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LightDM

{{Short description|Display manager for X windowing systems}}

{{Infobox software

| name = LightDM

| logo =

| screenshot = ElementaryOS Pantheon Greeter 5.0 screenshot.png

| caption = LightDM in elementaryOS with its default "Pantheon Greeter 5.0" front-end

| author = Robert Ancell

| developer = {{Plainlist|

  • Robert Ancell
  • David Edmundson

}}

| released = {{Start date and age|2010|09|10}}

| discontinued =

| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|reference|edit|Q1594263|P348|P548=Q2804309}}

| latest release date = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|Q1594263|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}

| latest preview version =

| latest preview date =

| programming language = C

| operating system = Linux, OpenIndiana

| platform =

| size = 1 MB

| language = >50 languages{{cite web |url=https://translations.launchpad.net/lightdm |title=Translations: Light Display Manager |publisher=Translations.launchpad.net |date=2011-05-13 |access-date=2013-05-29}}{{cite web |url=https://translations.launchpad.net/lightdm-gtk-greeter |title=Translations: LightDM GTK Greeter |publisher=Translations.launchpad.net |date=2013-05-08 |access-date=2013-05-29}}{{cite web |url=https://translations.launchpad.net/unity-greeter |title=Translations: Unity Greeter |publisher=Translations.launchpad.net |date=2012-01-24 |access-date=2013-05-29}}

| genre = X display manager

| license = GPL-3.0-or-later

| website = {{URL|1=https://github.com/CanonicalLtd/lightdm}}

}}

LightDM is a free and open-source X display manager that aims to be lightweight, fast, extensible and multi-desktop.{{citation |url=http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/LightDM |title=The Light Display Manager (LightDM) |access-date=17 May 2011}} It can use various front-ends to draw the user interface,{{citation |title=Ubuntu 11.10 To Switch From GDM To LightDM |url=http://digitizor.com/2011/05/12/ubuntu-11-10-lightdm/ |date=12 May 2011 |access-date=18 May 2011}} also called Greeters.{{cite web |last=Fischer |first=Matt |url=http://www.mattfischer.com/blog/?p=5 |title=» So You Want to Write a LightDM Greeter… Matt Fischer's Blog |publisher=Mattfischer.com |date=2012-02-07 |access-date=2013-05-29 |archive-date=2013-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719131630/http://www.mattfischer.com/blog/?p=5 |url-status=dead }} It also supports Wayland.{{cite web|title=Readme Manual of LightDM|website=GitHub| date=3 May 2022 |url=https://github.com/canonical/lightdm}}{{cite web|title=LightDM|work=Arch Linux Wiki|url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/LightDM|access-date=2023-05-13}}

LightDM is the default display manager for Edubuntu, Xubuntu and Mythbuntu since the 11.10 release,{{citation |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/OneiricOcelot/ReleaseNotes |title= Ubuntu 11.10 ReleaseNotes |publisher= Canonical |access-date= 28 May 2012}}{{citation |title= Xubuntu 11.10 Release Notes |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Xubuntu/ReleaseNotes/OneiricOcelot/Final/ |publisher= Canonical |access-date= 17 December 2012}}{{Cite web | url=https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BionicBeaver/ReleaseNotes | title=BionicBeaver/ReleaseNotes - Ubuntu Wiki }} for Lubuntu since the 12.04 release{{citation |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PrecisePangolin/ReleaseNotes/Lubuntu |title= Lubuntu 12.04 ReleaseNotes |publisher= Canonical |access-date= 14 Jun 2012}} until 16.10,{{Cite web | url=https://blueprints.launchpad.net/lubuntu-next/+spec/1610-qt-greeter | title=Discussion about greeter (Log in) application for 16.10 Qt versi... : Blueprints : Lubuntu Next | date=11 May 2014 }} for Kubuntu beginning with 12.10{{citation |url= https://mail.kde.org/pipermail/plasma-devel/2012-August/020995.html |title= RFC] Merging LightDM into KDE Workspaces |date= 20 August 2012 |publisher= mail.kde.org |access-date= 2013-05-29}} until 15.04{{cite web|url=https://www.linux.com/news/software/applications/825994-kubuntu-1504-plasma-53-review|title=Kubuntu 15.04 With Plasma 5.3 - A Totally Different Kubuntu - Linux.com|first=Swapnil|last=Bhartiya|work=Linux.com - The source for Linux Information|access-date=2015-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316114759/http://www.linux.com/news/software/applications/825994-kubuntu-1504-plasma-53-review|archive-date=2016-03-16|url-status=dead}} for Linux Mint[https://www.linuxmint.com/rel_sonya_cinnamon_whatsnew.php New features in Linux Mint 18.2 Cinnamon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112005113/https://www.linuxmint.com/rel_sonya_cinnamon_whatsnew.php |date=2020-11-12 }} (go down or search for LightDM), retrieved 2017-07-02 and Antergos.

