Linux: A Primer Part I: Window Managers and the Interface

So, let’s say that after an extended period of time using the industry standard in computer interfaces, Windows, you’ve grown tired of it for one reason or another. Maybe it’s the appearance, maybe it’s the price, maybe it’s system resource usage. What’s more likely, for the vast majority of users, is that you’ve grown tired of your system constantly crashing for virtually inexplicable reasons. Viruses, spyware, even simple (but continuous) software crashed can lead to seemingly endless frustration.

Linux could be a great solution.

Possibly not to ALL of your computing woes, but there’s a good chance that a sizable amount of your anxiety will begin to melt away once you experience the stability and maturity a Linux-based operating system can offer.

Before even dwelving into the hardware and/or software requirements of a Linux-based system, the questions that most casual (or experienced) users seem to have are all based around one thing: appearance.

A common notion outside the Linux community is that, let’s face it: Linux is confusing. Even I, an avid Linux user, can’t possibly deny this. Literally hundreds of distributions, dozens of window managers, endless seas of software repositories, all stacked atop confusing hardware support just makes everything a dizzying feat to attempt to make sense of.

The most direct visual effect one can witness via a Linux distribution, or “distro,” is the window manager and/or graphical interface. This, as you’d likely assume, refers to the on-screen display you see the entire time you use your computer; everything from your internet browser to your file manager uses some sort of window manager or graphical interface vehicle.

Obviously, the casual computer user is familiar with two, and only two, graphical interfaces: the Windows interface and Apple’s OSX interface. While these are both efficient interfaces in their own rights, both leave much to be desired after any level of investigation. Windows, while ultimately quite effective, lacks some of the visual sheen that Apple is notorious for embedding in their operating systems. While Windows Vista certainly adds another degree of visual appeal with translucency effects and Aero, it still lacks the endless customization of any one of Linux’s window managers. On the other hand, OSX, while certainly sleek and aesthetically pleasing, suffers the same fate as Windows’ appearance; very little customization and oneFile Recovery Software stereotypical “look” that grows tiresome quickly.

Linux users have alleviated these issues by developing numerous window managers and graphical interfaces to appeal to every possible type of user, from the casual to the incredibly demanding.

First, there exists a category of Linux interfaces known as “Desktops.” Rather than simply a window manager, these are comprised of a suite of packages, or programs, designed to do a number of things, from managing windows, to providing quicklaunch buttons, desktop widgets, desktop icons, and even media players and other “preinstalled” pieces of software. Prime examples of Linux desktops include Gnome, KDE, CDE, and XFCE. While XFCE and CDE strive to be light on system resources while still being visually appealing, KDE and Gnome are aimed at people more interested in the finer aesthetics of their graphical interfaces. As such, KDE and Gnome are two of the most widely-used graphical interfaces in Linux distros today.

The other category of Linux interfaces consists of the aforementioned “window managers.” Rather than consisting of a suite of software to handle a number of tasks, a window manager’s sole task is to provide basic window decorations as a means of both visual appeal and allowing the user to move/rearrange windows on the desktop. In order to perform additional tasks, such as adding quicklaunch buttons or bars, desktop widgets, desktop icons, or any other software, the user will have to add these packages themselves after initial installation. This, of course, allows much more simple customization of an operating system, as you’re essentially building your interface from the ground up, rather than installing a suite of programs and having to uninstall the pieces you wish to replace with others. Prime examples of Linux window managers include Sawfish, Blackbox, Fluxbox, Enlightenment, IceWM, and literally dozens more.Hard Drive Data Recovery

Of course, each of these methods of adding a graphical interface to your Linux distro is completely customizable and can be a means to an end, in terms of achieving the look and feel you wish to obtain for your system. The most important thing is to research each and every interface to discover which appeals the most to you. From there, you can continue to build the perfect distribution from the ground up.