Are DMs needed or an add-on?

[lerninlinux]

As my username would tell you, I am still figuring out Linux. I am sort of stuck on the DM / Distro distinction. I know the two most popular are probably KDE and Gnome and that they allow a windows based GUI. (Note that is windows with a small w.)

Running an OS at the command prompt level is *not* appealing for my home/recreational use. I want Linux so I can have a non Microsoft PC. I use my PC mostly for d/l MP3s and movies, web surfing, email, office documents and just screwing around.

Give that, do I have to install a DM to have a windows like environment or will the distro have their own? Along those lines, do distros ever bundle the popular DMs in? In other words, is it a needed component or a convenience/eye candy add-on?

Thanks in advance

[dboyer]

there are tons of options for a graphical interface... you can install and use whichever one you like, the distro doesn't matter... however, using certain distros dictates what comes packaged...

for example, when i installed redhat, all i got was KDE and Gnome... i installed fluxbox manually, and used that... when i installed slackware, it came with the option of blackbox, fluxbox, fvwm2, fvwm95, gnome, kde, twm, windowmaker, and xfce... along with the ability to install any other ones i found...

so its 100% up to you... the distro you choose will just influence which come prepackaged...

on that note, i would say a graphical interface is pretty much required... you're going to want it to do things like surf the net (text-based surfing tools are.. icky anymore) and other stuff... not much point in not having one for a desktop machine...

[lerninlinux]

Cool, thanks. So for my use a DM is pretty much required. It sounds like they are bundled in with the distro install but you mostly are not bound to that unless there are compatibility issues.

On the compatibility issues, will all distros work with all DMs? Will all self-installed aps work with all DMs? (By self installed I mean things that may or may not come with the distro but I install later. Mandrake might come with an MP3 player but what if I like and want to install a different one?)

Thanks again!

[Hayl]

Originally posted by lerninlinux
Cool, thanks. So for my use a DM is pretty much required. It sounds like they are bundled in with the distro install but you mostly are not bound to that unless there are compatibility issues.

No, you can run only a Window Manger if you do not want a full desktop environmet (i.e. no taskbar, or one that you like better, etc.)

PS: DM = desktop manager == only the icons on teh desktop, a DE (Desktop Environment) is a full windows/mac-like environment including a Window Manager, Desktop Manager, a common set of widgets (look) for its apps, and enhanced interoperability between apps that are part of that DE.

On the compatibility issues, will all distros work with all DMs? Will all self-installed aps work with all DMs? (By self installed I mean things that may or may not come with the distro but I install later. Mandrake might come with an MP3 player but what if I like and want to install a different one?)

yes, every Linux Distro is Linux so all Linux software can be run. potentially not every distro has prepackaged binaries of each package or version of package that you may want but you can either look for ones other people have made or compile anything you want from scratch.

you can run any app you want under any Window Manger or Desktop Environment.

[lerninlinux]

Cool on the compatibility issue. Thanks.

Okay...so I think when I was saying DM I meant a DE. When I was saying DM above I was talking about the whole windows-like environment...taskbar, icons, start menu, programs in windows and not at the command level. Do I have it right?

Is this correct? The DM is part of the DE and I could install just the DM but again given my usage I probably would not want to bother, I would just take the whole part and parcel.

Thanks very much for the info!!

[Hayl]

correct.

[lerninlinux]

dboyer and Hayl,

Thanks very much for your help!!!

:D :D :D

[dboyer]

no problem, but for a little more info and clarification (more info! yay! hehe... lets see if we can get you really confused)

Hayl was more or less right about running any app you wanted to under any desktop environment... however, you may hear programs being called GTK or QT, things like that... that (someone may end up correcting me) indicates that they are using a library from gnome (gtk programs) or kde (qt programs)... so you may have to install most of both of those if you plan on installing lots of programs. when you go to compile the program, it will try to access the shared resource, and not find it...

you also have another option other than just DEs... there are window managers like Fluxbox (http://www.fluxbox.org) (something i love).

it gives you the graphical interface without any icons and "no start menu"... with flux, you just rightclick anywhere on the desktop, and it pops up an easily configured menu right there... this allows you to use graphical applications (internet browsing, mp3 players, movie players, whatever) without a ton of extra crap (KDE takes about 30 seconds to start from logon, Gnome about 20, and flux is instantaneous)

something to think about... plus, its not that difficult to install fluxbox/openbox/blackbox, and give them a quick try.

thats what makes linux so great!

[lerninlinux]

That sounds cool. Is that what this guy has going on here (http://web.syr.edu/~alramire/Screenshot.png) ?

That is from the eye candy thread (http://www.justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=116380) in this forum. (First post)

[Hayl]

Originally posted by lerninlinux
That sounds cool. Is that what this guy has going on here (http://web.syr.edu/~alramire/Screenshot.png) ?

that is a Gnome Desktop with the task bar and Gnome (start) button at the top of the screen. The stuff at the bottom that looks embedded in the wallpaper looks like gdesklets.