Desktop unveiled

[Diabolis]

The Great Desktop Effects FAQ of 2008

The window decorator sits on top of
the window manager which sits on top of
the desktop manager.

Desktop managers:
0.- Gnome
1.- KDE
2.- XFCE
3.- Enlightenment
4.- FVWM-Crystal
5.- LXDE
6.- IceWM
7.- Fluxbox
8.- Window Maker
9.- After Step

Window managers:
0.- Metacity
1.- Beryl
2.- Compiz
3.- Compiz fusion Compiz fusion is a separate project which builds upon Compiz, Beryl + Compiz extras
4.- FVWM

You swap between window managers with the --replace argument, examples: metacity --replace or compiz --replace

Window decorators:
0.- GTK window decorator
1.- KDE window decorator
2.- Emerald

Some possible combinations:

compiz
fluxbox
emerald / compiz / gnome
gtk decorator / compiz / gnome Ubuntu default since Gutsy Gibbon 7.10
gtk decorator / metacity / gnome Ubuntu default, if visual effects are turned off

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All this comes from gnome-look or kde-look, but this links contains a selection of what is considered by their authors the best, plus the screenshots are easier to view.

Log in screens:
30 Cool Linux Login Screens

Gnome themes:
Collection of 50 Best Looking Linux Gnome/Ubuntu Themes

[ThomasAdam]

No -- FVWM-Crystal is not a "desktop manager" (I think you mean "desktop environment" but then most of what's listed under that category wouldn't belong there -- so thanks for coining a new and pointless phrase), it's a set of configuration files for FVWM which is itself a window manager. It should not be singled out on its own like this.

-- Thomas Adam

[Diabolis]

From my readings I assumed that the terms "desktop manager" and "desktop environment" are used interchangeably. I have also seen the term "virtual desktop".

Some of this applications are hard to classify, for example, Fluxbox is supposed to be a window manager, but couldn't you call it a desktop environment? It runs by itself while other window managers, like compiz or metacity, can't do it.

[Locutus_of_Borg]

metacity provides window decorations
compiz is a window manager and is capable of being run on it's own, just the same as fluxbox, openbox, etc.

[Diabolis]

Compiz is a window manager and is capable of being run on it's own, just the same as fluxbox, openbox, etc.

I didn't know that. I'm guessing that it could be just a matter of adding it to the sessions, if what you said is true. How do you run compiz on it's own?

[Locutus_of_Borg]

http://forum.compiz-fusion.org/showthread.php?t=7292

[jpkotta]

Most of your "desktop managers" are really window managers. The only ones that are desktop environments are KDE, Gnome, XFCE, and LXDE. Also, most window managers are "window decorators". Window managers draw the title bars, borders, resize handles, etc. that go around a window. Maybe you were thinking of themes?

[jpkotta]

I have also seen the term "virtual desktop".

Virtual desktop usually refers to either a workspace that is larger than the screen, so that you can move around with in it, or multiple workspaces that are somewhat independent. I prefer the former. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_desktop