K Desktop Environment
What is KDE?
General Overview
KDE or the K Desktop Environment, is a network transparent contemporary desktop environment for UNIX workstations. KDE seeks to fulfill the need for an easy to use desktop for UNIX workstations, similar to desktop environments found on Macintosh and Microsoft Windows operating systems. The UNIX operating system is according to us the best available today. When it comes to stability, scalability and openness UNIX has no competition. In fact UNIX has been the undisputed choice of information technology professionals for many years. The lack of an easy to use contemporary desktop environment, however, has prevented UNIX from finding its way onto desktops of typical computer users in offices and homes. UNIX today dominates the server market and is the preferred computing platform for computing professionals and scientists alike. The Internet, a household name traces its heritage to UNIX. Inspite of such ubiquitous creations from the UNIX community, average computer users still expect it to be difficult to use and often stay away. This fact is particularly unfortunate since a number of implementations of UNIX, all of which are of exceptional quality and stability (Debian GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD etc.) are freely available off the Internet.
KDE The Desktop Environment
The KDE project aims to change all that. KDE now provides an easy to use contemporary desktop environment available for UNIX and compatible systems. Together with a free implementation of UNIX such as GNU/Linux, UNIX/KDE constitutes a completely free and open computing platform available to anyone free of charge. Source code is available for anyone to look at, learn from, modify and improve. Whilst there is always room for improvement, KDE today delivers a viable feature packed alternative to the more commonly found commercial operating systems/desktops combinations available.
It is our hope and continued ambition that KDE will bring open, reliable, stable and monopoly-free computing enjoyed by scientists and computing professionals world-wide to the everyday user.
KDE The Application Development Framework
KDE also brings to the forefront many innovations for application developers. An entire infrastructure has been designed and implemented to help programmers create robust and comprehensive applications in the most efficient manner, eliminating the complexity and tediousness of general UNIX application development. KDE recognizes the fact that a computing platform is only as good as the first class applications available to users. KDE's application framework, implements the latest advances in framework technology positioning it in direct competition with popular development frameworks like Microsoft's MFC/COM/ActiveX technology etc. KDE's innovative KParts compound document technology enables developers to quickly create first rate applications using cutting edge technology.
KDE The Office Application Suite
Leveraging the KDE application development framework a great number of applications have been built for the K Desktop Environment. A selection of those applications is contained in the KDE base distribution. At this moment KDE is developing a complete office application suite based on KDE's innovative KParts technology. This modern day office suite offers spread-sheet applications, presentation creators, organizers, news clients and much more. KPresenter, a part of this application suite has already been successfully used for many presentations.
More...
The following pages are intended to provide orientation and information about KDE for those who are new to KDE and the KDE project. The KDE FAQ offers additional answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about KDE.
Slide shows about KDE, KDE development and the structure of KDE are available.
Have a look at screen shots of a KDE Desktop as well at the KOffice-Suite.
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