It controls the look and feel of the user's GUI. It is also capable of presenting menus and options to the user. Requires both X Windows and a Window Manager.Įxamples of desktop environments are GNOME, KDE, Cinnamon, Xfce among others)Ī Window Manager is a piece of software that manages windows, allowing the windows to be opened, closed, re-sized, and moved. The Desktop Environment typically is a far more fully integrated system than a Window Manager. A Desktop Environment includes a Window Manager but builds upon it. Requires X Windows but not a desktop environment.ĭesktop Environment – This is where it begins to get a little fuzzy for some. Window Managers include: Enlightenment, Afterstep, FVWM, Fluxbox, IceWM, etc. Window Manager – The Window Manager is the piece of the puzzle that controls the placement and appearance of windows.

This is required for any graphical desktop. X Windows builds the primitive framework that allows moving of windows, interactions with keyboard and mouse, and draws windows. X Windows – This is the foundation that allows for graphic elements to be drawn on the display. There are basically three layers that can be included in the Linux desktop: I'm having a really hard time trying to understand what the differences between a desktop environment and a window manager are?

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