How can I find which desktop enviroment I am using?

And you can try $DESKTOP_SESSION for the DE.


This command seems to be useful:

ls /usr/bin/*session
  • in GNOME returns /usr/bin/gnome-session (and more)
  • in MATE returns /usr/bin/mate-session (and more)
  • in LXDE returns /usr/bin/lxsession (and more)
  • in JWM returns /usr/bin/icewm-session (should be jwm-session, not?!)

I've tested the best tools I've found with:

a - GNOME under Linux Mint installed
b - GNOME under Linux Mint Live USB
c - MATE under Linux Mint
d - LXDE under Lubuntu
e - JWM under Puppy Linux (JWM is not a desktop environment but a stacking window manager).
f - XFCE under Debian Buster

Results

  • env | grep DESKTOP_SESSION= (so-so)

    a & b - DESKTOP_SESSION=gnome
    c - DESKTOP_SESSION=default.desktop
    d - DESKTOP_SESSION=Lubuntu
    e - Nothing
    f - DESKTOP_SESSION=xfce
    
  • echo $GDMSESSION (so-so)

    a & b - gnome
    c - Nothing
    d - Lubuntu
    e - Nothing
    f - xfce
    
  • pgrep -l "gnome|kde|mate|cinnamon|lxde|xfce|jwm" or ps -A | egrep -i "gnome|kde|mate|cinnamon|lxde|xfce|jwm" (well, but not perfect)

    a & b - OK
    c - OK
    d - WRONG
    e - Nothing & OK
    f - OK
    
  • HardInfo (very well, but not perfect)

    a - Nothing
    b - GNOME 2.32.0
    c - MATE
    d - LXDE (Lubuntu)
    e - Unknown (Window Manager: JWM)
    f - XFCE
    

Conclusion

A combination of HardInfo and the command ps -A | egrep -i "gnome|kde|mate|cinnamon|lxde|xfce|jwm" probably will give the desired answer.