Customize Help

Linux

The goal of this page is to provide an introduction of the choices available for Linux desktop users. For customizing Linux, please see How to Customize Linux.

Linux is the kernel for an Open Source Operating System first developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991. The kernel is the heart of an OS and combined with many many software from the GNU -Project GNU/Linux was born. Because it is free many different Linux Distributions were created with different aims.

Although it is mostly commonly used on servers, it is becoming increasingly common on the desktop. Linux is also a popular choice for customizers – it is free and provides the ultimate flexibility since most of the software is open source. This freedom also means there is a lot to learn, including many choices to make.

Distributions

Linux distributions, or “distros”, consist of the Linux kernel packaged with various other software by communities and corporations. Although there are hundreds of distros, one of the most popular choices for desktop users is Ubuntu. Here is what Ubuntu 7.04 (aka Feisty Fawn) looks like on initial install:

Desktop Environments

Desktop Enviroments provide like it says a whole desktop. There are all those little helpers and applications which are needed to give an user a complete enviroment to work with, e.g. file manager, editors, document viewer and so on. As usual you have the choice between some DEs.

KDE

Toolkit: QT Standard WM: KWin Loginmanager: KDM

Gnome

Toolkit: GTK Standard WM: Metacity Loginmanager: GDM

XFCE

Toolkit: GTK Standard WM: XFWM4

E17

Although the current stable version of Enlightenment (Enlightenment DR16) is just an eyecandy windowmanager, the current development version is a DE. Toolkit: ETK Standard WM: Enlightenment Loginmanager: Entrance

Others

XPDE ROX Desktop

Window Managers

The Window Manager (WM) is the software which controls the appearance of your windows and how you interact with them. This not only includes rendering and providing windows titles, borders and buttons, but also how the focus is handled, which windows are raised or how they are resized.
Some of them are minimal and easy to configure and some have so much features that it is impossible to provide a gui for configuring.

More:

X window managers at wikipedia Window managers for X

A typical thing of Open Source Software (OSS) is that you have the choise between many applications. So there are some different Window Managers.

Popular WMs:

Afterstep Blackbox EvilWM Fluxbox FVWM IceWM ION Kahakai Openbox Waimea Window Maker

Compositing window managers

Compiz Fusion

Xgl

Xfwm

Xfwm ships with Xfce, and is it’s default window manager. You can however, use Xfwm inside a gnome session or, if you really wanted, by itself.

Customization

Customization is highly specifice to which desktop enivironment / window manager you choose.

• Gnome:
  • Gnome-look

• KDE:
  • KDE-look
  • KDE-apps
• Xfce:
  • Xfce-look
• * boxen (Openbox, Fluxbox, Blackbox) and other minimalist WM’s (PekWM, Afterstep, FVWM etc.)
  • Box-look

The ArchLinux Wiki has some very good articles regarding some of those window managers (Particularly the *box / Gnome/ Xfce, but it should have info on most other popular ones as well)