Desktop Linux

a non-BS introduction

Stuff we'll cover

  • Terms
  • Choices
  • Installation
  • Basic customizations


What

it's a kernel

What again?



GNU/Linux?


Desktop Environments?


Distributions a.k.a. flavors




  • Whole GNU/Linux bundled with necessary software
  • Most designed to work out of the box
  • Big boys:
    • Ubuntu
    • Fedora
    • openSUSE
    • Arch


How

to choose your flavor


Rule of thumb

Ubuntu. Ubuntu everywhere.

GNOME + Unity

= Default Ubuntu

  • Pretty
  • Sluggish on weak machines
  • Backed by Canonical
  • Phone, tablet, convergence and crap


GNOME + GNOME Shell

~ Ubuntu GNOME

  • Still pretty
  • A bit more responsive than Unity



KDE

~ Kubuntu

  • Heavily customizable
  • Some say complex-looking



XFCE

~ Xubuntu

  • Lightweight
  • Traditional desktop metaphors
      • (a bit like XP)



Cinnamon

= Linux Mint

  • Inspired by traditional GNOME 2
  • Using modern GNOME 3
  • May be sluggish on slow PCs



Installing programs

  • Ubuntu Software Centre
  • Synaptic
  • apt
  • PPAs

Tweaks


  • unity-tweak-tool
  • Ubuntu Tweak

Notable tools


  • gedit
  • sublime text
  • filezilla
  • ssh (duh!)

Desktop Linux

By Bùi Thành Nhân