WetGeek Tomorrow, I think I'll polish the installation a bit

Yup, did that. I'm logged in to an X11 session, so I can run the Xfce VM at full-screen, and it is now configured to match my daily laptop. I still can't really get comfortable with the bottom panel at the top of the screen, but I'm less concerned about the dock, after seeing it in action.

If an application is taken to full-screen, it's allowed to cover up the dock, but just a couple of pixels worth of the dock is always visible, so a user can click there with the mouse and the dock appears fully. So, very little of the dock is actually covered up, even with applications at full-screen, and yet the dock is reachable at all times.

So, today I've been at it since very early this morning. That upper panel is the only thing that keeps reminding me I'm using a VM. Obviously, I have't tried every app in the menu, but so far everything I'd needed has been there, and it's worked fine. I'm now going to concentrate on DE-related stuff (utilities, etc.) because, after all, the difference between Solus editions is the DE they use. I hope to give this one a workout.

      WetGeek If an application is taken to full-screen, it's allowed to cover up the dock, but just a couple of pixels worth of the dock is always visible, so a user can click there with the mouse and the dock appears fully. So, very little of the dock is actually covered up, even with applications at full-screen, and yet the dock is reachable at all times.

      it probably has a dynamic or hide setting I'm sure.

          brent it probably has a dynamic or hide setting I'm sure.

          Yeah, they refer to it as "Intelligently." The other two settings are "Always" and "Never." I'm not sure there's much point in having a dock that's always hidden.

              Harvey It doesn't seem very clear to me to put packages in the repo and then say in the forum that users shouldn't install it (and xfce is a very common desktop) because not everyone reads it, if they are unstable need a warning or a dedicated repo or a name like xfceinprogress, if they are stable... better.

                I think there's a misunderstanding of the meaning of unstable. Heck, I don't even think anyone has even said these packages shouldn't be installed. Just that the experience as a whole is still a work in progress. Will they break your system? Very highly unlikely. The thing is, we have to have the packages in the repo to work on them, and we only have Unstable and Stable.

                I think this all is the same as the time leading to Plasma edition being a thing.

                WetGeek
                thats the plank prefs. you can always switch them out. you said you preferred task bar anyways I think

                  13 days later

                  WetGeek and it is now configured to match my daily laptop

                  You mean that you have performed a manual configuration or do you have a kind of automatic sync so that when you changes some configuration on your daily laptop, it is also applied/proposed on this instance ?

                      MichelDwo You mean that you have performed a manual configuration or do you have a kind of automatic sync

                      Nothing that fancy. I install packages on the VM so that it matches (as close as possible) those that are installed on my daily-driver laptop (Plasma). The idea is to be able to use it comfortably for an extended period, without constantly doing mental translations, like "where is that on this system," or "what do I use instead of that when I'm here."

                      That includes modifying /etc/fstab to include NAS shares that are present on my laptop, and if I'm feeling productive, writing symlinks to replace /home folders with appropriate shares. Thus, /home/jerry/Downloads actually links to my NAS's Downloads/Linux share, so that browsers, for example, use it automatically.

                      If I really LIKE a distro, I spend more time with it, for example, configuring Thunderbird with multiple email accounts, a couple of address books, and a couple of Google calendars. And sync'ing Vivaldi, and installing LastPass, so I have full access to all the sites I use. Thus, I can order lunch to be delivered, log on to health portals when I get an email saying that a new message awaits me there, and so on.

                      The bottom line is such that I can fire up the VM (Solus Xfce, in this case), and use it at full-screen, and just about forget that I'm looking at a VM instead of my Plasma laptop, itself. I did that for three days with Xfce, and was very impressed.

                        25 days later

                        WetGeek If I were setting up another laptop for Solus Xfce, I'd probably get rid of the dock.

                        Heh! As reported later, I not only didn't get rid of the dock in Xfce, I added the Latte dock to my Solus Plasma laptops and desktops. The more I used it in Xfce, the more I grew to like it.

                        The Latte dock, of course (coming from KDE), is even easier to use, and flawless in operation. It hides automatically when an app window intrudes on its space, and appears automatically when needed. It's easy to configure, and adding launcher icons to it is less complicated than with the Xfce dock. Once the desired launchers are in place, they're easily pinned to the dock (via the context menu), so they remain where you put 'em.

