MATE Ultralight: How to Build an Extremely Lightweight, Modern Desktop With Effects

This guide explains how to create an ultra‑lightweight MATE desktop on Arch/EndeavourOS (or Artix) while keeping modern transparencies, effects, and excellent responsiveness. The goal is to replace Caja with PCManFM for better performance, use lightweight applications instead of the default ones, and keep MATE minimal (no mate-extra) for maximum speed.

1. Basic Requirements

Ensure you already have an Arch/EndeavourOS installation with:

• Xorg
• A display manager (LightDM recommended for MATE)

If Xorg is missing:

sudo pacman -S xorg-server xorg-xinit

Install LightDM and enable it:

sudo pacman -S lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter
sudo systemctl enable lightdm

2. Install Minimal MATE

sudo pacman -S mate

Add the volume applet:

sudo pacman -S mate-volume-applet

3. Replace Caja With PCManFM

sudo pacman -Rns caja
sudo pacman -S pcmanfm

Set PCManFM as your default file manager:
Control Center → Preferred Applications → File Manager → PCManFM

4. Enable the PCManFM Desktop

Open: Control Center → Startup Applications Add a new startup entry with the following command:

pcmanfm --desktop

Log out and log back in to apply the changes.

Note: Advanced users can also create a .desktop file manually in ~/.config/autostart, but this is not required.

5. Install Lightweight Replacement Apps

• Terminal:

  sudo pacman -S lxterminal



• Image Viewer:

  sudo pacman -S viewnior



• Image Editor:

  sudo pacman -S photoflare



• Text Editor:

  sudo pacman -S leafpad



• Calculator:

  sudo pacman -S galculator



• PDF Viewer:

  sudo pacman -S atril



• Word Processor:

  sudo pacman -S abiword

6. Install Plank (Lightweight Dock)

Install Plank:

sudo pacman -S plank

To start Plank automatically, open: Control Center → Startup Applications

Add a new startup entry with the following command:

plank

After logging back in, configure Plank with these recommended settings:

• Dock position: Top
• Theme: Blue-Lagoon
• Disable Show unpinned
• Pin only essential applications

Note: Creating a manual .desktop file in ~/.config/autostart is optional and not required.

7. Recommended Themes, Icons, and Cursors

• Theme: Blue-Submarine [GTK2/3]
• Icons: Qogir [GTK2/3]
• Plank Theme: Blue-Lagoon
• Window Manager Theme: Mista Vista/Seven-style
• Cursor Theme: crystalblue [GTK2/3]

Note: The Blue Submarine theme is a default MATE theme.

8. Effects and Transparency

No need for Picom. Marco’s built-in compositor is light and efficient.
Enable via: Control Center → Windows → Enable software compositing.
LXTerminal supports transparency with Marco.

9. Remove Unused Dependencies (Orphans)

sudo pacman -Rns $(pacman -Qdtq)

Removes only unused dependencies.

10. Final Result

You now have a MATE desktop that is:

• Extremely lightweight
• More responsive than XFCE (thanks to PCManFM + minimal setup)
• Modern, with effects and elegant themes
• Stable, using MATE core only
• A unique retro-modern hybrid with XP/Vista/Seven vibes

Perfect for older hardware, low-RAM systems, or anyone who wants a clean and fast experience.

Extra Tool: Crystal 2000s Icon & Cursor Collection

As part of this setup, I created a personal collection of icons inspired by the early 2000s crystal/glass aesthetic, mixed with a modern touch. The goal is to recreate the visual feeling of KDE, Windows XP, and Windows Vista, while keeping compatibility with modern Linux desktops.

This collection includes GTK icon themes, cursors, and Linux distribution logos, organized by style and brightness.

📁 Collection Structure

Crystal 2000s/
├── Light/
│   ├── Oxygen
│   ├── Oxygen Customized
│   ├── Oxylite
│   ├── KrystalSVG
│   ├── Nova7
│   └── Hydronium
├── Dark/
│   ├── LTF2 (learning to fly)
│   ├── Crystal Remix
│   ├── Fekete
│   └── Baphomet
├── Cartoon style/
│   └── Noia KDE Reloaded 2019
└── Cursors/
    └── Crystal/
        ├── White
        ├── Red
        ├── Green
        ├── Gray
        └── Blue

Download the icons from here: Crystal Icons Pack

🎨 Icon Style Philosophy

The icon themes are based on classic crystal and glass effects typical of the 2000–2008 era, featuring:

• Glossy and transparent surfaces
• Soft highlights and reflections
• Strong color identity (blue, green, red, gray variants)
• High contrast for excellent readability

They pair extremely well with MATE, XFCE, and other lightweight desktop environments, especially when combined with themes inspired by Windows XP, Vista, or early KDE.

