[NTLUG:Discuss] Re: GUI recomendations -- GUI Frameworks: Session, window and file managers

[Brian Koontz]

Umm...I think the guy just wanted some recommendations, not a treatise
on GUI framework theory.  We're trying to win the converts over, not
scare them away :) 

  --Brian

On Mon, Aug 29, 2005 at 02:17:09PM -0700, Bryan J. Smith wrote:
> * Jay Urish <j at unixwolf.net> [050829 15:05]:
> > I know this will probably touch off a small flame war,
> 
> Not if people respect each other.
> 
> Understand there are 3 major components of any GUI framework,
> 2 are typically optional:  
> - Session Manager
> - Window Manager (typically required)
> - File Manager
> 
> The window manager handles the framing and interaction.
> The session manager handles the back-end from objects to some
> systems even providing services.
> The file manager often handles file access and possibly even
> the background/desktop aspects, and isn't always just a
> discrete program.
> 
> Probably the best way to look at this is to put it in Windows
> terminology:  
> 
> - Session Manager:  Graphical Display Interface (GDI)**
>                     with GINA for authentication
> - Window Manager:  Explorer.EXE
> - File Manager:  Explorer.EXE
> 
> **NOTE:  The GDI is used even if you're using Windows
> Terminal Services (WTS).  In fact, it's Citrix that came up
> with MultiWin for NT 3.51+ (now standard in NT5+/2000+) that
> can emulate multiple GDI instances without hardware.  In
> NT6/Vista, Avalon and the Windows Graphics Foundation (WGF)
> will replace the GDI -- although the GDI is still quite
> involved (long story).
> 
> > As I get closer to dumping WinBlows and going 100% Linux,
> > I am confronted with a myriad of choices for my X
> > environment. So far I have lightly looked at
> > KDE
> 
> - Kparts (DOM), with kdm for authentication
> - Konqueror 
> - Kwm
> 
> TrollTech Qt is the GUI widget set.
> 
> > Gnome
> 
> - Bonobo (CORBA), with gdm for authentication
> - Nautilus
> - Metacity (v2+)
> 
> GTK+ (GIMP Toolkit Plus) is the GUI widget set.
> 
> Newer GNOME developments are adopting the Cairo GPU
> (graphical processing unit) framebuffer technology, which is
> really nice.  Much faster and cleaner than the traditional
> "overlaying 2D in memory with CPU" approach.
> 
> The equivalent to Cairo on the MacOS X is QuartzExtreme. 
> Microsoft WGF 2.0 will also be similar, although its been
> pushed back to late 2007+ (WGF 1.1 in NT6/Vista will be based
> on existing DirectX 9.1, and a pig, long story).
> 
> > WindowMaker
> 
> Window manager-only.
> Not sure what file manager is popular with it (?)
> I believe it's largely GTK+, maybe some base Xt.
> 
> > Enlightenment
> 
> Window and file manager, session manager work continuing 
> (GNOME compatible too).  Newer developments are adopting the
> Cairo as well -- and is more integrated at this point than
> GNOME developments from what I've seen.  Used to be the
> original GNOME 1.0x window manager.
> 
> There is also XFCE, a Common Desktop Environment (CDE -- the
> typical commercial UNIX standard) like environment.  It can
> actually use GNOME as the session manager.  Otherwise, it has
> its own, lighterweight window and file manager.  It's GTK+
> based so it looks native to GNOME, even when GNOME components
> aren't running.
> 
> And there is also ROXFiler, a OS/2 Workplace Shell like
> combination Session+File Manager.  It works best with XFCE's
> window manager, and to a lesser extent, IceWM.  It actually
> is almost entirely Xt based and very lightweight, with a few
> GTK+ features.
> 
> IceWM is an extremely popular window manager.  It is Xt based
> with a few GTK+ features.
> 
> > I have used KDE before and am just temped to go with the
> > tried and true.
> 
> Stick with what you know and like.
> Don't worry about anything else.
> 
> > Do the others offer features that are to die for?
> 
> That's a long story, but I wouldn't overwhelm yourself with
> trying out every single session, window and/or file manager.
> 
> 
> Lance Simmons <lance at lsimmons.net> wrote:
> > I've found ratpoison to be just what I need.  The mouse
> > does not interact with the window manager, only with\
> > applications that use a mouse.  Once you get your 
> > keybindings set up right, you can do everything you want
> > with a single keystroke.  Ratpoison abandons the
> > "desktop" metaphor completely.
> 
> If I'm remembering correctly, Ratpoison adopts a "tab-like"
> approach to presentation.  Or am I thinking of another?
> 
> In any case, Ratpoison is only a window manager.
> 
> Last note:  Just because you're only running a window
> manager, or maybe a particular full framework, doesn't mean
> you can't run another framework.  E.g., launch a GNOME
> application under KDE and GNOME's framework will load (even
> if it's not using the GNOME window and/or file managers
> visually).
> 
> 
> -- 
> Bryan J. Smith                | Sent from Yahoo Mail
> mailto:b.j.smith at ieee.org     |  (please excuse any
> http://thebs413.blogspot.com/ |   missing headers)
> 
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