KDE Desktop Environment
KDE is a powerful free graphical desktop environment for Linux and Unix workstations. The environment is comparable to Windows (for the PC) or OS X (for the Mac). All the CS Linux machines come equipped with KDE, and you can install KDE on your own computer, and use it remotely if you are sshing with XWindows. This page will help you find the applications you will need for this class
- Configuring your system for KDE
- Web Browser
- Text Editor
- Terminal Window
- Home Directory
- Help Desk
- Logout
Configuring for KDE
If you are at a Linux terminal in the CS cluster, you access KDE when you log-in. Before logging-in, you will be presented with a log-in screen prompting you for your Username. Do the following
- Click-on Session, and Select KDE (which is selection 5.)
- Enter Username and Password.
- Select Make Default when prompted.
You will need an implementation of the XWindows system to run KDE from home (either natively on your machine or remotely using ssh.) I recommend looking into XFree86, a free open-source implementation of the XWindow system. You can obtain KDE from the KDE website, if you want KDE on your home machine. You can also use KDE remotely when you access CS machines. You will need to ssh to a remote machine using a terminal running XWindows by
You can obtain a list of CS machines available to you here. You will need to configure your system to run KDE. To do this see Configuring a Window Manager.ssh -Y machine-name
KDE Applications
When you first enter KDE your terminal will look something like
This is your Desktop.
Home Directory
Your home directory is accessed by the icon
, found on the Desktop and in the icon bar on the
lower-left corner of the Desktop. You can easily navigate through
the folders in your home directory by double clicking.
Web Browsers
KDE has a native web browser, Konqueror, which is accessed
by the icon 
, found in the icon bar. I
like Firefox, which
can be accessed through the 
icon in the icon bar:
Text Editor
There are several text editors available to you. You must you
a text editor and not a word processor. The native
KDE word processor is similar to Word and is
accessed by the icon 
. Text Editors are
accessed through the application icon
You have several choices. The links page provides more information on each of these.
- KWrite: Intended as a simple programmer's editor native to KDE. A good choice to begin.
- Kate: An Advanced programmer's editor native to KDE. If you start with KWrite I highly recommend you move to Kate before the end of the course.
- NEdit: An advanced programmer's editor.
- gvim, Vim: gvim is the GUI version of Vim. If you plan on remote access to the CS machines, I recommend you learn Vim or Emacs (below), since these editors have non-GUI variants. You will find plenty of information for using these editors on the links page.
- XEmacs, Emacs: Use XEmacs for the GUI version in KDE. If you plan on remote access to the CS machines, I recommend you learn Emacs or Vim (above).
Terminal
Unix/Linux has traditionally been commandline based, not windows
based. You should know basic navigation skills using the commandline,
especially if you intend to access the CS machines remotely.
There are several good tutorial on the
links page. The commandline interface takes place in a
terminal. You can access a new terminal by pressing the
F4 button (or by accessing the home icon ,
and selecting the Tools menu and choosing Terminal.) You will
be given a terminal, which looks like
Help
The KDE help icon is 
, and each KDE application has a
Help menu. The Help resources are excellent, and the first place to
turn for questions or when learning about how to use the application.
Logout
To logout, click on application icon and select
logout
