On Mon, Jun 13, 2005 at 05:35:23PM +0100, Thomas Adam wrote:
> A Desktop Environment provides a full framework of integrated
> applications (such as a file manager, office applications, etc.) that
> all share the same theme. Often common options applied to one program,
> will affect the other components, because they're related.
Oddly enough when you said "share a common theme" my first reaction is
"that's a WM" as a WM controls the widgets on the application which is part of
the theme.
> A Window Manager, on the other hand, does just that -- it manages
> windows. It doesn't dictate a file manager -- if you want one, you can
> use one. There's no interoperability or common functions shared
> between programs, like there is with DEs. It certainly provides a
> great deal more flexibility.
So how does XFCE4 fail that test? Let's see, I have 3 file managers to
choose from. XFFM, Konqueror, Nautilus. Those were configured automagically.
I could add more if I like, just like a WM.
BTW, when trying to rid myself of Windows earlier this year I was using
Nautilus under KDE as installed by Ubuntu.
> So in that way, WMs are much faster, and most WMs are damn good at
> managing the windows mapped to them.
Actually I've found WMs lacking at managing windows. I consider starting
a window with the desired application part of good management. Configuring
that portion for most WMs is a PITA. The other portions they are equal to the
DEs like KDE/Gnome and the odd-man-out that is XFCE4.
--
Steve C. Lamb | I'm your priest, I'm your shrink, I'm your
PGP Key: 8B6E99C5 | main connection to the switchboard of souls.
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