Budgie Desktop Review: Beautiful Desktop That Looks Modern and Sleek

Budgie Desktop is a modern and sleek Linux desktop environment that offers a unique blend of customization and usability, making it an attractive option for users seeking a traditional yet elegant desktop experience. Developed and used by the Solus distribution, Budgie has gained popularity for its simplicity and feature-rich interface.

Customization and Features

Budgie stands out for its extensive customization options, which are easily accessible through the Raven configuration tool. Raven is a unified notification and customization center that provides quick access to various system settings, media player controls, and power options. This tool allows users to tailor their desktop experience to their preferences, including the ability to show or hide desktop icons and adjust the number of workspaces.

One of the key features of Budgie is its applet-based design. The desktop elements, such as the applications menu and the Icon Tasklist, are implemented as applets, which can be easily configured and extended. For instance, the Icon Tasklist applet has undergone several refinements, including new features and behavior improvements.

Usability and Interface

Budgie's interface is designed to be clean and intuitive. The default setup includes a panel on the left side of the screen, which houses essential components like the applications menu and system settings. The desktop also features a modern and integrated design, where widgets such as the clock and calendar are seamlessly integrated into the desktop, avoiding the clutter that can come with standalone widgets.

The Budgie Welcome wizard is another useful feature that helps new users get familiar with the desktop. This wizard provides a guided tour of the system, explaining its key features and how to navigate the interface. Although it does not automatically appear on the first login, it is highly recommended for new users to explore this tool to get the most out of their Budgie experience.

Performance and Resource Usage

Budgie is known for its stability and performance. It consumes moderate system resources, making it suitable for modern desktops and laptops. However, it is not intended for very low-spec systems, as it requires at least 4GB of RAM to run smoothly. On a typical system, Budgie uses around 700 MB of RAM when no applications are open, which is comparable to other mainstream desktop environments like GNOME.

Integration with Other Applications

Budgie integrates well with various applications, including multimedia tools. For example, it supports notifications for music players like Rhythmbox, although there may be some inconsistencies with other applications like VLC. The desktop also includes several useful applets, such as WeatherShow, Wallstreet, and Dropby, which can be installed through the Ubuntu Budgie Welcome tool. These applets enhance the user experience by providing quick access to weather forecasts, wallpaper management, and USB drive management.

Community Support and Availability

Budgie is available on several Linux distributions, including Ubuntu and Manjaro, which offer official or community-supported spins. Fedora users can also install Budgie from the COPR repository. This wide availability makes it easier for users to try out Budgie without committing to a full installation.

Everyday Use and Practicality

In everyday use, Budgie feels very smooth and polished. It gets out of the way and lets users focus on their work. The inclusion of tools like the Tilix terminal emulator, which allows for multiple terminal windows and a host of other features, adds to the overall productivity of the desktop. The visual experience is also highly appealing, with a default theme and wallpaper options that reflect a lot of effort in design.

Minor Issues and Limitations

While Budgie is highly praised for its usability and customization, there are some minor issues to consider. For instance, the search functionality in the system menu can be more precise, and there may be some limitations in appearance customization options. Additionally, touchpad problems have been reported in some cases, which can interfere with the overall user experience.

Overall, Budgie Desktop offers a compelling combination of modern design, extensive customization, and practical usability, making it a strong contender in the world of Linux desktop environments.