Features

Features include:

  • Codebase with very few dependencies
  • Supports different display technologies (X11 and Wayland through Mir)
  • Supports remote login (incoming – XDMCP, VNC, outgoing – XDMCP, pluggable)
  • Comprehensive test suite
  • Standards-compliance (PAM, logind, etc.)
  • Well-defined interface between the server and user interface
  • Cross-desktop (greeters can be written in any toolkit)
  • Well-defined greeter API allowing multiple GUIs
  • Support for all display manager use cases, with plug-ins where appropriate

LightDM has a simpler code base than GDM and does not load any GNOME libraries to work, but at the cost of some features that the user may or may not need.{{citation |url= http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/ubuntu-adopts-lightdm-login-screens-to-get-more-exciting-20110512/ |title= Ubuntu adopts LightDM, login screens to get more exciting |publisher= Geek.com |date= 12 May 2011 |access-date= 18 May 2011 |archive-date= 16 October 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121016050055/http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/ubuntu-adopts-lightdm-login-screens-to-get-more-exciting-20110512/ |url-status= dead }}{{citation|url= https://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/2414.html|title= LightDM, or: an examination of a misunderstanding of the problem|date= 12 May 2011|access-date= 14 July 2015}}

= Available greeters =

class="wikitable"
colspan="4" | LightDM Greeters in active development
Name Key feature(s)VersionWebsite
Arctica GreeterGreeter for Arctica,{{Cite web|title=The Arctica Project |url=https://arctica-project.org/md/docs/components/arcticagreeter/|access-date=2023-05-14|website=arctica-project.org|publisher=The Arctica Project}} fork of Unity Greeter0.99.1.4{{cite web|url=https://github.com/ArcticaProject/arctica-greeter/latest|title=Arctica Greeter |work=Github}}{{URL|1=https://github.com/ArcticaProject/arctica-greeter}}
Deepin GreeterGreeter for Deepin5.0.0{{cite web|url=https://github.com/linuxdeepin/dde-session-ui/releases/latest|title=dde-session-ui|work=Github}}{{URL|1=https://github.com/linuxdeepin/dde-session-ui}}
GTK GreeterGreeter for Xubuntu and former GTK reference implementation,{{citation |url=https://launchpad.net/lightdm-gtk-greeter |title=LightDM GTK Greeter in Launchpad |date=29 November 2011 |publisher=Launchpad.net |access-date=2012-12-16}} former Lubuntu default, Xubuntu default2.0.8{{cite web|url=https://github.com/Xubuntu/lightdm-gtk-greeter/releases/latest|title=GTK LightDM Greeter for Xubuntu|work=Github}}{{URL|1=https://github.com/Xubuntu/lightdm-gtk-greeter}}
Mini GreeterMinimalist, single-user. INI configuration0.5.1{{citation |url=https://github.com/prikhi/lightdm-mini-greeter/releases/latest |title=Mini Greeter Releases | publisher=GitHub|access-date=2022-03-13}}{{URL|1=https://github.com/prikhi/lightdm-mini-greeter}}
Pantheon GreeterGreeter for elementary OS{{citation |url=http://www.elementaryos.org/journal/luna-beta-1-released |title=Hello, Luna Beta 1 | elementary |publisher=Elementaryos.org |date=2012-11-14 |access-date=2013-05-29}}7.0.0{{cite web|url=https://github.com/elementary/greeter/releases/latest|title=LightDM Greeter for Pantheon|work=Github}}{{URL|1=https://github.com/elementary/greeter}}
Qt5 GreeterGreeter for Qt 50.11.1{{cite web|url=https://github.com/rezso/lightdm-qt5-greeter/releases/latest|title=LightDM Greeter for Qt 5|work=Github}}{{URL|1=https://github.com/rezso/lightdm-qt5-greeter}}
Slick GreeterGreeter for Linux Mint, fork of Unity Greeter1.4.1{{citation |url=https://github.com/linuxmint/slick-greeter/releases/tag/1.4.1 |title=Slick Greeter Releases | publisher=GitHub|access-date=2020-09-20}}{{URL|1=https://github.com/linuxmint/slick-greeter}}
WebEngine GreeterQtWebEngine-based, C++ rewrite of Web Greeter 3.0—{{URL|1=https://github.com/matijaskala/lightdm-webengine-greeter}}
Web GreeterQtWebEngine-based, continuing Antergos Web Greeter 3.0,{{citation |url=https://github.com/Antergos/web-greeter/tree/3.0.0rc2 |title=Antergos Web Greeter 3.0 |publisher=GitHub |access-date=2021-07-10}} allows to create web based themes3.4.1{{citation |url=https://github.com/JezerM/web-greeter/releases/tag/3.4.1 |title=Web Greeter 3.4.1 release |publisher=GitHub |access-date=2021-04-10}}{{URL|1=https://github.com/JezerM/web-greeter}}
WebKit2 GreeterEasy theming2.0.0{{citation |url= https://gitlab.com/tearch-linux/applications-and-tools/lightdm-webkit2-greeter/-/blob/master/NEWS |title= LightDM Webkit Greeter |date= 11 January 2016 |publisher= GitLab |access-date= 2020-09-20}}

