xfce-aerolike

Important

This custom image is still WIP and in an alpha phase, so only use this for testing.

Important

For any theming issues, report here, don't report to the upstream developers.

Aero-like XFCE custom image based on Arch Linux base bootc image.
Tries to incorporate as many elements from Aero design as possible, but it won't be a 100% copy of Windows on purpose.

Theming Credits and Base

For the Aerolike GTK2, GTK3, GTK4 and LightDM theme, I credit:

• 'ReVista' - x35gaming, slightly modified version by contrarybaton60

For the Qt5 and Qt6 Kvantum theme, I credit:

• 'AeroThemePlasma' - wackyideas

For the Emerald window decoration theme, I credit:

• 'Aero Glass' - winvistlinux, ILoveNat

For the X11 cursors theme, I credit:

• 'Windows 7 Aero' - ILexian + 'Aero Mouse Cursors with Drop Shadow' - Infinality

For the XFCE-desktop GTK3 theme, I credit:

• 'aeroish-xfce4' - w4lll

For the default icon set, I credit:

• 'Obsidian' - madmaxms

Highlights

Now that we know what's the theming base and other defaults, I'll highlight what I added on top of it.

• Image setup in shortly is explained like this:
  • arch-base + dracut + bootc (with composefs) + SystemD + xorg + LightDM + NetworkManager + chronyd + bluez + unbound + avahi + Pipewire + mesa (OpenGL) + vulkan + compiz + emerald + XFCE4 base + XFCE4 goodies like screenshotter and its applet plugins + theming
• Native bcachefs root support
  • kernel patched with bcachefs support
  • Live-ISO covers support for this natively
    • the kernel, initramfs, and GRUB modules are placed on a separate ext4 /boot partition since GRUB does not support bcachefs.
• Uses unbound as the DNS resolver (recursive, DNSSEC-validating) instead of systemd-resolved, paired with avahi for mDNS and NetworkManager for connection management. Split-DNS for VPNs is handled via a NetworkManager dispatcher script.
• Uses facebook's oomd for proactive OOM prevention (PSI-based, per-cgroup, kills by memory size/growth) instead of systemd-oomd.
• Has automatic seamless system updates enabled (runs atomic bootc upgrade once per day).
• Uses compiz as the compositing window manager and emerald as the window decorator.
• Additional compiz defaults that enables blur, snap and grid plugins + blurs taskbar and start menu. Also modified grid plugin to use colors matching the default background.
• Modified XFCE-desktop GTK3 theme to make applets size square-consistent, to make all applets use the Aero button hover and press theme and to make Start menu coloring closer to taskbar.
• Preconfigured variables, config and scripts for default theming, which includes: LightDM login screen, GTK2, GTK3, GTK4 (including Adwaita), Qt5, Qt6 and XFCE-desktop.
• Force GTK apps to use server-side window decorations through gtk-nocsd
• Installed and preconfigured Whisker-menu, docklike-taskbar, xfce4-power-manager, network-manager-applet, xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin, system tray, notifier, clock.
• Installs qt5ct and qt6ct in addition to Kvantum, so the Qt apps behavior can be modified further.
• Uses the cool teal glass background as the default.
• Uses Noto Sans as the font, 9 as the size.
• etc...

How to install

Live ISO (Recommended)

You can use it to test-out how xfce-aerolike works, or to install it to the disk.

To install, download the latest ISO in parts, ISO reasemble script and sha256 from the Releases page and execute the ISO reasemble script, which will output the full ISO.

chmod +x xfce-aerolike-*-x86_64.iso.reassemble.sh && ./xfce-aerolike-*-main-x86_64.iso.reassemble.sh

Then write it to a USB drive with program like Fedora Media Writer.

1. Boot from the USB
2. Click the Install xfce-aerolike icon on the desktop
3. Choose Offline or Online mode:
   • Offline: uses the image bundled on the ISO (no internet required, faster install)
   • Online: pulls the latest image from the registry during installation
4. Follow the Calamares installer steps (partitioning, user creation, etc.)
5. Install will proceed
6. When install completes, reboot

Switching from current bootc-based system

If you already have a bootc-based system (e.g. Fedora Vauxite), you can switch directly.

First to the unsigned image (system will reboot):

sudo bootc switch --apply ghcr.io/fiftydinar/xfce-aerolike:latest

Then to the signed image (system will reboot):

sudo bootc switch --enforce-container-sigpolicy --apply ghcr.io/fiftydinar/xfce-aerolike:latest

Then after boot for a clean /home state, create a new user and set a password:

sudo useradd -m -G wheel <username>
sudo passwd <username>

Login to the new user and optionally delete the old user:

sudo userdel -r <username>

Caveats

This image is based on the experimental work of arch-bootc base image, so some issues might arise.

• Using different initramfs other than dracut is unsupported
  • Using mkinitcpio and others might work with some modifications, but upstream primarily uses dracut, which is also used here
• Secure boot doesn't work and is unsupported
  • Live-ISO tooling currently does not cover this