Migrate to Linux: graphic operating environment

Migrate to Linux: graphic operating environment

This article introduces the Linux graphic environment and shows various options for different Linux distributions.

This is the third article in the Linux system series. If you miss the previous two articles, here are two links: Getting Started introduction and disk, file, and file system. In this article, we will discuss the graphic operation environment. In Linux, you can choose and customize a graphical interface according to your preferences. You have a lot of options, which is also a great experience for Linux.

Some mainstream Linux graphical interfaces include Cinnamon, Gnome, KDE Plasma, Xfce, and MATE. In short, there are many options.

Although a Linux system is assigned a default graphical environment, you can change the GUI at any time. This is different from the conventional mindset of Windows or Mac OS. Installing the graphic environment is an independent task. In many cases, Linux and its graphic environment are not closely connected. In addition, the program you build and run in one graphic environment also applies to another graphic environment. For example, an application written for the KDE Plasma graphic environment is applicable to the Gnome desktop graphic environment.

Because people are familiar with Windows and MacOS systems, the graphic environment of some Linux operating systems tries to imitate them to some extent, but other Linux graphic interfaces are unique.

Next, I will show several Linux graphic environments for different Linux distributions. If you are not sure which Linux release version should be used, I suggest you get the long-term support (LTS) version from Ubuntu (Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS is under development ). Ubuntu is stable and really useful.

 

Transition from Mac

The Elementary OS release provides an interface that is very similar to the Mac system style. Its default graphic environment is called Pantheon. It is a graphical environment suitable for Mac users to use in transition. This graphic interface release has a dock bar at the bottom of the screen, designed for simple users. To maintain a simple style, many default applications do not even have their own menus. Conversely, their buttons and controls are on the application's title bar (figure 1 ).

Figure 1: Elementary OS Pantheon.

The Ubuntu release provides a default GUI similar to the Mac. Both Ubuntu 17.04 and earlier versions use the Unity graphic environment. The default position of the Unity Dock bar is on the left of the screen, and a menu bar shared by global applications is displayed on the top of the screen.

 

Transition from Windows

ChaletOS is also imitating the Windows interface, which helps Windows users easily transition to Linux. The graphical environment used by ChaletOS is Xfce (figure 2 ). There is a start menu and a search bar in the lower left corner of the screen. A desktop icon and some notification information are displayed in the lower-right corner of the screen. This looks very similar to Windows. At first glance, you may think that Windows is running on the desktop.

Figure 2: ChaletOS with Xfce.

Zorin OS releases also try to imitate Windows. Zorin OS uses Gnome to improve the desktop, which works very similar to the Windows GUI. The start button in the lower-left corner, the notification bar in the lower-right corner, and the information notification bar. The start button will pop up a list of applications and a search box that are no different from those of Windows.

 

Unique graphic environment

Gnome Desktop (Figure 3) is one of the most commonly used graphic environments. Many releases use Gnome as the default graphic environment. Gnome does not intend to imitate Windows or MacOS, but aims at its own elegance and ease of use.

Figure 3: openSUSE with Gnome.

The Gnome desktop environment has changed dramatically from version 2 to version 3. The Cinnamon environment is created to eliminate the adverse effects of this change. Although Cinnamon and Gnome 2 are not similar in appearance, it still tries to provide a simple interface, and its function is similar to that of Windows XP.

The MATE graphical environment directly imitates Gnome 2 and has a menu bar at the top of its screen for setting and storing applications. At the bottom, an application program running tab and some other components are provided.

KDE plasma is built around the Component Interface and can be installed on the desktop or panel (figure 4 ).

Figure 4: Kubuntu operating system with KDE Plasma installed.

There is no better graphic environment than another one. Different styles apply to different user styles. In addition, if you choose too many options, you can start with Ubuntu.

 

Similarities and Differences

Different operating systems have different processing methods, which brings challenges to users' transition. For example, the menu bar may appear in different locations, and different option entry paths may be set. I listed some similarities or differences to help reduce Linux adjustment.

 

Mouse

Linux mouse is usually different from Windows and MacOS. In Windows or Mac, double-click the tag to open almost everything. Many of them are set to click in the Linux graphic interface.

In Windows, you usually obtain the focus by clicking a window. In Linux, the focus acquisition mode of many windows is set to hover, even if the window is not at the top of the screen. This subtle difference is sometimes surprising. For example, in Windows, if there is a background application (not on the top of the screen), you move the mouse over it, without clicking the mouse, only the scroll wheel is turned, and the top window will scroll. In Linux, the background window (the window with the mouse hovering over) will scroll.

 

Menu

The Application menu is a main centralized location for computer programs. Recently, it seems that you can move the menu bar to a difficult place or even delete it completely. When you migrate to Linux, you may not find the menu you want. The Application menu appears in the global sharing menu like MacOS. Like many mobile apps, this menu may be in the "more options" icon. Alternatively, this menu is simply removed and replaced by a button, just like some programs in the Elementary OS Pantheon environment.

 

Workspace

Many Linux graphic environments provide multiple workspaces. The window of a running program contained in a workspace fills the screen. Switching to a different workspace will change the program's visibility. This concept groups all applications used for running the current project into one workspace, and some applications used for another project are grouped into different workspaces.

Not everyone needs or even prefers a workspace, But I mentioned it because, as a newbie, you may accidentally switch the workspace through a key combination. Then, "Hey! Where is my application ?" If you still see the desktop wallpaper you are familiar with, you may have switched to the workspace, and all your applications are still running in a workspace, but they are not visible now. In many Linux environmentsAlt+CtrlAnd an arrow (Up, down, left, or right) to switch the workspace. It is very likely that your applications have been running in another workspace all the time.

Of course, if you just like workspace (many people like it), then you will find a very useful default function in Linux.

 

Set

Many Linux graphic environments provide some types of setup programs or panels for you to configure settings on the machine. It is worth noting that many details can be configured in Linux, similar to Windows and MacOS, but not all detailed settings can be found in the setup program. However, these settings are sufficient for most typical desktop systems, such as choosing a desktop wallpaper, changing the screen-out time, and connecting to a printer.

Compared with Windows or MacOS, Linux applications have different grouping or naming methods. Even in Linux systems, different settings may appear in different graphic interfaces, which may take time to adapt. Of course, you can solve the problem of setting configuration in your graphic environment through online query.

 

Applications

Finally, Linux applications may be different. You may find some familiar applications, but more will be brand new applications for you. For example, you can find Firefox, Chrome, and Skype on Linux. If you cannot find a specific application, you can usually use some alternatives. If not, you can use a compatible layer such as WINE to run Windows applications.

In many Linux graphic environments, you can open the application menu bar by hitting the Windows flag key. In other cases, you have to click the START (main) button or application menu. In many graphic environments, you can search for an application by category instead of the specific program name. For example, if you want to use an editor program that you do not know its name, you can enter "editor" in the search box of the Application menu bar, it will show you one or more applications that are considered as editor classes.

To help you get started, here is a list of alternative programs that may be used in Linux.

Note that Linux provides a lot of options to meet your needs, and the list in this table is incomplete.

Via: https://www.linux.com/blog/learn/2017/12/migrating-linux-graphical-environments

Author: John Bonesio Translator: CYLeft Proofreader: wxy

This article was originally compiled by LCTT and launched with the honor of Linux in China