{{URL|1=https://gitlab.com/tearch-linux/applications-and-tools/lightdm-webkit2-greeter}}
colspan="4" | Dormant LightDM Greeters
Name Key feature(s)VersionWebsite
Antergos Web GreeterDefault greeter for Antergos.{{Cite web|url=https://antergos.com|title=Antergos {{!}} Your Linux. Always Fresh. Never Frozen.|website=Antergos Linux|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-06|archive-date=2019-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903082317/https://forum.antergos.com/|url-status=dead}} Uses HTML/Javascript for theming{{Cite web|url=https://doclets.io/Antergos/lightdm-webkit2-greeter/master|title=lightdm-webkit2-greeter - master|website=doclets.io|access-date=2016-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007061348/https://doclets.io/Antergos/lightdm-webkit2-greeter/master|archive-date=2016-10-07|url-status=dead}}2.2.5{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/Antergos/web-greeter/releases/latest|title=Antergos/web-greeter|website=GitHub|access-date=2016-08-06}}{{URL|1=https://github.com/Antergos/web-greeter}}
Crowd GreeterDemonstration for an OpenGL-based Greeter{{citation |author=~lightdm-team/crowd-greeter/trunk |url=https://bazaar.launchpad.net/~lightdm-team/crowd-greeter/trunk/view/head:/NEWS |title=~lightdm-team/crowd-greeter/trunk : contents of NEWS at revision 33 |publisher=Bazaar.launchpad.net |date=2011-07-27 |access-date=2013-05-29}}{{citation |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8nm4NpaVXE |title=LightDM Crowd Greeter |publisher= YouTube |date= 2011-09-07 |access-date= 2013-05-29}}0.0.2{{citation |url= https://launchpad.net/~lightdm-team/+archive/crowd-greeter |title= Crowd Greeter : "LightDM Development Team" team |publisher= Launchpad.net |date= 2011-09-08 |access-date= 2013-05-29}}{{URL|1=https://launchpad.net/crowd-greeter}}
GTK Builder GreeterAn alternative implementation from LXDE for GTK based on GtkBuilder featuring WYSIWYG theme editing with Glade Interface Designer.0.2.0{{citation |title=Status of LXDE Components |url=http://wiki.lxde.org/en/Status_of_LXDE_Components |publisher=LXDE Team |access-date=17 December 2012 |archive-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017180708/https://wiki.lxde.org/en/Status_of_LXDE_Components |url-status=dead }}{{URL|1=http://lxde.git.sourceforge.net/git/gitweb.cgi?p=lxde/ldm-gtk-builder-greeter;a=summary}}
KDE GreeterPlasma 4 integration,{{citation |url=http://www.sharpley.org.uk/blog/lightdm-0_2 |title=LightDM-KDE 0.2.0 |first=David |last=Edmundson |publisher=Sharpley.org.uk |date=2012-07-21 |access-date=2012-08-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224054348/http://www.sharpley.org.uk/blog/lightdm-0_2 |archive-date=2012-12-24 }}{{citation |url=http://static.davidedmundson.co.uk/lightdm_design_rationale.html |title=Rationales |publisher=Static.davidedmundson.co.uk |access-date=2013-05-29}} Kubuntu default until superseded by SDDM0.3.2.2{{citation |title=LightDM-KDE File Archive |url=http://download.kde.org/unstable/lightdm-kde/src/ |publisher=KDE |access-date=6 June 2013 |archive-date=27 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027181531/https://download.kde.org/unstable/lightdm-kde/src/ |url-status=dead }}{{URL|1=https://github.com/KDE/lightdm}}
LXQt GreeterQt-only Greeter for LXQt desktop (formerly Razor Greeter{{citation |author=Razor-qt |url=https://github.com/Razor-qt/razor-qt/tree/master/razorqt-lightdm-greeter |title=razorqt-lightdm-greeter |publisher=Github.com |access-date=2012-08-23}}) until superseded by SDDM{{cite web |url=http://sourceforge.net/p/lxde/mailman/message/31580081/ |title=[Lxde-list] CALL FOR TESTERS: LXQt now available for testing |last1=Leclanche |first1=Jerome |date=2013-10-30 |website=sourceforge.net |publisher=SourceForge |access-date=2016-05-08 |quote=... For a display manager, SDDM is recommended ...}}0.7{{URL|1=https://github.com/surlykke/qt-lightdm-greeter}}
Qt GreeterReference implementation in Qt—{{URL|1=https://launchpad.net/lightdm-qt-greeter}}
Unity GreeterFormer Ubuntu default15.04.3{{citation |url=https://launchpad.net/unity-greeter |title=Unity Greeter |date=31 May 2011 |publisher=Launchpad.net |access-date=2012-12-16}}{{URL|1=https://launchpad.net/unity-greeter}}

See also

{{Portal|Linux|Free and open-source software}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • {{Official website|https://github.com/CanonicalLtd/lightdm}}
  • [https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/pkgreport.cgi?pkg=lightdm;dist=unstable Bugs in Debian]
  • [https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/lightdm Bugs in Ubuntu]

{{Ubuntu}}

{{XWinSys}}

Category:Canonical (company)

Category:Ubuntu

Category:Software that uses GTK

Category:X display managers