Linux desktop environments: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:04, 7 June 2013

Revision as of 01:13, 24 July 2013

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All Linux desktop applications use the [[X Window System]] and thus benefit from features like networking (remote display) and quick mouse-only [[cut, copy, and paste]]. Mouse selected text is automatically copied, and it can then be pasted using a middle click, without the need to resort to use of the keyboard.<ref name="About">{{cite web|url = http://linux.about.com/library/bl/open/newbie/blnewbie4.3.10.htm|title = Linux Newbie Administrator FAQ: X-Windows[sic]|accessdate = 2008-05-13|last = About, Inc|authorlink = |year = 2008}}</ref>

=== History and criticism ===

{{Main|Criticism of desktop Linux}}

KDE was the first advanced desktop environment, but it was controversial due to the then-proprietary Qt toolkit used.<ref name=KDEvGNOME2007>[[Bruce Byfield|Byfield B]]. (2007). [http://www.datamation.com/osrc/article.php/3671906/KDE-vs-GNOME-Is-One-Better.htm KDE vs. GNOME: Is One Better?]. ''[[Datamation]]''.</ref> GNOME was developed as an alternative due to licensing questions.<ref name=KDEvGNOME2007/> The two use a different underlying toolkit and thus involve different programming, and are sponsored by two different groups, German nonprofit [[KDE e.V.]] and the United States nonprofit [[GNOME Foundation]].

As of April 2007, one journalist estimated that KDE had 65% of market share versus 26% for GNOME.<ref name=KDEvGNOME2007/> In January 2008, KDE 4 was released prematurely with bugs, driving users to GNOME.<ref name=UserRevolt>Byfield B. (2011). [http://www.datamation.com/osrc/article.php/3928841/Will-GNOME-30-Repeat-the-User-Revolt-of-KDE-40.htm Will GNOME 3.0 Repeat the User Revolt of KDE 4.0?]. ''Datamation''.</ref> GNOME 3, released in April 2011, was called an "unholy mess" by [[Linus Torvalds]] due to its controversial [[Controversy over GNOME 3|design changes]].<ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/08/05/linus_slams_gnome_three/ Linus Torvalds dubs GNOME 3 'unholy mess']. ''The Register''.</ref>

Dissatisfaction with GNOME 3 led to a fork, [[Cinnamon (user interface)|Cinnamon]], which is developed primarily by [[Linux Mint]] developer Clement LeFebvre. This restores the more traditional desktop environment with marginal improvements.

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== See also ==

{{Portal|Free software}}

{{Wikipedia-Books books|Desktop Linux}}

* [[Desktop Linux Summit]]

* [[Desktop wars]]