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submitted 1 year ago by kevincox@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml

I'm reconsidering my terminal emulator and was curious what everyone was using.

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[-] Crul@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

Sorry for the off-topic question, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around basic linux concepts: you use "tiling window manager" and "desktop environment" as if they were mutually exclusive options. What's the relationship between them?

Thanks!

[-] silva@beehaw.org 9 points 1 year ago

I don't know if I'm correct, but in my head, a window manager JUST manages windows. Gnome and KDE also manage windows, but they also contain applications for settings, printing, etc. Desktop Environments also have window managers, but they have more applications on top.

[-] Crul@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

So, just to check I understood:

  • "[Tiling] Window Managers" are a very specific tool.
  • "Desktop Environments" are broader tools that (may?) contain Window Managers.

Now... the next questions (if you have the patience :P) are:

  • is is possible to use a Window Manager without a Desktop Environment?
  • how does this influence your choose for the terminal emulator? Ó_ò

Thanks for the answers!

[-] silva@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago
  • Yes, you can absolutely use a WM without a DE. A DE is usually just a set of preconfigured and pre-installed applications. If you use a WM like i3 etc. you just get something that draws windows, and no settings and bluetooth applications
  • It influences my choosing because window managers usually don't come with a terminal, and you have to manually install a terminal emulator. But on desktop environments I use the default terminal, although I could also install kitty.
[-] Crul@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Oooh... I see. I didn't understand how broad the Desktop Env really are. Is not that they manage "a lot of things regarding the desktop and windows"... is just like a bundle of apps.

Now it's starting to sound like a sub-distro inside the distros, but I think this is a good point to stop bothering you. Thanks again!

[-] silva@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

You're welcome!

[-] kat@feddit.nl 2 points 1 year ago

For most people, a different desktop environment probably makes a bigger difference than a different distro. They won't notice things like a different package manager

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this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2023
134 points (98.6% liked)

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Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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