Re: Desktop icons?

[Markus A. <mar...@ub...>]

Cha...@Me... wrote:
> I believe this is gonna require a 'file manager', but I'm still having

ok, this is answered, ...

> trouble getting my head around the diffeent layers of 'desktop', 'window
> manager' and 'file manager'.

... and here to the differences:

a file manager manages files - easy. Historically many file managers
also have the ability to put some icons on the desktop for quick launch
applications and stuff. Compare Unix file managers to Windows' Explorer,
Mac's Finder(?), or the midnight commander.

A window manager is the one guy who lets you move around windows,
minimize them, etc. He also puts a border around the windows, gives them
a titlebar, decides who's gonna stay on top, etc.

A desktop environment combines the two and adds another important
feature: sessions. This means that you can save your environment (open
apps, window positions, etc).

HTH, Markus.