KDE vs. Ximian (Gnome)Desktop Environment Comparison

7/16/2002

Aaron Gilmer

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Why the need?

• Recall this…

• Packages

• Brief History

• Screenshots

• Conclusion

Why the need?

• X Windows System - provides the basis of graphical programming

• Window Manager - allows multitasking, and window resizing.

• Desktop Environment – allows a consistent front end to programs. Tools, accessories, menus, and interoperability/connectivity between programs.

Why the need?

• User perspective: The short answer is you don’t need any other alternatives. You can simply use the X graphical interface. The counter perspective is that other Desktop Environments are nicer/cleaner to use.

• Developer perspective: Programming to X11 interface is complicated. Desktop environments such as CDE, KDE and Gnome have their own programming interface, tool set, etc to make application programming easier.

Recall this….

KDE Packages• Arts: Analog realtime synthesizer and sound daemon

• KDE-Libs: Various run-time libraries

• KDE-Base: The base components (window-manager, desktop, panel, Konqueror)

• KDE-Network: KMail, KNode, KNewsticker, Kppp, ...

• KDE-Pim: KAddressbook, KOrganizer, KPilot, ...

• KDE-Graphics: Graphics applications such as KDVI, KGhostview, KPaint, KFax, ...

• KDE-Multimedia: Noatun, KMidi, KSCD, ...

• KDE-Utilities: KEdit, KCalc, KHexEdit, KNotes, ...

• KDE-Edu: Edutainment related programs

• KDE-Games: KAsteroids, KPat, KTetris, ...

• KDE-Toys: Fun stuff

• KDE-Addons: Addons for Konqueror, Kate, Kicker and Noatun

• KDE-Artwork: Additional icons, styles, wallpapers, screensavers and window decorations

• KDE-Admin: Various tools to aid system administration

• KDE-SDK: Script and tools which simplify development of KDE applications

• KDevelop: C/C++ Integrated Development Environment

• KOffice: Integrated office suite

Gnome Packages• Ximian Evolution

Integrated email, calendar, address book, and to-do list manager, interoperable with leading email systems

• Open Office 1.0 (StarOffice)Microsoft-compatible word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and business diagram applications (Professional Edition only)

• AbiWordThe popular open source word processing solution (AbiWord Home)

• GNUmericPowerful open source spreadsheet (Gnumeric Home)

• MozillaThe standard Web browser for Linux systems and the basis for new versions of Netscape (Mozilla Home)

• GIMPPowerful and extensible graphics editing tool (GIMP Home)

• GnuCashComplete personal financial management (GnuCash Home)

• Dozens of other third-party applicationsInstant messaging (GAIM), chat (X-Chat), multimedia (XMMS), digital camera management (gPhoto) and more

• Ximian Red CarpetThe all-in-one solution for software installation, updating, version maintenance and software dependency resolution that automatically keeps your workstation current and keeps you working

History

• KDE was founded in October 1996

• Gnome Project was initated in by Miguel de Icaza, 1997

• Ximian was founded in October of 1999 and funded by venture capitol firms (before the market cash):– Charles River Ventures– Battery Ventures

Programming

• KDE was written in C++ (Qt).– Qt was designed to create a tied library

with C++.• Gnome was written in C (Gtk+).

– Gtk was designed to create easy bindings. • Gnome created the Bonobo component

system (based upon CORBA) to provide modularity without the need for C++.

References

• Ximian Corporate Website– http://www.ximian.com/products/ximian_desktop/

• Gnome Website– http://www.gnome.org/

• KDE Website– http://www.kde.org/

• KDE vs GNOME site (CERN)– http://linux.web.cern.ch/linux/redhat6/gnome/gnome_kde/comparison/

• GNOME vs. KDE in open source desktops – http://softwaredev.earthweb.com/sdopen/article/0,,12077_629891,00.html

Conclusion

• The End.

• Any questions?