🐧 Linux Orbs (Vista-Style Logos)

In addition to application icons, I also worked on a set of Linux distribution logos redesigned as glossy orbs, inspired by the Windows Vista start menu and system icons.

Some distributions were missing or incomplete, so I manually recreated and adapted their logos to match the existing crystal style.

For example, the Arch Linux orb was added by modifying and extending an existing icon pack originally found on GNOME/KDE Look:

GNOME/KDE Cristal Look – Windows style Start Orbs

All added or modified logos were carefully matched in:

• Gloss level
• Lighting direction
• Color saturation
• Orb depth and shadow

🖱️ Crystal Cursor Themes

The collection also includes crystal-style cursor themes, available in multiple colors:

• White
• Blue
• Red
• Green
• Gray

These cursors are lightweight, highly visible, and perfectly suited for transparent and glass-themed desktops.

💡 Integration With This Setup

The Crystal 2000s collection integrates perfectly with:

• MATE with Marco compositing
• Plank dock
• Blue-Lagoon and Vista-inspired GTK themes
• Retro-modern desktop layouts

This extra tool completes the visual identity of the system, turning a lightweight desktop into a cohesive retro-modern Linux experience.

XP Theme Tool: MATE to Windows XP (Modern Recreation - part 1)

This guide shows how to transform the MATE desktop environment on EndeavourOS Linux into a faithful modern recreation of Windows XP. By combining XP Embedded themes, Vista-style icons, and Metacity-based window decorations, the result closely resembles the classic Microsoft system while remaining fully modern, secure, and functional.

This setup is ideal for users who love vintage desktop aesthetics but still want a lightweight and up-to-date Linux system.

📥 Useful Downloads

• Remove arrow from MATE Compact Menu:
  Download

• Windows XP GTK Theme:
  GNOME Look

• Windows XP Icons:
  GNOME Look

• Windows Vista Icons:
  GNOME Look

• Metacity – Luna Element Blue:
  Pling

• Metacity – Luna Element Black:
  GNOME Look

📚 Reference Article

For historical context and nostalgia:

Neowin – Looking Back on Windows XP

ℹ️ Notes

Note: MATE is based on the GNOME 2 design philosophy, not GNOME 3. This makes it particularly suitable for recreating classic desktop layouts such as Windows XP.

🖥️ System Information (Tested Setup)

• OS: EndeavourOS Linux x86_64

• Kernel: 6.8.7-arch1-2

• Desktop Environment: MATE 1.28.0

• Window Manager: Metacity (Marco)

• GTK Theme: Windows XP Embedded (GTK2/GTK3)

• Icons: Vista (GTK2/GTK3)

• Terminal: mate-terminal

Thanks for watching and supporting retro-style Linux customization!

If you want to see more Linux customization videos, visit my Odysee channel:
Linux Customization Playlist

XP Theme Tool: MATE to Windows XP (Modern Recreation - part 2)

This is the second and final part of the guide dedicated to transforming Linux into a modern Windows XP experience. After starting with MATE, the entire setup was fully migrated to Xfce, using the terminal to gain finer control over components, services, and visual behavior.

The visual result is further refined through the use of XP-inspired GTK themes, classic icon packs, and animated cursors. Thanks to the excellent work of the RedmondXP and B00merang Project, the final look is polished, coherent, and remarkably faithful to the original Windows XP style.

This approach is ideal for users who want the timeless aesthetics of Windows XP combined with the stability, speed, and flexibility of a lightweight and modern Linux desktop.

📦 Downloads

• RedmondXP GTK Theme:
  GitHub Repository

• Windows XP Themes (B00merang Project):
  GitHub Repository

• Windows XP Icons:
  GNOME Look

• Windows XP Cursor – White (Animated):
  Pling

• Windows XP Cursor – Black (Animated):
  Pling

🖥️ System Information

• OS: EndeavourOS Linux x86_64

• Kernel: 6.8.7-arch1-2 → 6.8.9-arch1-2

• Desktop Environment: MATE 1.28.0 → Xfce 4.18

• GTK Theme: Windows XP Embedded (GTK2 / GTK3)

• Icons: Vista (GTK2 / GTK3)

• Terminal: mate-terminal

• Terminal Font: Monospace 10

This concludes the Windows XP visual transformation series. A nostalgic desktop, rebuilt with modern Linux tools.

If you want to see more Linux customization videos, visit my Odysee channel:
Linux Customization Playlist