Linux

Sway is really impressively stable if you're willing to learn it and set it up. It's a tiling WM.

I've been running the same arch install with roughly the same sway config for 3 years. My computer has never been so boring!

I got used to XFCE, but, with my new awesome Tuxedo laptop, I got KDE as a DE for a stock OS, and I could say it feels much more complete. But the performance drops, when opening a terminal, for example.

Nowadays KDE.

Started with GNOME, then once I got more comfortable I jumped ship to hyprland

KDE or cinnamon are probably the closest ones to windows if you're looking for familiarity but I think gnome/tiling wms improve on that

Hyprland and other tiling wms are great but only if you're the kind of person who likes to tinker and fiddle constantly

I've used Dwm for a long time, then switched to awesome, for the easier configuration! Loved both, really can't stand a floating wm no more

I'm currently using KDE Plasma with i3. I like it fine. I love i3, and KDE works to tie everything together and add consistency for theming. Previously I was using i3 on XFCE, that was easier to set up. Plasma tends to require special configuration to make it play nice with i3, but once you're over that hump it makes for a pretty decent combination.

Ubuntu 23.04 and GNOME.

Gnome, KDE is also nice but the default doesn’t function in a way that makes sense to my brain anymore after using gnome

@governorkeagan Hyprland

Gnome. On my laptop KDE and cinimon have given me a LOT of issues. I've had a lot of linux problems due to my hardware tho but finally found a fix and don't want to change

@governorkeagan My preferred Desktop environment is Cinnamon. I used to prefer swaywm but it's not a complete DE.

I'm now full time on sway

Productivity is through the roof!

Gnome. But I use 3 extensions (dash to dock, desktop icons and appindicators) and the adw-gtk3 theme so GTK3 apps looks the same as GTK4/libadwaita apps.

Ubuntu's GNOME.

I’ve been using Debian with Cinnamon desktop for a while. I tried XFCE but it didn’t click and I really disliked how you added an app launcher to the dock. Cinnamon gets out of my and just works for the little that I need.

Started with XFCE but migrated away due to bugginess with my outdated system. Next was KDE. I was pleasantly surprised by how lightweight it ended up being after hearing otherwise. Now I'm on Sway, and it makes this old computer scream!

I use gnome as a primary, it feels really polished and doesn’t break or crash. Very modern, but if you want to have a super-customized experience, you’re gonna have a bad time. Extensions break every update and so do themes, so you either wait for the dev to port it or so it yourself. Annoying, so I only use vanilla for now.

Maybe I’ll try plasma, looks cool.

LXDE

Gnome, but only with dash-to-panel. Otherwise XFCE.

GNOME 2. I tried 3 for a year or two and the task bar crashes or lack the very basic feature of swapping window position. It's an external plugin so I don't expect it to be fixed in any year soon. Then I realize GNOME 2 was perfect before they ruined it in 3 so now I've been on MATE desktop for 4 years now. I think the new team is too small to catch up on any modern changes (webp support is lacking, and no wayland) and nothing I could do can fix that (minor development work on build system, donation) but I'd still accept a perfect 2010 era desktop over 2023 desktop that doesn't feel right after a decade of development.

My favs:

• (probably) Cosmic
• GNOME
• Plasma

I love gnome but too used to kde to switch.

I prefer Plasma, but having an nvidia GPU makes using wayland a non-starter.

XFCE is my second favorite.

AwesomeWM is my current daily driver but outside the scope of the question

I love the swipey gesture workflow on gnome on the laptop

I have used xfce and cinnamon without any problems, I think I like xfce a little more.