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A desktop environment typically consists of [[icon (computing)|icons]], [[Window (computing)|windows]], [[toolbars]], [[directory (file systems)|folders]], [[computer wallpaper|wallpapers]] and [[Widget engine|desktop widgets]] (see [[Elements of graphical user interfaces]] and [[WIMP (computing)|WIMP]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs6751_97_winter/Topics/dialog-wimp/|title=WIMP Interfaces|website=gatech.edu}}</ref> A GUI might also provide [[drag and drop]] functionality and other features that make the [[desktop metaphor]] more complete. A desktop environment aims to be an intuitive way for the user to interact with the computer using concepts which are similar to those used when interacting with the physical world, such as buttons and windows.
While the term ''desktop environment'' originally described a style of user interfaces following the desktop metaphor, it has also come to describe the programs that realize the metaphor itself.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://learn.clemsonlinux.org/wiki/Window_managers_and_desktop_environments|title=Window managers and desktop environments – Linux 101|website=clemsonlinux.org|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704182940/http://learn.clemsonlinux.org/wiki/Window_managers_and_desktop_environments|archivedate=2008-07-04|df=}}</ref> This usage has been popularized by projects such as the [[Common Desktop Environment]], [[KDE#Plasma Workspaces|K Desktop Environment]], and [[GNOME]].
== Implementation ==
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* To artists, a workspace to share their talents.<ref>{{cite web |author=Link 27 Dec Personalized Golf Ball Sign» |url=http://www.kde-artists.org/ |title=Where life imitates art |publisher=KDE-Artists |date=2011-12-27 |accessdate=2012-02-04 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207004157/http://www.kde-artists.org/ |archivedate=2012-02-07 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://art.gnome.org/ |title=GNOME Art: Artwork and Themes |publisher=Art.gnome.org |date= |accessdate=2012-02-04}}</ref>
* To ergonomics specialists, the chance to help simplify the working environment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://openusability.org/ |title=OpenUsability |publisher=OpenUsability |date= |accessdate=2012-02-04}}</ref><ref>[http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gup/hig/ GNOME Human Interface Guidelines] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040201211856/http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gup/hig/ |date=February 1, 2004 }}</ref><ref>[http://developer.kde.org/documentation/design/ui/ KDE User Interface Guidelines] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040106212356/http://developer.kde.org/documentation/design/ui/ |date=January 6, 2004 }}</ref>
* To developers of third-party applications, a reference environment for integration. OpenOffice.org is one such application.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kde.openoffice.org/ |title=KDE OpenOffice.org |publisher=KDE OpenOffice.org |date= |accessdate=2012-02-04 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713115136/http://kde.openoffice.org/ |archivedate=2010-07-13 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnome.org/projects/ooo/ |title=GNOME OpenOffice.org |publisher=Gnome.org |date= |accessdate=2012-02-04}}</ref>
* To users, a complete desktop environment and a suite of essential applications. These include a file manager, web browser, multimedia player, email client, address book, PDF reader, photo manager, and system preferences application.
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As GNOME and KDE focus on high-performance computers, users of less powerful or older computers often prefer alternative desktop environments specifically created for low-performance systems. Most commonly used lightweight desktop environments include [[LXDE]] and [[Xfce]]; they both use [[GTK+]], which is the same underlying toolkit GNOME uses. The [[MATE (software)|MATE]] desktop environment, a fork of GNOME 2, is comparable to Xfce in its use of RAM and processor cycles, but is often considered more as an alternative to other lightweight desktop environments.
For a while, GNOME and KDE enjoyed the status of the most popular Linux desktop environments; later, other desktop environments grew in popularity. In April 2011, GNOME introduced a new interface concept with its [[GNOME 3|version 3]], while a popular Linux distribution [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]] introduced its own new desktop environment, [[Unity (user interface)|Unity]]. Some users preferred to keep the traditional interface concept of [[GNOME 2]], resulting in the creation of [[MATE (software)|MATE]] as a GNOME 2 fork.<ref>Thorsten Leemhuis (h-online.com), August 5, 2012: [http://h-online.com/-1662354 Comment: Desktop Fragmentation]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
== Examples of desktop environments ==
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