Linux is not an ordinary graphical operating system, such as, for example, Windows. Its graphical environment is made in the form of an additional component, which makes it possible to change the appearance of the desktop and technical parameters. Launching the Linux graphical shell is as simple as installing a regular program on Windows. Most desktop computers already come bundled with various text editors and programs. The user will need to decide what to leave and what to reset by choosing another window manager and changing the way they interact with Linux. In this case, these actions will not lead to the loss of new programs.
Choosing a Linux desktop environment
Most Linux desktops offer a default desktop environment that best suits the overall concept. Linux comes in dozens of versions called distributions. These are types of desktop environments that let you control how the operating system looks and fine-tune a particular workflow.
Linux offers lightweight distributions for legacy hardware and heavier ones with many features for the business class. In any case, the installation of this OS does not require replacement of equipment and is completely free (unlike Windows and MacOS). Each distribution includes a complete list of installed programs. Linux offers thousands of free applications.
The term “best” when discussing Linux desktops is subjective. It depends on the preferences of the user, based on the performance of the equipment. The type of desktop computer is a key choice that determines the look, feel and range of user data. Software applications are packaged to interact with specific desktops. You can also embed an application from one desktop into a different style to align your preferred programs with your favorite Linux graphical shells.
The software package management tool in each distribution automatically processes applications in the selected version. Distributions have different desktop options. Some have a default choice and one or two replacements; others provide only one desktop environment. If switching to a new operating system seems difficult, back up the files before switching. In addition, Linux distributions have excellent instructions.
Installation tips
There are over 300 Linux distributions to choose from. Experts advise considering the most popular for installation. If the user is not familiar with any option, you need to start with a simple one. Mint and Ubuntu will be much easier for beginners than Arch. Mint also includes all the necessary software to run video and music. With Fedora, this is more complicated because this distribution includes other people's drivers.
When the user gets used to Linux, he can try something else, for example, install a different desktop environment or another distribution. But first you need to stick to the basics of installation.
UNetbootin is a program that allows you to create bootable USB without burning a CD. It is available for any operating system. It is recommended that you try the Live version on external media before installing it on your PC all the time. To do this, create a live installation USB with a graphical Linux shell. On it you can try the functionality of a virtual machine, if you use it.
Graphical shell
It consists of a database of tools that facilitate the use of a computer. In a desktop environment, they include components:
- Window manager.
- Menu bar
- Widgets.
- File manager.
- Browser.
- Office.
- Text editor.
- Terminal.
- Dispatcher.
The window manager determines the functioning of applications. Panels are displayed at the edges or on the screen. Widgets are used to display useful information, such as weather, news feeds or system data. File Manager allows you to navigate through folders on your computer.
The browser allows you to browse the Internet. Office suite creates documents, spreadsheets and presentations. The text editor releases simple text files and edits configuration files. The terminal provides access to the command line, and the dispatcher is needed to enter the computer, even for Linux without a graphical shell.
Modern Linux Mint
Linux Mint is very suitable for users who are used to Windows. By default, Linux Mint uses the Cinnamon desktop environment. At the bottom of the screen is the taskbar. At the bottom left there is a menu button that launches programs. In the lower right corner of Linux, Mint displays time and taskbar icons.
The desktop is customizable by themes and symbols. There are light and dark themes. You can also display your calendar, Google on the desktop, or specify exactly what will be displayed on the taskbar. Programs in the Start menu are divided into categories that can be edited. On the left side are three buttons for locking, logging out or closing the Linux Mint graphical shell. To navigate folders and files, there is a Nemo file manager (similar to Windows Explorer). The command console is called Termina. It is similar to the Windows command line.
Cinnamon is an evolution of the desktop Gnome 3. For testing, it is possible to install other desktop environments in Linux Mint during login using the button. Before starting the Linux graphical shell, open Terminal to install Cinnamon Desktop and enter the command: sudo apt-get install mint-meta-cinnamon.
KDE Shell
KDE 4.9, also known as the K desktop environment, has been around since 1996. Many updates have been made so that the user can use it in the current state of version 4.9. This particular DE has proven to be one of the most popular environments. KDE boasts a huge set of applications. After a few quick changes, you can get a beautiful desktop created in the shortest possible time. Features:
- The Kali Linux graphical shell supports the familiar taskbar, reminiscent of a certain popular Windows OS.
