For decades, the concept of a desktop environment has been a cornerstone of Linux development. The tradition of modularity and composability allows users to swap out their desktop for an alternative easily and seamlessly. But how did we get here? Let’s take a look at the evolution of Linux GUI.
In the early days of graphical Unix, desktop environments were not spoken of. The X Window System (1984) provided a base for other programs to create windows and related GUI elements. Later, in the 1990s, desktop environments evolved with features like virtual desktops and file managers. CDE was the standard choice for commercial Unixes.
When Linux arrived in 1991, it took full advantage of this ecosystem. Xfce and Window Maker bridged the gap until two full-blown desktop environments were released: KDE (1998) and GNOME (1999). These two remain the most popular options, with KDE at 40% market share and GNOME at 25%.
However, new alternatives have emerged in recent years. Cinnamon was forked from parts of GNOME to maintain its original desktop metaphor. Others like Unity, MATE, and Budgie have also sought to address criticisms of GNOME’s direction change. COSMIC (2025) is the newest kid on the block, but it’s been fraught with issues, including instability with NVIDIA graphics.
Competing with KDE and GNOME has proven tough, making it difficult for new alternatives to gain traction. The lack of mainstream understanding of desktop environments means it’s hard to innovate in this space. Many Linux beginners stick with the default and overlook alternative DEs. Furthermore, innovating in complex spaces often comes with bugs, and the world may not be ready for tiling windows.
Unless we see significant changes, I fear the great promise of multiple desktop environments hasn’t been fulfilled – especially when it comes to beginners. However, there’s still hope for innovation and progress. With powerful hardware like Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon with Linux, users can experience the best of both worlds.
Note: I simplified the text by removing unnecessary words, phrases, and sentences while maintaining the original meaning and structure. I also condensed the article into a more concise format.
Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/linux-des-are-experiencing-an-extinction-event-kde-gnome-are-to-blame