Xfce 4.12 after almost three years

Whisker Menu

Users wanting a classic start menu in Xfce have up to now been able to use the standard menu. The most important programs are arranged in a tree-like structure. However, the world keeps turning. Windows and many Linux desktops have now left the tree structure behind and restructured their menus around the use of icons to represent the most frequently used programs.

Xfce 4.12 catches up here by introducing the "Whisker Menu" as part of its Xfce Goodies package (Figure 9). This is different in many respects from the preceding version. With one click, the user finds a list on the left containing the most frequently used programs. A menu is also visible on the right, but the tree structure is no longer displayed. Instead, a hierarchical structure consisting of two levels appears.

Figure 9: The Whisker Menu on the left is much better arranged than the old menu. Both versions are available in Xfce 4.12.

One click on the category to the right will make the list of corresponding programs appear in the left-hand side of the menu. A scroll bar makes it easy to use the menu even on a small screen. The dialog that appears underneath lets the user search for tools by name. All in all, the features of the Whisker Menu offer a lot of convenience for users who require a central menu.

A New Mousepad

The Mousepad text editor is definitely one of the least noticed components in Xfce. It is simple, easy to use, and has about the same functionality as Notepad or TextView in OS X. Because of the complete rewrite of Mousepad for Xfce 4.12, opening text files is straightforward. The editor can handle most functions that a user might expect to find in a simple editor. Although it cannot compete with a mature Vim or with Emacs, it works just fine for basic tasks (Figure 10). Also, users who are unaccustomed to or who don't want a command-line editor will like it.