                        It's not a requirement that you move the bottom panel to the top of the screen, but I did that on all these installations, and quickly grew accustomed to it. The solution -- for me -- was to set up all my Plasma machines the same way. Now my first thought, when I want the menu, or the workspace switcher, or the system tray, is not to look DOWN, but to look UP.

                        By the way, having moved the bottom panel to the top of the screen, I also adjusted its size to make it thinner, and removed the icon-only task list, as with the Latte dock installed, it's now redundant. Having stated earlier that I'd probably remove the Xfce dock if I were ever to install Xfce on hardware, I thought I'd better provide a correction. As it happens, I went the other way instead. 🙂

                            WetGeek It's easy to configure, and adding launcher icons to it is less complicated than with the Xfce dock.

                            technically the xfce 'dock' is a panel, closer in spirit, I believe, to icons on a taskbar---and also with some limitations compared to a traditional dock like latte/plank.
                            In my XFCE experience, those limitations made the XFCE panel unpleasant to use for myself, and I concur with you Latte or Plank or a traditional dock is much better suited for XFCE.
                            2 cents.
                            PS--still fascinated at what ZB has in store for the Solus implementation of XFCE.

                                brent technically the xfce 'dock' is a panel

                                Agreed. And it follows the same rules that apply to its top panel. Sorta convenient for Xfce users - no two sets of rules to remember.

                                    WetGeek XFCE panel is not as convenient as a dock. I remember many limitations compared to a dock, in other distros. I will confess I have not sampled Solus's XFCE, I eagerly await the finished product, though.

                                        brent I eagerly await the finished product, though.

                                        I've lost track of what Solus DE you use now, but I don't think it's Plasma -- too configurable. If you're eager enough, you could easily add the Xfce DE to an existing Budgie or MATE system, and simply choose the DE at boot time. It's a lot safer than a dual-boot scheme, and a lot quicker to set up. And easier to un-do, if you want to get rid of it when the .ISO is released.

                                        If I didn't use Plasma as my chosen DE, I'd happily install Xfce as a second DE on my daily laptop, but as you know, that's not an option. You, on the other hand, do have that option.

                                            WetGeek born budgie, still budgie, with a Mate detour when the chips were down.
                                            When the .iso finally rolls out for xfce I think I will install it next to Budgie on the same disk.
                                            I've seen the team warn against Solus-next-to-Solus-same-disk-installs before but I forgot the reasons.
                                            Appreciate your testing and info about it. I'm excited.

                                                brent I think I will install it next to Budgie on the same disk

                                                That sounds like you're intending to have two separate copies of the entire GNOME stack, which is what both Budgie and Xfce DEs are based on. Two mostly identical systems to update every week instead of one. Using just one GNOME stack with the two DEs on top would seem to be a lot more efficient. Just sayin' ...

                                                In the end, the important thing is that you do what makes you happy. Your computer, your time, etc.

                                                    WetGeek I've done the 2-DE at login before with other distros. I for one loathe winding up with two PDF viewers, 2 screenshot apps, 2 terminals, a long redundant Noah's Ark of double and triple default apps. Nauseating whenever I do the 2 DE thang.
                                                    I never did it in Solus but I have to imagine it follows suit.
                                                    Side-by-side seems cumbersome in that respect but I like the idea of two independent DE's. The 2-DE's at login are not independent of each other in the sense I wish they were.

                                                        brent Another option is to install one of the Solus candidates on your Solus host's VM, or Virtual Box. Also independent, mostly. 😄

                                                          brent I for one loathe winding up with two PDF viewers, 2 screenshot apps, 2 terminals, a long redundant Noah's Ark of double and triple default apps. Nauseating whenever I do the 2 DE thang.

                                                          Just curious ...

                                                          If you install two complete implementations of Solus, with two different DEs, how many of those default apps do you get that way? Seems to me the only difference is the duplication of the entire GNOME stack and the need to keep backing-up and updating two distros instead of one.

                                                          After all, regardless of how you achieve having two DEs, you only see one of them at a time.