Trying to make a desktop environment - where should I start?
 

Hey!

I've been having a crazy idea on my head lately about creating a desktop environment from scratch by myself... but I can't find any related stuff! >.<... google points to a horde of pages with desktop environment reviews but I don't want that! I want to know where can I start looking for so I can create my own DE. I have some experience in C/C++, Tcl/Tk, Ruby and a bit of pyGTK... but hey, that doesn't mean my knowledge is limited and I want to embark on this project in any language I feel comfortable and learn more of it too.

So, somebody knows where can I start looking for if I want to make my own DE?

Start by learning one of the two main toolkits: GTK or QT. For the latter, you cannot sell products without licensing from Trolltech. GTK has no such restriction.

A good introductory book--including some material on these toolkits-- is: Beginning Linux Programming, 3rd edition, from Wrox

First thing of a DE is Window Manager(WM)... Which is also the hardest ones...
Study ICCCM and EWMH to understand how to program a WM...
:)
Cheers...

First of all thanks for replying :D

I've had some experience with GTK and ruby/python/glade so it hasn't been that bad. No QT whatsoever, but thanks for the tip :).

But, I've used DEs that can use different WMs (Gnome and XFCE... I can make Gnome use Metacity, XFWM or Beryl), so it means I can make a DE and let another WM do the window work, right?. Also, what is "ICCCM" and "EWMH"? could you explain it to me please?

Yep :) DE's don't have to handle any of the nitty gritty window management stuff. You can use a preexisting one, though knowing how they work will help a lot. ICCCM & EMWH really just explains how apps and Window managers "talk" to each other. Just google them for more info.

There was this program I've seen before. It was just a fast, lightweight, standalone taskbar/window list. It would be good to learn from. EDIT: Found it I think, http://taskbar.sourceforge.net/

Check this out too, http://code.google.com/p/avant-window-navigator/ (pretty cool)

Good luck :)

I've spent the last two years finding, writing and assembling software for craeting your own DE using mostly only GTK-1.2 programs which will run under any window manager. Pretty fun and useful, too. I've found several hundred programs which cover a lot of needs. Of course they aren't really a DE in the sense that KDE or GNOME is. Most of the concept revolves around getting all the programs to be able to communicate with each other effectively. You know, GNOME stated out as a one-man show, but now-adays it takes a lot of developers to keep up and it's never quite finished.