
enable = true;
plugins = with pkgs.xfce; [
thunar-archive-plugin
thunar-media-tags-plugin
thunar-volman
];
};
};
security.pam.services.gdm.enableGnomeKeyring = true;
services = {
blueman.enable = true;
gnome.gnome-keyring.enable = true;
pipewire = {
enable = true;
alsa = {
enable = true;
support32Bit = true;
};
pulse.enable = true;
};
xserver = {
enable = true;
excludePackages = with pkgs; [
xterm
];
displayManager = {
lightdm = {
enable = true;
greeters.slick = {
enable = true;
theme.name = "Zukitre-dark";
};
};
};
desktopManager.xfce.enable = true;
};
};
sound.enable = true;
}
@jaythomas
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jaythomas commented Dec 1, 2025

Yup @kenpb. I would recommend rather than copying the xfconf settings from me is to launch xfce4-settings-editor and manually copy out the settings into nix. That way you can configure it how you want through the UI then set it in stone once you have it how you want it and avoid a bunch of rebuilds. The settings are nested so my config just shows you how to translate that to flat strings as home-manager expects it.

@kenpb
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kenpb commented Dec 1, 2025

Hey @jaythomas, indeed, thanks, also, I think it was mentioned above too, typing xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -lv (or the component you want to copy) on a terminal will give the plain text version you can pretty much copy-paste into the nix file wit minor tweaks.

@jaythomas
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jaythomas commented Dec 1, 2025

Good call! I forgot this thread mentioned xfconf-query ...it's been awhile.

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