Desktop environment
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In graphical computing, a desktop environment (DE, sometimes desktop manager) offers graphical user interface (GUI) solution to operate a computer. The name is derived from the desktop metaphor used by most of these interfaces, as opposed to the earlier, textual command line interfaces. 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 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, 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 I/O slaves which give the user access to a wide range of virtual devices. These I/O slaves are not available outside the KDE environment.
Examples of desktop environments
Well-known desktop environments examples (especially for Unix-like operating systems), include GNOME, KDE, Xfce, LG3D and CDE.
However, a number of other desktop environments also exist, including (but are not limited to): EDE, UDE, Mezzo, ROX Desktop, GEM, PerlTop, XPde, Xito, IRIX Interactive Desktop and arm0nia.
X window managers that are meant to be usable stand-alone -- without another desktop environment -- also include elements reminiscent of those found in typical desktop environments, most prominently Enlightenment. Other examples include Window Maker and AfterStep, both featuring NEXTSTEP GUI look and feel.
See also
- Shell (computing) for a more general concept of a computer user interface
- X window manager for a specific, technically constrained software of desktop environments
External links
de:Desktop-Environment es:Entorno de escritorio hu:Desktop Environment nl:Desktopomgeving no:Skrivebordsmiljø nn:Skrivebordsmiljø simple:Desktop environment sk:Desktopové prostredie sv:Skrivbordsmiljö