Not sure if this is the right place, but I'll ask...

Is it possible to change desktop environment without using username and password?

I will explain...
Lets say i am using gnome and i want to switch to xfce4.
I would open terminal and write
and hit enter.
That would switch me to xfce4 environment and take me to login screen.
What I want to do is to switch environment without login screen.
I know I can configure autologin, but I don't want it to skip login screen every time, just when i switch with terminal.
Can i add some arguments to xfce4-session command? I checked man pages but i didn't see option to provide username and password...

Can anyone help?

Try the command startxfce4 instead of xfce4-session.

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Steve Stites

I think it's not possible. You go through desktop manager like gdm, kdm... But if you multiple graphics card it may be possible to switch seats.

Hybryde is a Linux distro that purports to allow you to change your desktop environment on the fly without exiting a session. I have not used it (and, indeed, have no interest in it), but SMLR reviewed it about a year and a half ago. As I recall, they found the concept more intriguing than the distro.

There's a thread about it in the Ubuntu forums. The Distrowatch page is here.