- Applications in the Favorites section of the menu for quick launch.
- The desktop area supports widget placement.
- There are several pre-installed versions offering useful information, such as weather forecasts, processor loading, social network updates, and upcoming calendar events.
In general, KDE is a full-featured DE that provides a decent amount of modern amenities for a graphical computing environment.
Advantages of KDE: easy to install, easy to learn user interface.
Disadvantages: KDE may not work as a lighter DE or standalone window manager on a lower-powered computer or a machine with a weak GPU.
To mitigate this shortcoming, you can try to disable some desktop effects. Another minus is the large consumption of RAM.
By default, KDE comes with many applications:
- Akonadi is a personal information manager.
- Ark utility - Compression.
- File manager.
- Gwenview is an image viewer.
- KAccounts - accounts.
- KCalc - Calculator.
- Kdenlive is a video editor.
- Kontact is a contact manager.
- Kate is a text editor.
- Konqueror is a web browser.
KDE is great for modern computers. Memory usage is about 300 megabytes. Before starting the Linux KDE graphical shell, open a terminal and enter: sudo /etc/init.d/kdm.
Surroundings of Cinnamon
The Cinnamon desktop environment is very stylish, modern and familiar to people who use version 8 of Windows. Cinnamon is the standard environment for Linux Mint. At the bottom there is a separate panel and a convenient menu with quick launch icons and a system tray in the lower right corner.
There are a number of keyboard shortcuts that you can use, and there are many visual effects on the desktop. It can be configured and edited as needed by the user. You can change the wallpaper, position the panels, add applets to the panels. You can also add widgets to your desktop: news, weather and others.
Memory usage: about 175 megabytes.
Pros:
- Get to know who used Windows instantly.
- It looks great.
- A lot of possibilities.
- Lots of effects.
- Hotkeys.
- Easy to install and configure.
Cons: uses a lot of memory.
Regardless of which version you want to use, it is recommended that you install Synaptic to make it easier to find and install Cinnamon. Synaptic is also useful for other tasks such as installing Java. To start the Linux graphical shell, perform the following actions:
- Open a terminal window by simultaneously pressing CTRL, ALT and T.
- Introduce: sudo apt-get install synaptic.
- Enter the password to continue.
- Launch Synaptic by clicking on the top button on the Ubuntu launcher, enter “Synaptic” in the search field and click on its icon.
- Find the “Cinnamon-Desktop-Environment” option and check the box next to it.
- Click "Apply" to install Cinnamon.
GNOME Desktop
GNOME is very similar to the Unity desktop environment. The main difference is that the default desktop contains one panel. To open the GNOME toolbar, you need to press the key on the keyboard, which on most computers displays the Windows logo. GNOME has a basic set of applications that are built into it, but there are a huge number of other applications specifically written for GTK3.
Main applications:
- Graphical shell.
- Control Center, like a Windows Control Panel.
- Tweak tool for customization. Files, documents.
- Photo.
- Music.
- Video.
- Disk utility.
- Disk usage analyzer.
- Software (package manager).
- Widgets: clocks, maps, weather.
- Web (web browser).
- Calculator, calendar, dictionary, notepad.
As in Unity GNOME, it is not particularly customizable, but a clean set of utilities allows you to work perfectly on the desktop. There is a set of standard keyboard shortcuts that you can use to navigate the system. Great for modern computers.
Memory usage: about 250 megabytes.
To launch the new version of Gnome from the graphical login screen, the user needs to add several files. The graphical login program varies from distribution to distribution (some use KDM or XDM), but these instructions will focus on GDM. Installing the Linux graphical shell:
- First you need to create / etc / X11 / gdm / Sessions / GNOME-CVS with the following lines: #! / Bin / sh exec jhbuild run gnome-session.
- Then run chmod a + x / etc / X11 / gdm / Sessions / GNOME-CVS and execute this file.
Modular XFCE
XFCE (version 4.10) is an excellent desktop environment. The distribution kit is fast and super light, it looks beautiful. XFCE is modular, so the configuration may vary, depending on which components will be used. It is based on the GTK widget toolkit and can work with 40 MB of memory. Technically, it is as old as KDE, which was launched in 1996.
