DesktopUmgebung

DesktopUmgebung, in German often rendered as Desktop-Umgebung or desktop environment, is a collection of software that provides a cohesive graphical user interface for a computer running a Unix-like or other operating system. It sits atop a display server and typically includes a window manager, a desktop shell, a file manager, panels or docks, a settings system, and a suite of integrated applications and widgets. The primary aim is to deliver a consistent look and feel, streamlined access to programs, and integrated controls for window management, notifications, and accessibility.

Components: A desktop environment bundles components such as a window manager (for placing and decorating windows), a desktop shell (for the desktop surface and app launcher), a file manager, panel or dock, and settings. It is usually built to work with a particular display server protocol, traditionally X11 and increasingly Wayland. Modern environments separate the shell and the window manager, and often include a compositor for smooth graphics.

Common examples include GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, LXQt, MATE, Cinnamon, and Budgie. They differ in design goals and resource usage: GNOME emphasizes simplicity, KDE Plasma is highly configurable, while Xfce and LXQt focus on lightweight operation. They are primarily used on Linux and other Unix-like systems, with varying support on BSDs; there are limited Windows ports for some components but not as a full environment.

Development and ecosystem: Desktop environments are typically free and open-source, licensed under GPL, LGPL, MIT, or similar. Many distributions offer multiple environments, allowing users to switch at login. Over time, Wayland support has become a major factor in environment design, with GNOME and KDE Plasma among the leaders in Wayland adoption.