9/10/2007

NET212
Desktop Environments

WHY USE A GRAPHICAL DESKTOP?

| Don’t need for a server
| X and desktop environments require resources
y CPU time
y Disk space
y Significant memory
memor
| KDE/ GNOME make Linux accessible
y Activate content through clicking icons
y Copy/paste content between applications
y Save/restore sessions
y Aids as to where user is
y Themes
y Customizations

INTRO TO KDE
| Open source (1996)
| Kparts – programs embedded within programs
| Configure everything in KDE through GUI
y There are underlying text files to configure
y E i to use GUI
Easier
| Internet integrated into file browser
| Drag-and-drop
| KDE Help Center

| Save sessions (Session Management)

| Anti-aliasing

| Run all X apps (does not session & drag-n-drop)

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INSTALL KDE
| Use install discs or download it www.kde.org
| Packages
y aRTS – real-time-sequencer for multimedia apps
y Kdelibs – essential libraries for kde to run
y Kdebase – core programs, like file manager/browser, window mgr, panel
y Kdegames
y Kdegraphics
y Kdeutils
y Kdemultimedia
y Kdenetwork
y Kdeadmin
y Kdepim – personal information management
y Kdeedu
y Kaccessibility
y Kartwork
y Kde-i18n - language
y Kdetoys
y Kdewebdev
y Koffice
y Developer tools

USING KDE
| Panel – fast access to apps
| Workspaces – virtual desktops
| Kmenu – like the Windows Start button
| Applets – little programs designed to run in panel
| K
Konsole
l – KDE terminal
t i l
| PDFs – Kghostview, kpdf, Adobe reader
| KDE Help Center
| KDE Control Center
y Backgroup
y Window styles and colors
y Internalization
y Many other configurations

KONQUERER
| Webbrowser and file management
| Open man pages
y Alt+f2 -> man:ls
| Open info pages
y i f
info:gcc
| Activate search engine
y gg:linux

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INTRO TO GNOME
| Complete desktop environment like KDE
| Can run all X apps
| Simplicity is its goal

| Newest version http://gnome.org

| Has a flexible panel

USING GNOME
| Basic tasks
y Open an item in panel – click the panel
y Start a program – click the button on panel
y Move items around the desktop
y Move items in the panel
y Organize items on the desktop – right click desktop
y Open item on desktop – double click it
y Get options of an object – right click it
y Paste text into any text area

THE PANEL
| Can create new ones to customize
| Right click to add new application launchers
| Right click to add applets
y Notification area (like system tray)
y N
Netapplet
l (choose
( h network k connections)
i )
y System monitor
y Workspace switcher
y Window list
y Battery charge monitor

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NAUTILUS
| Gnome equivalent of Windows Explorer and KDE
Konquerer
y It is for file management and web browsing
| Avoid window clutter
y Right click ->
> browse folder
y Shift click

OTHER GNOME APPLICATIONS

| Gconf – XML-based configuration for desktop
apps
y Lock down desktop
y Should be located in menu on panel (or type gconf
gconf--
editor))
editor
y Share keyboard shortcuts, themes among apps
| Evolution mail, calendar, contacts
| Check out other Gnome apps at http://gnome.org