What is a desktop environment?
Unlike Windows, Linux distros often offer a choice of desktop environments. Here, we explain the difference between them and how to decide which best suits your needs
ALinux distribution is made up of hundreds of components. Some of these are core, such as the kernel and package manager. Of those, the kernel is the nugget of code that manages transactions between the operating system and your hardware, while the package manager is used to install, upgrade and remove software, plus configuration files, extensions and other executable data.
Although the range of package managers available to you will vary depending on the version of Linux you install, it needn’t be a primary consideration when choosing. There is some variation in the commands you’ll need to use to wrangle each package manager via the keyboard, but most can be controlled at arm’s length using the software store built into your distribution. You’ll also be very unlucky – and unlikely – to find that a particular mainstream package is unavailable through the manager tied to your distribution.
Switching environments
The desktop environment will have a greater impact on your day-to-day working than the kernel or package manager. However, although it’s an important part of your Linux OS, the desktop environment is rarely integral. That is, although you can’t use the GUI without one, few distros are only compatible with a single environment the way Windows, macOS or iOS are. So, how do they differ?
KDE and Cinnamon both have many features that will be familiar to Windows users. In particular, each has an equivalent of the taskbar, and an application menu similar to Windows’ Start menu. For less confident switchers, choosing a distribution in which either is the default environment can make a lot of sense. For example, you might pick Linux Mint, which runs Cinnamon, or openSUSE, which puts KDE at the top of the installer’s list of options.
The other big-name desktop is Gnome, which may require a little rethinking from Windows switchers. There’s no taskbar and, by default, you can’t save files on the desktop (not that you should). In many cases, the application launcher is hidden; Ubuntu keeps it on display on the left-hand edge of the screen. Many of these changes were implemented in the move from Gnome 2.x to Gnome 3, and it was the decision to drop support for the taskbar and widgets that inspired the creation of Cinnamon.
Customised environments
By tweaking their default styles and behaviour, developers can create their own unique take on a desktop environment as a way to separate their distribution from rivals.
Zorin is one distro that has done this very successfully. Its non-Lite builds incorporate Gnome, although you would be hard-pressed to tell just by looking, as it’s been highly customised to introduce conventions, such as the Windows-style menu and taskbar, that are otherwise missing in Gnome.
This can be switched for a dock-based interface, similar to macOS and, as an inducement to upgrade to a chargedfor release, the Pro build includes yet further variations. Similarly, Nitrux runs KDE Plasma, just like openSUSE, although with significant retheming to produce an attractive departure from the norm.
Gnome may require a little rethinking from Windows switchers. There’s no taskbar and, by default, you can’t save files on the desktop
Lightweight desktop environments
Gnome, KDE and Cinnamon are best suited to use on mainstream hardware. If you’re running an older, less powerful computer or a singleboard computer such as a Raspberry Pi, you may be better served by a slimmed-down desktop environment developed specifically with your configuration in mind.
Mate and LXQt are two popular options, which are frequently offered as alternatives by a wide range of mainstream Linux distributions.
Raspberry Pi has also developed its own environment called PIXEL (Pi Improved Xwindows Environment, Lightweight), based on LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment). Again, it includes a taskbar equivalent (by default at the top of the screen, although you can move it), and files can appear on the desktop, which isn’t possible in a default Gnome installation. This is ideal for use on Raspberry Pi’s single-board computers, and its appearance in Debian with Raspberry Pi Desktop makes that an appealing choice for more conservative PCs.