I will try to answer one by one
Lumikki wrote:I still have some confusions and a lot of questions. As six week old Linux newbie.
I think, I understand, KDE, Gnome, Xfce as they are like bigger products where is window manager + desktop enviroment?
Are software someway related more to Window manager or desktop types?
I don’t know, weather you read robin’s post on page one. Most questions are already covered in his post. It is the best explanation I have seen in layman’s language.
KDE, Gnome, XFCE and LXDE are windows manager (wm) + Desktop environment.
KDE uses QT – a toolkit (libraries) used to make the GUI, whereas, Gnome2, XFCE, LXDE are using GTK2+. Gnome3 is now using Gtk3+ to build GUI.
Each DE is made with some purpose in mind. e.g. LXDE and XFCE focuses on older hardware, whereas KDE is for modern machines, is full blown desktop which offers a lot of tweaks and windows like interface. Gnome is also targeted at modern desktops, but has unique look nad is less bloated then KDE.
Are software someway related more to Window manager or desktop types?
I'm wondering, because if I install KDE software into Gnome it seem to load more stuff.
Doesn't the X-windows provide necessary libraries for the Graphical interface for softwares?
Software are related to Desktop Environment. They suit, load faster, and integrate well on DE which share same libraries. E.g. XFburn is a DVD burner using Gtk2+ toolkit and so it can integrate with the theme of OS using XFCE as DE, which uses GTK2+. On the other hand if you use K3B, DVD burner using QT in XFCE DE, then it will depend upon QT libraries, which are not installed by default. So when you install K3b on any DE which is not using Qt, it will download those Qt libraries, during download cum instalation on which K3b is dependent. These Qt dependencies are downloaded and installed along with K3b.
So if you run K3b in XFCE or Gnome than it also loads QT libraries. XFCE, Gnome also has it’s own default set of libraries installed and loaded on startup (when you login). So technically, QT based app like K3b will use more RAM. There is also the problem of integration with the system, specially it’s theme.
How is LXDE related or connected to Linux Mint?
LXDE is independent DE, build for older hardware. 10 year old PC which has only 256 MB RAM cannot run KDE or Gnome3 / Gnome2, but can run LXDE, which only needs 128 MB to run, when no apps like word processor or music player are running. XFCE needs 256 MB minimum RAM to Operate, but if you load resource intensive apps like inkscape, then it will needs 512 MB to run smoothly.
The reason for using low RAM is due to it’s design and limited features. LXDE keeps to PC / Laptop temp cooler than Gnome or KDE.
LXDE is not connected or associated or developed by Linux Mint.
Just like Linux Mint uses Gnome3 or XFCE to have a GUI, it’s LXDE spin or flavour uses LXDE as a default DE.
Now, Gnome 3 has desktop environments, like Unity and Cinnamon.
How ever, MGSE isn't same as Gnome 3 desktop environment?
Does Gnome 3 has it's own desktop what can be installed or is it always under the other Desktops in Gnome 3?
Example if I would somehow remove MGSE from Mint 12, what would happen?
Gnome3 uses GTK3+ tool kit. It can be split into 2 parts
1) Gnome shell – You are working with Gnome shell when no windows or apps are running. Like changing system settings, etc.
2) Gnome (Gtk3+) – These are collection of libraries which make gnome-shell function. They come into play when you open an app. E.g. if you open Libreoffice writer, then these libraries, which are already loaded, come into play.
MGSE means Mint Gnome Shell extensions. These are 3 addons created by ‘Clem’ LM founder to add more flexibility to Gnome3 (considered as rigid and lacking for customization by many avid Linux users).
Even if you uninstall MGSE, Gnome3 is fully functional, because it has it’s default gnome-shell and it’s own apps like File manager, etc. You get pure Gnome experience like you get in Fedora 16
Since Gnome3 was criticized and is not customizable, Clem initially tried to make it flexible by introducing MGSE and later forked gnome-shell to create own shell Cinnamon, which works with Gnome3. It is similar to UNITY desktop, which runs on top of Gnome3, but offers more freedom, traditional look and customization options.
Cinnamon is not an independent desktop environment, (in technical terms it is a shell), as a replacement of Gnome-shell. Cinnamon still requires Gnome3.
Pure Gnome3 is Gnome3 (which contain GTK3+) and Gnome-shell. Just so image search for Gnome3 or Fedora 16 and check out for Cinnamon. You will see the difference in interface. You can even check the difference by login in Gnome 3 and Cinnamon in LM 12
MATE is a another fork of gnome2 and unlike cinnamon, it is a full DE. Is is a clone of very popular and stable (now on death bed) gnome2.