Currently, the two most common desktop environment used in Linux are:
- Gnome
- KDE
This tutorial will try to teach the "basics of the Desktop environment", and will be apply to both Gnome and KDE.
Purpose of the Desktop Environment
The purpose of a desktop environment is to allow the user to accomplish tasks and to customize their Graphic User Interface preferences. This desktop environment is designed to make it easy for users to interface with the computer system to run applications, and manage their documents, pictures, music, etc...
Just like MS Windows, there are several methods that the user can interface with the computer system:
- Graphic User Interface (GUI)- Use of icons to launch applications or manage files
- Menu-Driven Interface - Use of menus (eg. context menus) to perform operations
- Command Line Interface (CLI) - Command prompt to issue more complex commands or utilities