LinuxQuestions.org - Desktop Environment of the Year

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- 2018 LinuxQuestions.org Members Choice Awards (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/2018-linuxquestions-org-members-choice-awards-128/)

- - Desktop Environment of the Year (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/2018-linuxquestions-org-members-choice-awards-128/desktop-environment-of-the-year-4175645570/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigiron45 (Post 5947082)

I just picked Gnome by default, since Ubuntu went back to it, I do like their implementation of it, always like the streamlined, simple nature of their desktop.

Also like that easy to use way of adding tweaks ....

I'm with you, bigiron45.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenJackson (Post 5952090)

I don't understand the difference between a "destktop environment" and a "window manager." Does anyone ever use one of each at the same time?

In any case, I'm not voting for any of these because they all compete with the best (most practical, least bothersome) desktop, IceWM.

On top of what's already been explained, desktop environments are generally heavier on resources. WMs are a lot lighter, sometimes lighter even than LXDE/Lxqt. However, WMs are not as easy to customise as DEs, and doing so generally demands making changes to text files, whereas changes to DEs can be done in a GUI.

However, the RAM usage between the lighter DEs and some of the WMs can be negligible. I use a netbook which runs LXDE or Fluxbox. I find there to be little difference in speed or CPU usage between the two. If anything, CPU usage comes can come from what the browser/application has to do rather than the DE/WM. Secondly, the RAM footprint for LXDE is tiny, using ~160MB with no applications open.

Cinnamon, all the way!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lysander666 (Post 5952463)

On top of what's already been explained, desktop environments are generally heavier on resources. WMs are a lot lighter, sometimes lighter even than LXDE/Lxqt.

... what the browser/application has to do rather than the DE/WM.

Yeah, yeah. I can google and read Wikipedia with the best of 'em too. But it still seems like an artificial distinction. I occasionally bounce around various distros and initially I use whatever DE/WM is installed by default. But they almost always irritate me and I install IceWM, if it's available. The main difference is that the original DE is irritating whereas IceWM is not.

As for bundled apps, that's a mild nuisance, not an advantage. I tend to use MATE terminal with everything because it seems to have everything I want and not a lot of extra noise. I use Emacs regardless of what other editor is installed. I used to always use Firefox regardless of what was bundled, though recently I've been using Brave. And for a file manager I use fm. Never heard of it? This is in my universal ~/.bashrc file:

Code:

for X in pcmanfm{,-qt} thunar dolphin nautilus krusader xfe emelfm2; do

    test -n "$(type -t fm)"  &&  break

    test -n "$(type -p $X)"  &&  eval 'fm() {' $X '"$@" 2>/dev/null & }'

done

You see, I treat bundled apps as if they're not bundled with anything. So that distinction between DE and WM weak at best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lysander666 (Post 5952463)

However, WMs are not as easy to customise as DEs, and doing so generally demands making changes to text files, whereas changes to DEs can be done in a GUI.

You make it sound like configuring with a GUI is an advantage.

How do I know what DE my distro using? I'm using Lubuntu (but I would like a cmd so I can learn one or two things in other distros)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dangtu (Post 5955009)

How do I know what DE my distro using? I'm using Lubuntu (but I would like a cmd so I can learn one or two things in other distros)

There's a handy tool you can install, inxi:

Code:

sudo apt-get install inxi

Then run this command. It'll show the host, kernel, desktop and distro. Very handy.

Code:

inxi -S

I just got a new Zareason with Debian 9 with Cinnamon.

It's been several years since I used Cinnamon, and, I must say, the maintainers have made improvements since the last time I used it.

I know I'll end up using Fluxbox, but I'm favorably impressed.

I'm shocked at how good Plasma is getting these days, and I don't even use it. But I might, as the power management is also second to none, for Linux DEs. So far, I have experimented with Plasma 5 on Slackware, openSUSE, and Arch, and the experiences have all been pleasant. Arch won out for lowest RAM usage with Plasma 5 on a fresh boot: 330MB; followed by Slackware at 350MB, and then openSUSE at about 400MB. Stable and responsive on all, too.

another vote for rox

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenJackson (Post 5955191)

There's a handy tool you can install, inxi:

Code:

sudo apt-get install inxi

Then run this command. It'll show the host, kernel, desktop and distro. Very handy.

Code:

inxi -S

Just a note that the following will show you even more details:

Code:

inxi -Sxxx

I voted Trinity-DE because I like the look of it and it looks like the KDE 3 that was once dominant on Linux desktops. Some TDE apps don't work, but they can be substituted with other apps.

KDE Plasma 5 rules my desktop, GNOME rules my laptop, LXDE rules my craptop, but the features and beauty of KDE always have my heart.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShowMeRon (Post 5955267)

KDE Plasma

That's pretty. What theme etc. settings do you use?

I loathe the flat look, so my KDE is a 'orrible 'ybrid that's both pretty and partially restores the 3D look...

Theme
Look & feel - Breeze Dark
Desktop Theme - Oxygen
Cursor - Oxygen yellow
Colors
Obsidian Coast
Icons
Oxygen
Application style
Widget - Oxygen
Window decorations - Plastik

OTOH, for some reason I think Trinity is supposed to be purple.

And the first thing I do with either is install every K-app I can find, cuz I like their consistent look and behavior.

LXDE by a country mile... stable, fast, doesn't eat up resources like *some* environments I could name...