armbian · igorpecovnik · Apr 11, 2026 · Apr 11, 2026
diff --git a/tools/include/markdown/CINM01-header.md b/tools/include/markdown/CINM01-header.md
@@ -1,5 +1 @@
 Cinnamon is a Linux desktop environment that provides advanced innovative features and a traditional user experience. The desktop layout is similar to GNOME 2 with underlying technology forked from GNOME Shell. Cinnamon makes users feel at home with an easy-to-use and comfortable desktop experience.
-
-!!! warning "Desktop installation is resource-intensive"
-
-    Installing a desktop environment will download and install a large number of packages. This process may take a significant amount of time depending on your internet connection and device performance. A reboot is required after installation.
diff --git a/tools/include/markdown/Desktops-header.md b/tools/include/markdown/Desktops-header.md
@@ -1,29 +1,57 @@
 Armbian desktop installation uses upstream meta-packages from Debian and Ubuntu repositories, making it distro-agnostic and independent of pre-built Armbian desktop packages.
 
-**How it works:**
+**Tiered installs**
 
-- Installs the desktop environment meta-package (e.g., `xfce4`, `gnome-session`) along with essential extras
-- Tracks all newly installed packages so uninstall cleanly removes everything added on top of CLI, including dependencies
-- Applies Armbian branding: wallpapers, icons, login screen theme, and default user settings
-- Configures the display manager (LightDM, GDM3, or SDDM) with auto-login (this can be disabled in menu)
-- Installs [Armbian Imager](https://imager.armbian.com/) as an AppImage for writing OS images
-- Sets up Profile Sync Daemon (psd) to keep browser profiles in RAM, reducing flash media wear
-- Removes unnecessary bloat pulled in by meta-packages
+Every desktop ships at one of three sizes. You can install at any tier and switch between tiers later without uninstalling.
 
-**Networking:**
+| Tier | Contents | Approximate size |
+|---|---|---|
+| **Minimal** | Desktop environment + display manager + base utilities. No browser, no office suite. | ~500 MB |
+| **Mid** | Minimal plus a browser, text editor, calculator, image and PDF viewer, media player, archive manager and torrent client. | ~1 GB |
+| **Full** | Mid plus LibreOffice, GIMP, Inkscape, Thunderbird and Audacity. | ~2.5 GB |
+
+The browser shipped at mid and full tiers is chosen automatically: `chromium` on Debian, `firefox-esr` on Debian riscv64, and `epiphany-browser` on Ubuntu (Ubuntu's `chromium` and `firefox` packages are snap-shim wrappers that don't work without `snapd`, which Armbian doesn't ship).
+
+**How it works**
+
+- Installs the desktop meta-package (e.g. `xfce4`, `gnome-session`) plus the per-tier extras and any release-specific packages your distribution needs.
+- Tracks every package the install pulls in. The list is saved to `/etc/armbian/desktop/<de>.packages`, the chosen tier to `/etc/armbian/desktop/<de>.tier`. Uninstall and downgrade use these files so they only ever remove packages the desktop install added — packages you installed manually after the fact are never touched.
+- Applies Armbian branding: wallpapers, icons, login screen theme, and default user settings.
+- Configures the display manager (LightDM, GDM3 or SDDM) with auto-login enabled by default. You can disable auto-login from the desktop menu without removing the desktop.
+- Sets up Profile Sync Daemon (psd) to keep browser profiles in RAM, reducing flash media wear.
+- Removes a small set of unwanted extras pulled in by some meta-packages (e.g. Ubuntu's `apport` crash reporter, snap-related stubs).
+
+**Switching tiers after install**
+
+You don't need to reinstall to add or remove tier extras. The desktop menu offers "Change *desktop* to *tier*" entries for any tier other than the one currently installed. Behind the scenes:
 
-Desktop environments that require NetworkManager (e.g., GNOME) install it alongside the existing `systemd-networkd`. Wired Ethernet interfaces remain managed by `systemd-networkd`, while NetworkManager handles WiFi and VPN connections. This avoids disrupting existing network configuration.
+- Going up (minimal → mid → full) installs only the new packages introduced by the higher tier.
+- Going down (full → mid → minimal) removes only the packages the install added that aren't in the lower tier. Your manually-installed packages are not touched.
 
