| Beginner's Guide |
Desktop environments
A desktop environment is a graphical user interface which will likely be familiar to all computer users. A computer desktop is a way with interacting with the computer which places icons, application windows, and (usually) a panel or taskbar on the screen. We can interact with icons and buttons on this visual desktop using the mouse or a keyboard.
Both macOS and Windows have a desktop environment which helps their users launch programs, open files, and organize their application windows.
Linux distributions can also run a desktop environment, offering an easy point-and-click experience. In fact, since a desktop environment is just a collection of programs, Linux's flexibility allows us to run a variety of desktops. Each Linux desktop has a slightly different style and approach, though they all provide ways to access our files, launch applications, and move application windows around the screen.
Most Linux distributions have one default desktop environment they provide, though almost all distribution make it possible to swap out the default desktop for another one if we want to try out an alternative.
Below, we will talk about some of the more popular desktop environments available to Linux distributions. This is not a complete list - there are around a dozen Linux desktop environments - these are just some of the more commonly used.
Cinnamon
The Cinnamon desktop will probably be one of the more familiar-looking interfaces to people coming to Linux from other operating systems, particularly when migrating from Windows. Cinnamon provides a layout similar to Windows 7 and Windows 10 while also providing modern features and conveniences. Cinnamon is primarily used by the Linux Mint distribution.
The Cinnamon desktop running on Linux Mint
(full image size: 1.3MB, resolution: 2560x1600 pixels)
GNOME
GNOME is a desktop which strives to provide a minimal interface with few distractions. Its large buttons and simple controls make it well suited to people who like a tablet or phone style touch interface. It is also a popular choice on commercially backed distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora, and SUSE Linux Enterprise.
GNOME running on the Fedora distribution
(full image size: 1.8MB, resolution: 2560x1600 pixels)
Plasma
Like Cinnamon, the Plasma desktop defaults to having a Windows-like interface. However, Plasma's claim to fame is its flexibility. On Plasma almost every feature, behaviour, and aspect of the appearance can be adjusted. Most elements of Plasma can be modified or even replaced with just a few mouse clicks, making it ideal for people who want to customize their desktop. Note: Plasma is made by the KDE project and some people refer to the desktop as "KDE" or "KDE Plasma".
Plasma running on the Kubuntu distribution
(full image size: 1.7MB, resolution: 2560x1600 pixels)
Xfce
The Xfce desktop is a middle-weight, middle of the road desktop environment. While other desktop environments tend to focus on one area (speed, flexibility, or new features), Xfce takes a tried-and-true, jack-of-all-trades approach. Xfce tends to be flexible enough without being the most flexible desktop, fast enough without being the fastest, and easy to navigate without trying to be the simplest desktop.
Xfce running on the Xubuntu distribution
(full image size: 1.9MB, resolution: 2560x1600 pixels)
One of the nice aspects of Linux is that we can try the desktop which comes with our distribution and, if we do not like it, we can switch it out for another desktop through the distribution's software manager.
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