Safe to run KDE apps in GNOME?
 

Hi

I was wondering if its safe to run applications written for KDE, in GNOME. Is there any rules here about that you shouldnt run KDE apps in GNOME or is there no problems with running KDE apps in GNOME? And, if you run KDE apps in GNOME, does it work as good as in KDE..

Hello hondo

I suppose it depends on how you install them.

In Fedora for example, as long as you install from the Fedora repositories any dependencies needed to run the applications under a different desktop will be pulled in during the install.

I assume that the same rules apply to most distributions when you install from their own software collections.

I certainly run KDE apps under Gnome and the other way round with no problems.

I don't see any problem. The only requirement is to have the KDE libraries installed. I usually run k3b in a GNOME environment without any problem. The opposite (running GNOME apps in a KDE environment) would be a little more tricky, since the GNOME libraries are spread across more packages.

Thanksfor your replies :) Nice to know that KDE apps will run without problems in GNOME too. I think its pretty much like you bbfuller, that it depends how you install the software. I tried to install superkaramba by source, but couldnt get it to work properly. But, i think it will be different when installing from Fedora's own repository since its built specific for fedora sometimes.

Hello hondo

Yes, if you install from source then you are going to get involved in a tangled web of dependencies. At least the first time you do it when you will need all sorts of libraries as well.

Most distributions maintain pretty large collections of packages though. Don't forget that they are not always all enabled by default. In Fedora for example there is the Livna repository among others that needs to be enabled manually to get the full range of software.

True that you meet a lot of dependencies when installing from source and then if its found in yum, then its just to get it in..but it still might not work well (the main program thats being compiled) for some reason or not work at all. The livna repo is nice though :) It always seems to work when installing the program and all its dependencies from the package manager in the OS.

I use Gnome for a DE but I prefer Amarok to Listen/Rhythmbox and Ktorrent to other clients.

They run smoothly. Slightly slower but no problems beyond that. I run Ubuntu Gutsy.