Check 7 most widely used Linux desktop environments

Check 7 most widely used Linux desktop environments

Diversity should be one of the best features of Linux. Users can constantly try out a variety of favorite and new gameplay and tricks, and find out the most suitable applications. Whether you are new to Linux or old bird, endless applications and desktop environments may make us overwhelmed. Especially trying different Linux desktop environments is a very time-consuming and tiring task.

Statement: We only conduct an inventory check on the seven most widely used Linux desktop environments, with no ranking.

KDE

KDE is not just a desktop environment. It is actually a collection of various applications and Linux desktops. The desktop environment itself is only a subset of the application environment. Currently, the latest KDE environment is called Plasma, which is also divided into Plasma Desktop and Plasma Netbook. KDE is one of the most customized and flexible Linux Desktop environments.

Other desktop environments may require additional tools for customization or adjustment, and KDE integrates all of this into system settings, users can customize desktops without any third-party tools, such as downloading desktop gadgets, wallpapers, and themes.

KDE also integrates common basic applications and is compatible with applications that are not built using the KDE development platform. KDE integrates a wide range of applications, it can fully satisfy the daily applications of common users without installing other alternative applications.

Whether you just want an out-of-the-box Linux desktop environment or have to customize the desktop comprehensively, KDE is a very good choice. Currently, openSUSE and Kubuntu are the Linux release moderators using KDE as the default desktop environment.

Advantages of KDE:

1. Rich and powerful functions
2. Use Modern user interface
3. Highly customizable and flexible
4. Wide range of software compatibility

Disadvantages of KDE:

1. Slightly heavier resource usage
2. Some components seem to be too complex to use.

MATE

The MATE desktop environment is based on the currently unmaintained GNOME 2. MATE was initially developed for users who are disappointed with GNOME 3. Fork GNOME 2 code development does not mean that outdated technologies are used, and MATE will continue to use modern technologies for improvements.

The MATE desktop environment adopts a modern and traditional desktop experience. It supports panel systems, various menus, applets, indicators and buttons, and can be arranged as needed. All the basic applications provided by MATE are integrated from GNOME 2. It consumes a very small amount of resources and can work stably on a hardware platform that is not very powerful.

Ubuntu MATE currently uses MATE as its default desktop environment.

Advantages of MATE:

1. Intuitive and stable User Experience
2. Simple and lightweight
3. Highly customizable

Disadvantages of MATE:

1. Interface looks a little old

GNOME

GNOME is one of the most widely used and popular desktop environments for Linux distributions. Many Linux distributions use GNOME as the default desktop environment. It also has some popular branches, such as Cinnamon and Unity. GNOME was designed with ease of use and customization. Currently, the latest GNOME 3 has a very modern and attractive user interface and can provide better support for touch devices.

GNOME contains almost all the functions required by modern desktop environments. GNOME 3 provides a better interface than GNOME 2's Classic mode, dashboards, full-system search, and powerful applications can easily meet user needs. However, you need to use the gnome-tweak-tool to customize the desktop environment. In version 3.18, it also provides some interesting functions of the file manager, such as Google Drive integration.

Currently, the Linux distributions that use GNOME as the default desktop environment must include Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, and Ubuntu GNOME.

GNOME advantages:

1. Modern and touch-friendly user interface
2. Extended functions through Shell
3. Highly customizable

GNOME disadvantages:

1. Unsatisfactory expansion management

CINNAMON

Cinnamon is a branch of GNOME 3 and is currently serving as the default desktop environment of Linux Mint. It is most famous for its user interface similar to Windows, which can help beginners in Linux to get started easily and reduce incompatibility.

The various basic applications integrated with Cinnamon are derived from GNOME 3. Cinnamon integrates panel, themes, small applications, and various custom component extensions. The Panel position is the bottom edge of the screen, provides the main menu, enable programs, window opening list, and system tray.

Cinnamon advantages:

1. Stylish and exquisite appearance
2. Familiar interface
3. Very nice Customization

Disadvantages of Cinnamon:

1. Occasional bugs

UNITY

Unity is also developed based on the GNOME desktop environment and is equipped with the most core GNOME applications. Unity is mainly used in the Ubuntu Desktop Environment developed by Canonical.

Unity focuses on providing a consistent user experience for users who use the keyboard, mouse, touchpad, and even touch screen, providing users with simple applications and integrating touch-friendly use environments, some new ideas and technologies are also implemented, such as Lens and HUD.

Despite a lot of controversy over the Unity desktop environment, it still has a large number of users, thanks to it as the default desktop environment of Ubuntu, the most popular Linux release version.

Advantages of Unity:

1. Very intuitive
2. Seamless desktop experience

Disadvantages of Unity:

1. Poor Customization
2. Not applicable to major Linux distributions

LXDE

LXDE is a very fast and resource-saving desktop environment that provides a lightweight and user-friendly desktop. It adopts a modular implementation method that allows each component to be used independently, this also makes it easier to port LXDE to other Linux, BDS, and Unix.

LXDE comes with various desktop components, systems, and configuration tools. It is currently the default desktop environment of Lubuntu.

LXDE advantages:

1. Lightweight and fast enough
2. Almost all Linux distributions are supported.

LXDE disadvantages:

1. The user interface does not seem attractive.

XFCE

Xfce is one of the most lightweight desktop environments for Linux, BSD, and other Unix-like distributions, xfce provides a streamlined, modern, visually appealing user-friendly interface with a set of applications with basic functionality.

Currently, both Manjaro Linux and Xubuntu use Xfce as the default desktop environment.

Xfce advantages:

1. Very lightweight and suitable for legacy hardware
2. The interface is modern and attractive.
3. Customization

Disadvantages of Xfce:

1. Few built-in applications

The development purpose and nature of different Linux desktop environments are different. For different user needs, which desktop is applicable to itself is King Tao. With the above introduction, you may try it yourself.

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