LXQt 2.5 removes final LXDE dependency, completes Qt6 transition

The LXQt 2.5 desktop environment has been released, marking a significant milestone in the project's eight-year evolution from a merger of LXDE and Razor-qt components. This version eliminates the final remaining dependency on LXDE libraries, completing LXQt's transition to a fully independent Qt6-based codebase. The release introduces enhancements across multiple core components including PCManFM-Qt file manager, QTerminal, and the LXQt Panel.

For users and distributions shipping LXQt, this release represents both a technical cleanup and a functional improvement. The removal of legacy LXDE dependencies reduces maintenance burden and potential security surface, while component-specific updates refine the lightweight desktop experience that LXQt targets for older hardware and resource-constrained systems.

Component changes in LXQt 2.5

• LXDE dependency removal: The final LXDE library dependency has been eliminated, completing the project's architectural separation from its predecessor and fully committing to Qt6.
• QTerminal enhancements: The terminal emulator receives functional improvements in this release, though specific feature details were not enumerated in source coverage.
• PCManFM-Qt updates: The file manager component gains changes as part of this release cycle, continuing its Qt6-based development.
• LXQt Panel refinements: The panel subsystem receives attention in 2.5, affecting the core desktop shell experience for users.

Why it matters

For Linux distributions that maintain LXQt as a lightweight desktop option—particularly those targeting older x86_64 hardware, ARM SBCs, or minimal installations—this release reduces packaging complexity by removing legacy GTK2/GTK3 LXDE library requirements. The completed Qt6 transition aligns LXQt with modern distribution toolchain standards and simplifies long-term maintenance for Debian, Fedora, Arch, and other distros that ship the environment.