How to create a custom desktop in linux
 

Hi,
I need help to create custom desktop environment. I dont want the standard icons or functions that are provided by the window managers. I want to create my own icons, back ground, color etc. Is there a way to create it using Gnome or KDE or anyother window manager or do I need to write my own.

Thanks for the help,
Playtime

Creating your own themes is quite easy though time consuming. Both KDE + Gnome provide good docs on how to go about which details icons, backgrounds, menu colour schemes even your own screensavers if you want. You'd still be tied by the windowmanager menu systems unless you heavily changed it. What are you wanting to achieve - just something for you to use, something to roll out across a few machines on a network or something for others to download? A bit more info about your goals might help us point you in the right direction, but writing a windowmanager from scratch won't be an easy task!

Hi Fouldsy,
Thanks for your reply. I want to roll out with only certain applications scientific applications available for the user to access and use. And I also want to remove all the standard icons and applications the standard window manager like Gnome or KDE supports. It would be better if i can get rid of the window manager menu also. Is it possible to achieve this with existing window manager??

Thanks.

Try Fluxbox, it only has a menubar at the bottom of the desktop.

Also take a look at WindowMaker, is is a minimlist desktop.

If your brave try
 

give FVWM a try its the best WM out there.

You setup everything from scratch. If it can be done with a window manager fvwm can do it

Yeah, I'd go with previous suggestions of a light windowmanager such as Fluxbox, as rolling it out is simply a case of providing the menu, apps, style + theme files and everything comes across. Fluxbox has a very minimal menu by default ans is simply a case of delete a line in the text file to remove submenus, etc. - a lot easier than trying to pull apart Gnome or KDE>

Thank you guys, I will try your suggestions.