[SOLVED] How to easily switch desktop environments?

I have fully installed XFCE desktop environment including its window manager, panel, xfdesktop xfce terminal and a bunch of xfce plugins on gentoo distro. Now, i wanted to try a new window manager, specifically suckless'es dwm.
My first problem came up when i didn't know how to change the default WM because dwm doesnt support --replace command. I had to disable it from "Current Session" by setting restart style to Never, and enabled dwm in application autostart. So its viewed as an application and not a core component of the environment. I also noticed the xfce4-panel and xfdesktop doesnt mix very well with dwm, its kinda wierd.

And here my question comes:
I don't want every time to modify the application autostart when i want to use full XFCE or dwm only, no xfce plugin or anything related to xfce. How can i easily isolate xfce DE from DWM and vice versa?
I want while dwm is running, xfce to not use any system resources, and use suckless'es terminal st, instead of xfce terminal. And when the time comes and i want to use xfce only, dwm to be inactive and use xfce terminal. I want to keep this compability, or better said ecosystem. How do i achieve this "dual boot", preferably without rebooting? Is it possible?

The display manager you log in with should enable you to select the desktop environment when you do so — some icon next to your name, or a gear-wheel, or something — it obviously depends on which DM you use.

Originally Posted by DavidMcCann The display manager you log in with should enable you to select the desktop environment when you do so — some icon next to your name, or a gear-wheel, or something — it obviously depends on which DM you use.

i use LightDM at the moment

but DWM is not a DE as a whole, its more complicated

Per the Arch Wiki, I see that DWM is a window manager, not a desktop environment. That's not really relevant to your question about how to choose the desired interface. The method is the same whether the interface is a DE or a WM.

You should be able to select it at time of login in the manner that DavidMcCann described above. Somewhere on the login screen will be an icon that will enable you to select your preferred DE/WM; in experience, it's most often near the login dialog or in the upper right corner of the screen. Sometimes--rarely--the icon doesn't appear until after you type in your user name.

Originally Posted by frankbell Per the Arch Wiki, I see that DWM is a window manager, not a desktop environment. That's not really relevant to your question about how to choose the desired interface. The method is the same whether the interface is a DE or a WM. You should be able to select it at time of login in the manner that DavidMcCann described above. Somewhere on the login screen will be an icon that will enable you to select your preferred DE/WM; in experience, it's most often near the login dialog or in the upper right corner of the screen. Sometimes--rarely--the icon doesn't appear until after you type in your user name.

thanks i can now switch to dwm easily.