-**Supported desktops:**
+**Networking**
 
-| Desktop | Best for | Resources |
+Some desktops (notably GNOME) require NetworkManager. When installed, NetworkManager is configured to coexist with Armbian's existing `systemd-networkd`: wired Ethernet stays managed by `systemd-networkd`, while NetworkManager handles WiFi and VPN connections. This avoids disrupting your existing network configuration.
+
+**Supported desktops**
+
+| Desktop | Best for | Approximate RAM (minimal tier) |
 |---|---|---|
-| XFCE | Single board computers, low-end hardware | ~300 MB RAM |
-| GNOME | Modern desktops, touchscreen devices | ~800 MB RAM |
-| Cinnamon | Users familiar with Windows layout | ~500 MB RAM |
-| MATE | Classic GNOME 2 fans, low-resource systems | ~350 MB RAM |
-| KDE Plasma | Power users, heavy customization | ~600 MB RAM |
-| i3-wm | Developers, keyboard-driven workflows | ~150 MB RAM |
+| XFCE | Single board computers, low-end hardware | ~300 MB |
+| GNOME | Modern desktops, touchscreen devices | ~800 MB |
+| Cinnamon | Users familiar with Windows layout | ~500 MB |
+| MATE | Classic GNOME 2 fans, low-resource systems | ~350 MB |
+| KDE Plasma | Power users, heavy customization | ~600 MB |
+| i3-wm | Developers, keyboard-driven workflows | ~150 MB |
+| Xmonad | Haskell tiling window manager | ~120 MB |
+| Enlightenment | EFL-based, lightweight and stylish | ~250 MB |
+
+Mid and full tiers add roughly 500 MB and 2 GB on top of these minimum figures, depending on which tier extras your release/architecture combination ships.
+
+!!! warning "Desktop installation is resource-intensive"
+
+    Installing a desktop environment will download and install a large number of packages. The full tier on a fresh Ubuntu image pulls in roughly 2.5 GB and may take a significant amount of time depending on your internet connection and device performance. A reboot is required after installation.
+
+    Running `module_desktops remove` reclaims the disk space; `apt-get clean` is run automatically as part of the remove path.
 
 !!! note "Switching desktops"
 

diff --git a/tools/include/markdown/GNME01-header.md b/tools/include/markdown/GNME01-header.md
@@ -1,5 +1 @@
 GNOME is a modern, user-friendly desktop environment for Linux, offering a clean interface, essential apps, and customization through extensions. It prioritizes simplicity, accessibility, and efficiency.
-
-!!! warning "Desktop installation is resource-intensive"
-
-    Installing a desktop environment will download and install a large number of packages. This process may take a significant amount of time depending on your internet connection and device performance. A reboot is required after installation.
diff --git a/tools/include/markdown/I3WM01-header.md b/tools/include/markdown/I3WM01-header.md
@@ -3,7 +3,3 @@ i3 is a tiling window manager designed for power users and developers. It is key
 !!! info "Keyboard shortcuts"
 
     i3 is controlled primarily via keyboard. The default modifier key is **$mod** (Super/Windows key). Press **$mod+Enter** to open a terminal, **$mod+d** to launch applications via rofi, and **$mod+Shift+e** to exit.
-
-!!! warning "Desktop installation is resource-intensive"
-
-    Installing a desktop environment will download and install a large number of packages. This process may take a significant amount of time depending on your internet connection and device performance. A reboot is required after installation.
diff --git a/tools/include/markdown/KDEN01-header.md b/tools/include/markdown/KDEN01-header.md
@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
 KDE Neon provides the latest KDE Plasma desktop built on top of Ubuntu. It uses the KDE Neon repository to deliver cutting-edge Plasma releases, offering the newest features and improvements ahead of distribution packages. Ubuntu Noble/Plucky only.
 
-!!! warning "Desktop installation is resource-intensive"
-
-    Installing a desktop environment will download and install a large number of packages. This process may take a significant amount of time depending on your internet connection and device performance. A reboot is required after installation.
-
 !!! note "KDE Neon vs KDE Plasma"
 
     **KDE Neon** uses the KDE Neon repository for the latest Plasma releases (Ubuntu only). **KDE Plasma** uses distribution packages and works on both Debian and Ubuntu.
diff --git a/tools/include/markdown/KDEP01-header.md b/tools/include/markdown/KDEP01-header.md
@@ -1,5 +1 @@
 KDE Plasma is a feature-rich desktop environment with extensive customization options. It provides a familiar taskbar and start menu layout with modern effects, widgets, and a powerful system settings application.
-
-!!! warning "Desktop installation is resource-intensive"
-
-    Installing a desktop environment will download and install a large number of packages. This process may take a significant amount of time depending on your internet connection and device performance. A reboot is required after installation.
diff --git a/tools/include/markdown/MATE01-header.md b/tools/include/markdown/MATE01-header.md
@@ -1,5 +1 @@
 MATE is a continuation of GNOME 2, providing a traditional desktop experience with a classic two-panel layout. It is lightweight, stable, and fully customizable — a good choice for users who prefer a familiar desktop without the overhead of modern compositing effects.
-
-!!! warning "Desktop installation is resource-intensive"
-
-    Installing a desktop environment will download and install a large number of packages. This process may take a significant amount of time depending on your internet connection and device performance. A reboot is required after installation.
diff --git a/tools/include/markdown/XFCE01-header.md b/tools/include/markdown/XFCE01-header.md
@@ -1,5 +1 @@
 Xfce is a lightweight, fast, and user-friendly desktop environment for Linux, offering a classic interface, essential apps, and customization. It prioritizes performance, simplicity, and efficiency, making it an excellent choice for devices with limited resources.
-
-!!! warning "Desktop installation is resource-intensive"
-
-    Installing a desktop environment will download and install a large number of packages. This process may take a significant amount of time depending on your internet connection and device performance. A reboot is required after installation.