Window Managers

The term 'OS' is an acronym for Operating System. This is the software 'layer' that links the computer hardware and the user who accesses the hardware via the screen, keyboard and mouse. OS's most users are familiar with today are Windows 95, 98, 2000 and XP but an increasing number are being exposed to the various flavours of Linux.

In the early days of modern computing the DOS command-line was used to access functionality within the computer - you typed commands and the computer reacted. This is know as the User Interface, or ui. In today's world we use a Graphical User Interface, or gui to access the same functionality. Your screen has icons [represented by pictures] and buttons with text denoting their function - you just double-click [in Linux this is usually a single-click] and your application starts up. Most computer users never use the command-line although it is still there with lessened functionality, but computer administrators often use it to access 'hidden' processes and functions. It has disappeared into the domain of the 'geek'.

The command-line interface used in Linux is a different kettle of fish. While the DOS command line could be use to do 'stuff' the Linux command line can actually be used for heavy-duty programming, which makes it much more powerful - a command line with serious teeth.

The gui used in Linux, called a Window Manager or 'wm' operates in a different way to the common Windows desktop [the subject of a separate discussion] but computer functionality is still accessed via icons and buttons. In Linux you can use any number of different gui's - you are not limited to a single standard. Which one you use depends on you - and, because many Window Managers are undergoing constant development and improvement, also on how willing you are to experience the frustrations of trying to set up a front-end that does exactly what you want. I have used KDE in the past but prefer Fvwm2 and Icewm but there are many other options available. For Windows users switching to Linux, KDE and GDE are probably the best place to start as they are the most user-friendly and contain many elements common to a Windows environment, like a desktop with configurable task-bars [some wm's eg. FluxBox can be a major challenge but ultimately worth the time and effort to set up].