Linux GUIChapter 5

Graphical User Interface

• GUI vs. CLI• Easier and more intuitive

• More popular and advanced

• Needed for graphics, web browsing

• Linux GUI• advanced features

• not always stable on every hardware

• X Windows System• Basis of Linux GUI

• For UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X, etc.

X - Introduction

• Developed by MIT and DEC in 1994

• Commercial and free versions• Free version for Linux: XFree86, X.Org

• Based on Client-Server model

• X Server• Runs on your machine

• Responsible for handling graphics

• X Clients• Software that needs to display on screen

• Sends request to X server for display

• Client and servers maybe on different machines• need a network or Internet connection in between

Hardware requirements

• Support depends on your video (graphics) card

• Most major cards are supported

• x.org, xfree86.org for current support

• Best to use a popular video card• Nvidia or ATI

• Integrated

• At least 32 MB video memory

XFree86, Xorg

• Free implementation of X Window System on Linux

• Usually installed by default

• If not started after boot, startx on command line• Only one per computer

• Configure by editing file• /etc/X11/XF86Config, /etc/X11/xorg.conf

• If problem persists, unstable• logout

• Ctrl-Alt-Backspace

• Reboot (Ctrl-Alt-Delete)

Window Manager

• An X Client itself

• Sits above X server to manage windows

• WM manages applications within windows• manages window positions

• window movements, opening, closing

• Examples: fvwm, Enlightenment, Afterstep, Blackbox

• Not very useful without a Desktop Manager / Desktop Environment

Desktop Manager

• Built on top of a Window Manager

• Adds functionalities to a WM

• Provides advanced and consistent GUI to user

• Provides• A WM (of course)

• A file browser

• Configuration utilities• Desktop

• Network

• Security

• Session management (login, logout, restart)

• Applications• Graphics

• Text Editors

• Games

• Office Suites

Components of a GUI

GNOME

• GNU Network Object Model Environment (GNOME)

• http://www.gnome.org

• Started in 1999

• Provides a uniform desktop environment

• Can work with many window managers• Sawfish

• Metacity

• More ‘eye-candy’ than KDE• less advanced

• slightly less stable

• Highly configurable

• Accessible