From 70c3fedd42b344f52ecc46cbece70d7f1d377fac Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Nathaniel Beaver Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2015 19:34:31 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] Clarify and expand discussion of window managers. --- README.rst | 54 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---------------------- 1 file changed, 32 insertions(+), 22 deletions(-) diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst index e144638..5d4f7e9 100644 --- a/README.rst +++ b/README.rst @@ -1004,9 +1004,38 @@ or for one process to read a file while another process is writing to it, since applications do not lock files by default. ----------------------------- -No choice of window manager. ----------------------------- +----------------------------------------- +Lack of control over desktop environment. +----------------------------------------- + +Windows has many ways to customize its appearance; +there are many `alternative shells`_ and `visual themes`_, +and it's possible to `change the login shell`_ +or `run without explorer.exe at all`_. + +.. _alternative shells: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alternative_shells_for_Windows +.. _visual themes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_%28computing%29#Operating_systems +.. _run without explorer.exe at all: http://lightquick.co.uk/running-windows-without-explorer.exe.html +.. _change the login shell: https://superuser.com/questions/108265/how-do-you-replace-the-logon-shell-with-iexplore + +It's even possible to run the KDE desktop environment on Windows. + +https://windows.kde.org/ + +http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/79007/ + +However, ultimately Microsoft controls the Windows API, +such as how low-level libraries ``user32.dll`` and ``gdi32.dll`` respond to function calls. +As a result, Microsoft can exert control over the Windows desktop environment, +such as making it `impossible to disable the dwm window manager`_ on Windows 8. + +.. _impossible to disable the dwm window manager: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh848042%28v=vs.85%29.aspx + +Projects like Wine are something of a threat to this control, +since it provides an open-source implementation of libraries such as ``user32.dll``. +Perhaps that's why `Windows rejects a registry with the Wine configuration key`_. + +.. _Windows rejects a registry with the Wine configuration key: https://www.winehq.org/pipermail/wine-devel/2005-February/033868.html The Linux kernel does not require a particular desktop environment, or indeed any graphical desktop at all. @@ -1017,25 +1046,6 @@ for `desktop environment`_ and `window manager`_ on Linux. .. _desktop environment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_X_Window_System_desktop_environments .. _window manager: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_X_window_managers -.. TODO: Make this part more specifically about needing keyboard for initial setup. -.. connect a monitor, keyboard, and mouse for the initial setup; then disconnect them and use them elsewhere. -.. http://windowssecrets.com/top-story/a-cheap-effective-home-server-using-windows-8/ - -Microsoft does not provide the `Windows NT desktop window manager`_ and `Windows NT kernel`_ separately; -the window manager is a `tightly coupled`_ component of the kernel, -and as of Windows 8 the `DWM cannot be disabled`_, even for servers. - -.. _Windows NT desktop window manager: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa969540.aspx -.. _Windows NT kernel: https://channel9.msdn.com/Shows/Going+Deep/Windows-Part-I-Dave-Probert#53470 -.. _tightly coupled: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_manager#Microsoft_Windows -.. _DWM cannot be disabled: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh848042%28v=vs.85%29.aspx - -While there are a number of `alternative shells`_ and `visual themes`_ for Windows, -the underlying windowing system is the same. - -.. _alternative shells: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alternative_shells_for_Windows -.. _visual themes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_%28computing%29#Operating_systems - ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Non-resizable dialog boxes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~