Module Five - Session 18: GUI

What will I be learning?

You will be learning about the X Window System (the GUI in Linux).

Linux is great as a server with only using a CLI. A GUI wastes resources, and with a server do you really need a GUI? But, Linux also works great as a work station and personal desktop OS. And as end users we need to have access to a GUI (we've become spoiled over the years). Linux has a LOT of different GUIs you can pick from. Keep in mind though, that not all GUIs are equal. You might have a Desktop Environment (which is probably what you are most used to with using Windows) or you can have a very simple Window Manager (great for older systems, as doesn't require as much resources).

After this chapter I should be able to...

You should be able to configure the X Window System (most distro's do this automatically for you, but you should understand how to do this just in case) and install a new GUI (as sometimes you might want a different one or try a new one out).

What should I practice?

As this section is more about configurations there will not be many videos, but more reading. Please look through the links.

• GNOME (GNU Object Model Environment) is a free and open source desktop.
• KDE (K Desktop Environment) is a graphical desktop environment.
• Cinnamon is a desktop environment derived from GNOME, used with Linux Mint.
• X.Org project (The X.Org project provides an open source implementation of the X Window System.)
• How to Configure X11 in Linux (Don't worry about Buddy System)
• xwininfo(1) - Linux man page
• xdpyinfo - display information utility for X
• xdm(1) - Linux man page
• Configuring XDM
• gdm(1) - Linux man page
• GNOME Display Manager Reference Manual (This is a long web page with a lot of details, feel free to skim it.)
• kdm - KDE Display Manager
• The kdm Handbook (This is a 60 page handbook. You don't need to read the entire thing. Feel free to skim it.)

Original webpage by Petersen Gross, modified by William Albritton.