Unity as the default desktop will no longer be in the next version of Ubuntu, that is, in less than a month. Which means that many will look for an option that is better suited to their old gear. This is where light desktops come into play, lighter alternatives to the popular Gnome or Plasma that offer the same for less resources.
This option is interesting for those who have old computers or also for those who want to allocate their resources to other tasks such as server, application development or graphic design. In this case we are going to tell you the light desktops that we can find in the Ubuntu repositories that consume less than 2 Gb of ram, an amount that many still do not have on their computers.
Xfce
The most complete and functional lightweight desktop is without a doubt Xfce. This desktop that is present in Xubuntu is one of the best options within lightweight desktops, not only for its low consumption of resources but also for its stability and its functions. Something that other desktops do not have and that makes Xubuntu and Xfce have more followers with each version. The installation of this desktop can be done through the installation of the xfce package, but it is best to do it through the xubuntu-desktop metapackage.
Lxde
This desk whose ultimate goal is to offer a lightweight desk also has its followers and is a good option. However, unlike others, LXDE is quite a buggy desktop and not as functional as Xfce. Months ago it was announced that LXDE would give way to LXQT but it has not happened yet due to compatibility issues, libraries and bugs that appear. We can install LXDE in Ubuntu in two ways, through the LXDE package or through the lubuntu-desktop meta-package.
MATE
The fork that was born from the old Gnome 2 is proving to be a complete and lightweight option for many users. MATE tries to rescue the appearance and functionality of the old Gnome, which makes the desktop have almost the same as Gnome but with a lower consumption of resources. One or two versions are usually released each year, which makes MATE a very lively desktop. We can install it in Ubuntu through the MATE package.
Cinnamon
The Linux Mint desktop is also looking to be a lightweight and complete option. It may be the best option of all, but personally, when I have installed Cinnamon on Ubuntu, there have always been problems. My experience is not the only one and that is why it may not be a popular desktop among Ubuntu users, although it is among Linux Mint users. In this article We tell you how to install Cinnamon in Ubuntu.
Conclusion
In addition to these desks there are lighter options such as window managers. These are not complete desks, but if we have a high level, it may be an option that suits our needs. Within this category there are options such as JWM, IceWM, I3 or Fluxbox, among others. Now, the choice is up to you, don't forget it.