Desktop environment
In graphical computing, a
desktop environment (
DE, sometimes
desktop manager) offers a
graphical user interface (GUI) to the computer. The name is derived from the
desktop metaphor used by most of these interfaces, as opposed to the earlier, textual
command line interfaces (CLI). A DE typically provides
icons,
folders,
toolbars, applications,
applets,
wallpapers and abilities like
drag and drop. As a whole, the particularities of design and function of a desktop environment endow it with a distinctive
look and feel.
The desktop environments for the popular
proprietary operating systems
Microsoft Windows and
Mac OS X are, in their intended use, relatively unalterable. This assures a consistent user experience. However, there are alternative
themes and third-party software that can completely change both the appearance of common interface elements (such as windows, buttons and icons) and the interface model itself. In Windows, this is accomplished by replacing the default
Explorer shell.
On systems running the
X Window System (typically
Unix-like systems), the desktop environment is much more flexible. In this context, a DE typically consists of a
window manager (such as
Fluxbox), a set of
themes, and programs and libraries for managing the desktop. All of these individual modules can be exchanged and individually configured to achieve a unique combination, but most desktop environments provide a default configuration that requires minimal user input.
Not all of the program code that is part of a DE has effects which are directly visible to the user. Some of it may be low-level code.
KDE, for example, provides so-called
KIOslaves which give the user access to a wide range of virtual devices. These I/O slaves are not available outside the KDE environment.
Image:GNOME-Screenshot-2.10-FC4.png|GNOMEImage:Kde34screenshot.png|KDEImage:Screenshot_of_4.2.jpeg|XfceImage:Windows Vista 5472 desktop.png|Windows VistaImage:Windows_xp_desktop.PNG|Windows XPImage:TigerDesk.png|Mac OS X (Aqua)Well-known desktop environments (especially for
Unix-like operating systems) include:
KDE,
GNOME,
Xfce and
CDE.
However, a number of other desktop environments also exist, including (but are not limited to): arm0nia,
EDE,
GEM,
IRIX Interactive Desktop,
Mezzo,
PerlTop,
Project Looking Glass,
ROX Desktop,
UDE,
Xito and
XPde.
X window managers that are meant to be usable stand-alone also include elements reminiscent of those found in typical desktop environments, most prominently
Enlightenment. Other examples include
Window Maker and
AfterStep, which both feature the
NEXTSTEP GUI look and feel.
*
Shell (computing) for a more general concept of a computer user interface
*
X window manager for a specific, technically constrained software of desktop environments