It provides a sufficient supply of utilities to fully provide for the most demanding users:
- Mousepad is a text editor.
- Orage is a calendar app.
- Xfburn is an application for creating a CD / DVD.
- The XFCE stock environment is a decent setup with the OS X-like panel.
Features: fully customizable from dock positions to icons.
LXDE Work Components
The LXDE workspace is great for older computers. As in the XFCE desktop environment, it is configured with the ability to add panels to any position and sets them to behave as docks. Therefore, more is recommended for old equipment. For newer equipment, XFCE would also be a good option.
Memory usage: about 85 megabytes.
Run from the command line:
- Open a terminal and enter: sudo apt-get install lxde. Click System -> Quit and then click Log Out to exit Ubuntu.
- On the login screen that appears, click Options → Select Session.
- Select the LXDE option and click Change Session.
- Enter your username and password (as usual). LXDE should start the installation.
Ubuntu mate
The Linux Ubuntu MATE GUI is one of the implementations of the desktop environment. It includes a file manager that can be connected to local and network files, a text editor, a calculator, archive manager, image viewer, document viewer, system monitor and terminal. All of them are configured and managed through the control center.
MATE looks and behaves like a GNOME desktop environment version 3. Great for both old and modern hardware, it contains panels and menus much like XFCE. MATE is introduced as an alternative to Cinnamon, as part of the Linux Mint distribution. The MATE desktop environment is customizable - you can add panels, change the desktop wallpaper, as convenient for the user.
Memory usage: about 125 megabytes.
If the user likes to start MATE manually, enter into the command line: ~ / .xinitrc exec mate-session and then startx.
Comparison of distributions for beginners
Mint and Ubuntu are considered the best Linux graphical shells for novice users. Mint is based on Ubuntu, but over the years they have become completely different. Differences in graphical skins:
- Ubuntu and Mint share certain interface elements, they have their own shell.
- Ubuntu takes its signals from OS X, and Mint is similar to Windows.
- The Unity interface places the docking station on the left side of the screen with large icons for customizable programs. At the top of the screen there is a menu bar in which files, Edit, Wi-Fi are displayed. You can access other extensions, settings, and features from the Ubuntu Dash menu by clicking the Dash icon at the top of the dock. From there, you can enter the name of the application or another element, and Dash will find it for the user.
- Cinnamon Mint is similar to the Windows Start menu, the menu is easier to browse, it displays all categories of applications, it can have a smaller taskbar with brighter shortcuts, beginners can find everything they are looking for by simply opening the Mint menu.
- Ubuntu is much faster compared to previous versions, but Mint is pretty fast on both older and more powerful hardware.
- Ubuntu and Mint also have their own applications that are easy to use for beginners.
- The Ubuntu software center is easier to find because it is located in the dock by default, has a descriptive basket icon and new software.
Choosing a KDE or Gnome Shell
For a new Linux audience, this information will help people focus on the main differences between Gnome and KDE. Comparison of Linux graphical shells:
- The default search in the standard installation of Unity Gnome and KDE Plasma in Ubuntu, their differences are mainly cosmetic.
- KDE by default supports blue and gray, has one toolbar at the bottom of the screen and the main menu.
- Gnome supports dark gray and purple by default, has a panel at the top and then a drop-down dock.
- In KDE and Gnome, the file is renamed with the F2 key.
- In Gnome, renaming a file also focuses on its name, but it makes it inline, not a popup.
- KDE has a reputation for confusion in menus and settings.
- There are five tabs in the Gnome file browser settings with many options under each.
- KDE has a central location for system settings, which is very similar to the Mac OS X System Preferences window.
- Unlike KDE, which is scattered throughout, the new Gnome seems to be evenly distributed and less cluttered.
- Gnome has earned a reputation for being a simpler shell.
- In KDE, usually when a user changes, they must click Apply or Save for the changes to take effect.
- In Gnome, changes usually take effect when a new version of Gnome is selected.
- In KDE, if you need to exit, click “Kickoff” and select “Leave”, and then the next parameter. When you need to disconnect, closure is confirmed.
- Gnome has a small icon that you can click on to let the user confirm that he wants to close.
- Typically, KDE focuses on offering more features with as many graphical ways as possible to configure them.
- KDE fans emphasize its functionality.
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