Linux is not limited to a single desktop. Instead, there are a wide variety of desktops to fit the needs of different users. While Live/Install editions install a single desktop, install only media often provide a choice of Desktops during the installation processes. For example, openSUSE supports Blackbox, Gnome, IceWM, KDE, LXDE, OpenBox, WMaker, and Xfce. While you can install multiple desktops, this leads to a lot of confusion. Each desktop has its own file manager, terminal emulator, audio players, movie players, and the list goes on. The problem is that not all applications designed for one desktop work on another desktop, while other applications work just fine. To avoid this confusion, just install one desktop environment.

As the first diagram in the Linux Architecture section illustrates, the Desktop interacts with the Window Manager (built on top of the X Window Manager).You interact with the Desktop that presents icons, windows, toolbars, folders, and desktop widgets. The Desktop provides a collection of library files that act behind the scenes provide the cohesive interaction of the desktop environment. When you start an application, the Window Manager is responsible for managing the window, including it size and placement. The Desktops discussed in this chapter include their own Window Manager.

Since Desktops provide the tools for designing the desktop appearance, the same Desktop may have a different look between different distros of Linux. The functionality remains the same, but the look changes. Just as the look of a Web browser changes with different themes, so does the look of a desktop. If you don't like the theme provided by the desktop, you can change it, without loosing any functionality. By using different themes, and different widgets, a distro builds its own identity. This is no different than buying a new car, where you are provided a list of extra features that create a unique identity for your car.

With so many different Desktops available in Linux, this chapter only focuses on the most popular desktops. You can also run Linux barefoot, with no Desktop. Every version of Linux has the capability to start without a desktop, even though one is installed.