CHAPTER 3LINUX
DESKTOP ENVIRONME
NT
The Desktop Environment
A common graphical user interface and platform
A collection of programs working together with:similar look and feelfacilities for inter-process communication
and passing of datadrag-and-drop, cut-and-paste functionalities
between applications
The Desktop Environment In LinuxTwo commonly used ones:i- GNOME (GNU Object Model
Environment)www.gnome.org
ii-KDE (K Desktop Environment)www.kde.org
Both GNOME and KDE come with a set of advanced productivity tools and applications e.g. text editors, word processors, spreadsheets and web browsers
KDE applications can run in GNOME and vice versa if the graphic libraries required by each of these desktop environments are available
GNOME• Is a desktop environment—a graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system• composed entirely of free and open source software.• GNOME is part of the GNU Project and can be used with various Unix-like operating systems, most notably GNU/Linux, and as part of the Java Desktop System in Solaris.
The GNOME Desktop
3 main components: the Menu System, the Panel, the Desktop itself
GNOME 2.20
The Menu SystemClick on the Main Menu button
Generic GNOME Main Menu button Red Hat / Fedora Main Menu button
Sub-menus within menuClick on entry to launch application22/ 7 /2010
The Menu System
The PanelLong bar across the bottom of the desktopMain menu icon, the application launcher
icons, notification area and appletsInstalled by default are several application
launcher icons on the panel. Clicking on one of these will run an application. Commonly accessed applications can be added to the panel and those that are less frequently used can be taken off.
Panel AppletsSmall applications that run on the panel;
perform useful tasks e.g.Workspace switcherTaskbarScreenshotClockSticky Notes
The Desktop
Icons - short-cuts to application launchers, file folders, files and peripheral devices
Double-click on icon to launch a program or to open a file or device
Commonly used applications and/or files/folders are usually placed on the desktop space.
The KDE DesktopAn alternative to GNOME, widely used in
Linux and other OSS platformsMany Linux systems support both (only
one can be used at any one time)KDE applications can run in GNOME and
vice versa if the graphic libraries required by each of these desktop environments are available
The KDE DesktopTo switch to KDE use:At the graphical login screen, click on
Session (at the bottom) and select KDE
The KDE DesktopOr use a desktop switching program, e.g. for
Fedora/Red Hat,Main Menu --> System Settings --> More
System Settings --> Desktop Switching Tool
The KDE DesktopKDE has many similarities as well as some
differences with the GNOME desktopKDE makes use of the Main Menu, Panel and
the desktop tooSome differences in handling the placement
of icons on the desktop and panel
The KDE Desktop
Right-clicking an icon brings up different options
Entries in the Main Menu may not be identical
Control CenterA central place where all the Desktop and
system configuration can be set and viewedMain Menu --> Control Center
To configure a particular setting, open up the section it is under and select the item to configure
For example, to change the background colour, select,Appearance & Themes --> Background
Control Center
KonquerorStandards-compliant web browser and
default file manager for KDENavigate filesystem as you would the WWWProvides all the normal file manager
functionalities:navigation of the filesystemfile/folder copying, renaming, deletion
creationapplication launching
Able to display graphic image files and generate an image gallery web page from them.
Conqueror
Konqueror File Manager
Konqueror
Konqueror Web Browser
Help CenterExtensive KDE online documentation – the
Help Center, invoke by,Main Menu --> Help
Covers the graphical desktop usage, configuration as well as the KDE applets and applications
Standard Unix/Linux manual and info pages can be accessed from here too.
Help Center
DEFAULT DESKTOP IN LINUX DISTRIBUTIONDistribution Default Desktop
Ubuntu GNOME
Kubuntu KDE
Xubuntu XFce
Alinex GNOME
aLinux KDE
Ark Linux KDE
CentOS GNOME
Knoppix LXDE
MEPIS KDE
openSUSE GNOME, KDE, Xfce
Red Hat Enterprise Linux GNOME
Slackware KDE, Xfce
Xandros Desktop OS KDE
Office ApplicationOpenOffice.org (OOo)comprises a collection of applications that
work together closely to provide the features commonly included in modern office suites. Many of the components mirror those available in Microsoft Office. The components available include:
a- Writer : word processor similar to Microsoft Word and WordPerfect
b –Calc : A spreadsheet similar to Microsoft Excel and Lotus 1-2-3.c –Impress : A presentation program similar to Microsoft
PowerPoint and Apple Keynoted – Base : A database management program similar to Microsoft
Accesse –Draw : A vector graphics editor and diagramming tool, similar to
Microsoft Visio and comparable in features to early versions of CorelDRAW
f – Math : tool for creating and editing mathematical formulae, similar to Microsoft Equation Editor
Internet ApplicationInternet applications enable users to make full use of
Internet connection. Example of Internet Application: a)Web Browsers - Mozilla Firefox - IceCat - SeaMonkey - IceApe - Opera - Chromium - Google Chrome b) Download Manager - Downloader for X
c) Newsreaders - Akregator
- RSSOwl
d) Instant Messengers - Empathy - Pidgin - Kopete Konversation (IRC client) aMSN - Emesene
e) FTP Clients - Filezilla
f) Filesharing / P2P Transmission (BitTorrent Client) KTorrent Azureus QTorrent Apollon (P2P Filesharing) MLDonkey (P2P eMule/eDonkey2000)
Email Application @ Email ClientExamples as below:Evolution Thunderbird KMail
Graphic Application Examples as below:GIMP (Image Manipulator) Dia (Diagram editor) Kivio (Diagram editor) Inkscape Vector Illustrator Digikam (Photo Organiser) Google Picasa (Photo Organiser) Tesseract (Optical Character Reader) Cuneiform (Optical Character Reader) Xsane (Scanning utility) Gnome-Scan (Scanning Utility) Gwenview (Image Manipulator) OpenClipart (ClipArt Library)
Entertainment Applicationa) Videoconferencing and VOIP
Ekiga Skype Wengophone Gizmo5 Asterisk VOIP PBX system OpenSIPS / OpenSER (SIP server) Web meetings
BigBlueButton WebHuddle DimDim
b) Video Applications OpenShot PiTiVi (Non-linear Video Editing Suite) Avidemux (Video editor/processor) Kino (Non-linear Video Editing Suite) KdenLive (Non-linear Video Editing Suite for KDE) Cinelerra (Non-linear Video Editing Suite) LiVES (Video editor/processor) OpenMovieEditor Blender Stopmotion (Animation)
REFERENCESS• http://linuxreviews.org/software/desktops/
•http://www.gnome.org/about/•http://www.gnu.org/•http://www.kde.org/
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