¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

ctrl + shift + ? for shortcuts
© 2025 Groups.io
  1. Linuxham
  2. Topics

Where to get schooled on Linux desktop managers, compositors, UI interfaces??

 

I'm trying to troubleshoot a Conky (transparent background) issue, and am learning that Linux (Debian Bookworm in my case) has any number of desktop managers, "compositors", GUI managers/tweaks, etc.? Any or all of these things could be impacting my issue.? So I need to learn more about these UI applications.? I've seen names like Gnome, LXQT, Cinnamon, MATE, Budgie, X windows, PiCom, Compton, etc. etc.
?
Is there somewhere that does a good job of explaining how all these things work together to create a Linux UI?? What are the differences and why are so many different ones needed/desired?
?
--


K0OIL
 

Steve,

While I can't answer all of you questions, being a user of Kubuntu, and not a developer, programmer, etc, the names you mention, Gnome, LXQT, etc., are all different desktop environments.? I'll put a link at the bottom of this email to a page that details them a bit.? Each is aimed at different audiences, and have varied capabilities.? Some are meant for systems with lower resources, such as Xubuntu.? Some software I have downloaded over the years has been meant for say, Gnome desktop, but has not worked with my go-to KDE desktop.? I don't know if that is still true, and have not had that issue occur here recently.?

The page I linked to includes these desktop environments and a description of each.? Each run on the Ubuntu platform.? So, I can change my desktop to each of these if I choose, making the desktops selectable at login.? The desktop variations give me the freedom to do this if I wish or need to for some reason.? There is a lot more variation in the linux world than the link I have included.? I'm sure others will comment soon.

73,
Andy, ka2uqw

?





On Thursday, November 28, 2024 at 06:29:45 PM EST, Steve Johnson via groups.io <cascadianroot@...> wrote:


I'm trying to troubleshoot a Conky (transparent background) issue, and am learning that Linux (Debian Bookworm in my case) has any number of desktop managers, "compositors", GUI managers/tweaks, etc.? Any or all of these things could be impacting my issue.? So I need to learn more about these UI applications.? I've seen names like Gnome, LXQT, Cinnamon, MATE, Budgie, X windows, PiCom, Compton, etc. etc.
?
Is there somewhere that does a good job of explaining how all these things work together to create a Linux UI?? What are the differences and why are so many different ones needed/desired?
?
--


K0OIL
 

On 11/28/24 17:29, Steve Johnson via groups.io wrote:
I'm trying to troubleshoot a Conky (transparent background) issue, and am learning that Linux (Debian Bookworm in my case) has any number of desktop managers, "compositors", GUI managers/tweaks, etc.? Any or all of these things could be impacting my issue.? So I need to learn more about these UI applications.? I've seen names like Gnome, LXQT, Cinnamon, MATE, Budgie, X windows, PiCom, Compton, etc. etc.
Is there somewhere that does a good job of explaining how all these things work together to create a Linux UI?? What are the differences and why are so many different ones needed/desired?
I run a recent Ubuntu version, but found their Mate manager to be horrible for my way of use.? Trying to be WAY too Windows-like. What I use is called either Gnome Flashback or Gnome Fallback.? It has static icons, whereas Mate requires you to type a few letters of the app you want to use.

Jon
 

Well, simply... software component that combines visual elements, like windows, graphics, and text, into a single image on a screen. X11 is the old compositor and Wayland is the new Linux standard. So its handling the on screen display of things.

The Desktop Environment (DE) is graphical user interface (GUI) elements such as icons, toolbars, wallpapers, and desktop widgets, i.e. its the GUI. Some of these ahve built in compositors.

I'm a KDE guy so in OpenSuse Tumbleweed I am at KDE Plasma 6 (the DE) and Wayland (the compositor).

I don't know what the Bookworm versions of these pieces are but from what I was able to see it may be behind the curve with the current leading edge of where the current versions of some of these apps are at. I know a year ago (is Bookworm that far behind compared to Tumbleweed, I don't know?) Wayland was pretty flaky.

So start with the DE. What is your preferred DE and why? (Because Debian/Ubuntu uses it is not the best answer ;) Decide on the DE and then the compositor will fall into place. Wayland is the future in compositors for Linux and it's solid on Tumbleweed, but this is with the latest versions of all of these components. The old X11 compositor is going away.

Conky is not all that Wayland friendly I hear. I still love Gkrellm and use that. This might shed some light on Conky and give you some ideas:



But the fix might be up to the Conky devels or be using a later version (latest) of Conky. What version is that you are using and on what DE and what compositor?

Let us know if you have questions...

Rick Kunath, K9AO
 

Try out different ones to find the one that works for you. Problems are solved by doing internet searches, asking ChatGPT, or just messing around with it and learning from it.
?
Debian is my choice at home, I run MATE on lower end systems and/or where I dont want or need eyecandy, or the kitchen sink load of apps, and Cinnamon where I want something that looks nice, and has a good range of stuff already installed.

1 - 5 of 5