GNOME or KDE, whats the difference?

[sandiegoislandboy]

Im trying out LINUX for the first time. After doing research I come across two versions of the same operating system, GNOME or KDE... whats the difference? advantages/disadvantages?

 

[Brazen]

To put it short, Gnome is simple and easy, KDE has more "power" features and more tweakable. And they are not operating systems. They are Desktop Environments that run on top of operating systems such as linux, BSD, Solaris, etc.

If you want to really see the difference download an Ubuntu (Gnome) and Kubuntu (KDE) liveCDs and try each out for yourself.

KDE used to be more popular, but I think Gnome has passed up KDE in certain years. Or that could just be my impressions - I used to be a diehard KDE fan, cuz Gnome was just too sparse for me, but about two years ago, after Gnome had added many more features and enhancements, I decided to switch to Gnome and have been a happy Gnome user ever since.

 

[sandiegoislandboy]

I downloaded openSUSE 10.2 and when I started to install it gave me the option of GNOME or KDE... I remember reading somewhere the GNOME was simple (like you mentioned) so I went that route. Coming across a different website of how to 'Hack' openSUSE it recommended that I have the KDE version installed rather than GNOME.

Is KDE and GNOME somewhat like how XP has both HOME and PRO versions? Does KDE have everything GNOME has, plus more?

 

[P0ldy]

You're misunderstanding what Brazen said. KDE and Gnome aren't versions of an operating system, so there can't be a Home or Pro version. They're just different GUIs that you can put over the same base install (they're called desktop environments). A default KDE or Gnome install on a given distro gives you the desktop environment itself along with many programs that fit in well with the KDE/Gnome desktop environment, because they're built with the same toolkit, QT for KDE and GTK for Gnome, respectively. However, you can use "KDE programs" or "Gnome programs" in any GUI if you want. For example, if you're using Gnome, your default file browser is generally Nautilus. However, you may want to use Konqueror instead, a file browser built on the QT toolkit. There's nothing stopping you from doing it.

In short, you can mix and match virtually all aspects of both KDE and Gnome all you like. Try them both.

 

[Karot]

GNOME is like what the user interface was in Windows 2000 and Windows NT. Simple, clean and powerful. KDE is more like the Luna theme in XP, where there's more eye candy and user friendliness. KDE is the most similar to the Windows interface. One of the reasons why GNOME has gained in so much popularity is because Ubuntu, the most popular distribution uses GNOME.

 

[drag]

KDE uses the QT widgets developed by Trolltech for the basis. It's written in C++ and is licensed under the GPL. They incorporate as much functionality into those large Qt libs.

Gnome uses the GTK widgets originally created for Gimp. It's written mostly in C, but Mono is now a official part of Gnome and it has apps written in C# and Python. They have more dependancies and tend to have lots of little libraries.


KDE tends to develop it's own K* flavored applications. Koffice, Konqueror, Konsole etc. They shy away from external dependancies and generally do most of the desktop by themselves. They aim for completeness, uniformity, and configurability.

Gnome tends to incorporate 'best of breed' programs that use the GTK toolkit and will incorporate external stuff quicker. Originally designed as a panel, then a desktop that does everything for everybody they changed focus years ago with usability testing done by Sun, then by Novell, to have strong HIG (human interface guidelines) which empheses simple and consistant user interfaces.


Traditionally KDE has used a bit less ram then Gnome, but now Gnome is mostly caught up to them.


Currently KDE is under going a huge transition from using the Qt 3.x libs to Qt4.x. This requires porting aplication to a new incompatable API and they are using this oppertunity to create KDE4, which is going to aim for incorporating massive amounts of new software technology to make making advanced multi-media rich applications easier, while gaining more from things like hardware accelerated vector-based graphics while trying to retain the same performance people expect from KDE3.

Gnome is slowing growing and attempting to further refine the desktop. They see no need to undergo any huge changes. There recently has been a movement to reducing memory consumption and make Gnome more suitable for embedded graphical systems. (example Nokia M880 http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9981902594.html )


I don't use KDE because it makes my eyes bleed, but other people like a lot.


With a good distro you can install them easily side by side and run KDE apps in Gnome and visa versa. Keep in mind that this require more memory then running one by itself. Also you can switch back and forth (by selecting a different session on login).. So that way you can choose which one you prefer.

Other desktop environments for Linux besides KDE and Gnome are:
Rox-desktop, Risc computer-like desktop.
Window Maker, Gnustep's OpenStep desktop (ala NextStep)
XCFE, performance oriented GTK desktop.
Enlightenment DR0.17, advanced graphics oriented desktop in beta versions.

Then there are minimalistic environments based around just a window manager with out lots of extra programs...
Ratpoison,
Ion3,
Fluxbox
Afterstep
And many many others.

 

[silverpig]

Google for screenshots of gnome, kde, xfce-4 and fluxbox to see the main differences.