Hello guys, I am new to slackware and I am loving it thus far. I am interested in what WM fellow slackers use and for what reason. I currently use Xfce and was a big GNOME2.xx fan back when I was in grade school/high school, everything changed (for the worst as most of you know) after GNOME 3 was released and I was "forced" to use Xfce which is a very pleasurable alternative. I always hated KDE, it just doesn't "feel right" - especially if you are a programmer, what ever that is suppose to mean by that. So what is the opinion of the forum? KDE or Xfce?

I like Xfce because it is not buggy or feel as if it is "buggy", what ever that is suppose to mean, as opposed to KDE. KDE apps somewhat scare me from a more minimalist perspective and I believe Xfe embodies the spirit of simplicity with POWER more so than GNOME did and to some extents was better than GNOME in that aspect. Xfce is fast and gets the job done, is straight forward and doesn't hurt or over stimulate the mind or EYES.

What's your opinion?
AND why??


ALSO: btw, how do I change the default "file manager/viewer"? I keep having

Settings-->Preferred Applications --> Util tab --> File Manager. Put your choice there.

I run XFCE, it gets the job done, and doesn't get in the way. Easy enough to get it configured.

I do used KDE apps from time to time, so having both installed is the best of both worlds for me.

1 members found this post helpful.

I've been using KDE for quite some time and have switched to Plasma 5 after Eric started updating that. Recently though Eric seems to have left the Plasma 5 updates due to time constraints so I am looking to other DE's. Want to give Mate a look in the future. Xfce is always a good fallback option for me.

Agreed!

I have tried and did run an "Xfce only" desktop for a while, but came to the conclusion Dolphin or Konqueror are better file managers than Thunar and Kwrite is better than Leafpad or Mousepad. Konsole is also very good, but the Xfce Terminal gets the job done. While searching for KDE app replacements, I discovered XnView-MP and it beats the pants off of Gwenview.
Every now and then I run KDE-4, but not for long, and go back to Xfce. I won't be running KDE-5, but when the time comes I have already figured out the minimum KDE-5 dependencies necessary to run a few KDE-5 applications.

Who is Eric and Alein and how can I start contributing to there works and the community? I am 24 and I want to dedicate the rest of my life to the community.

I agree, KDE does have some useful desktop applications but I would say the WM alone and other KDE essentials is "messy". This is why I miss GNOME 2 because it essentially was Xfce but with the power and application of KDE. Why GNOME 3 came out and who ever was the head of developing it should be shot.

1 members found this post helpful.

Here you go, meet AlienBob
https://alien.slackbook.org/blog/

And, WillySR,
https://slackblogs.blogspot.com/

And, Ponce,
https://github.com/Ponce

And, Rworkman (aka, Robby),
http://rlworkman.net/pkgs/

There are several others who have contributed their talent and hard work, so I didn't mean to leave anyone out, but these are the only links I've collected over the years.

Then there is, Slackbuilds.org
http://slackbuilds.org/

And, of course, Slackware.com (check the change logs every now and then )
http://www.slackware.com/

and the Slackware Documentation Project,
http://docs.slackware.com/start

If you like Mate, check out WillySR's blog at the link above.

4 members found this post helpful.

Horses for courses. KDE Plasma 5 has some excellent multimedia apps (kdenlive video editor and kaffeine for DTV to name but two) and runs fast and well on a decently specced machine. Xfce is better on a machine with limited resources.

I usually run Plasma 5 on my desktops and Xfce on my laptop. However, since I have to have the Plasma 5 libraries installed to run the multimedia apps on the laptop, running Xfce offers only minima advantages.

Just my 2p worth - if your not using heavy multimedia apps, Xfce may be a better choice. I couldn't say about other apps, either way.

--
Pete

1 members found this post helpful.

I, too, belong to the 'install everything - use xfce' crowd. I'm one of those that gave up on kde as a desktop when it was in its version 3 to version 4 teething stages. My understanding is that version 5 will be better, but I found everything akonadi related to be way more trouble than it was worth. On the other hand many of the kde apps included in 14.2 (my daily driver) are gems. For one, I really love wasting time with shisen-sho.

1 members found this post helpful.

I don't run Slackware anymore, unfortunately, but the following are my favorite WMs in no particular order:
Openbox - I like Openbox because it is really lightweight and allows for almost endless customization.
Xfce - It Just Works™ and you can make it look nice pretty easily.
dwm - If you want minimal, dwm is the way to go.

1 members found this post helpful.

If you liked Gnome2, then check out Willy's CinnamonSlackBuilds. You have to build them yourself, but it's pretty straightforward and easy enough. That is what I run, albeit a more rounded out Cinnamon with programs from the Linux Mint team like xed, xplayer, etc.

Or try Willy's MateSlackBuilds.

1 members found this post helpful.

I notice that hardly anyone here voted for gnome. May I try to guess why?

1) KDE is big and complex but it comes with the full install
2) Gnome is big and complex and you have to install it explicitly.

Looks like people who install their own desktops prefer to use something simpler.

I swear by Fluxbox. I use it on all my systems.

One is apples one is oranges. What fruit do you like. Thunar or dolphin.
I like kde4 and really like kde5 aliens build. just as light now.
Xfce4 is a tool. rusty on my pc.
I think Willy's builds Mate desktop blows away xfce4.
My opinion. XFCE4 getting bloated these days.
Just a Tool. Kde very polished and I prefer it over all of them.

Interesting poll. Thanks. I voted for XFCE because I mostly use XFCE. However, I do use KDE on my slackware64-current box that I dual boot with OpenBSD 6.5.

Gnome was once included, but was removed years ago for becoming too big and complex. Some feel KDE-5 is now at the same point, some don't.

2 members found this post helpful.