2000-10-02
1.94.00

# What is KDE?

## What is KDE?

KDE is a desktop environment. In other words, KDE is a collection of programs, technologies and documentation that attempt to make life easier for the computer users. KDE is targeted to Unix workstations. It features network transparency and a contemporary work philosophy.

The creators of the K Desktop environment are a world-wide group of software engineers. This groups major goal in free software development, is to provide high quality software that empowers the user with easy control of his computer's resources.

KDE seeks to fill the need for an easy to use desktop for Unix workstations, similar to the desktop environments found under the MacOS or Window95/NT. KDE fills the need of users for an easy to use work environment. Tools used to reach this end are: enhanced inter application communication, component reuse, generalized drag and drop, uniform look and feel and many more. Thus, KDE offers much more than the traditional Unix window managers.

Stability, scaleabitilty and openness are qualities which have made Unix the undisputed choice for the information technology professional for many years. KDE builds on top of this excellent base framework and brings new, much needed qualities: usability, user friendliness and beauty! KDE was the first and stays the forefront player into bringing these qualities to Unix. KDE was the first, and stays the forefront player in bringing these qualities to Unix, which constituted for years, the premier platform for server computers and scientific institutions, but wasn't very attractive for desktop users.

Without Unix the internet would not exist, or at least would have a vastly different form. Unix has not, until now, addressed the needs of the average computer user. This fact is particularly unfortunate, since a number of implementations of Unix (Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, etc) are freely available on the internet, all of which are of exceptional quality and stability.

## KDE The Desktop Environment

In combination with a free implementation of Unix, KDE provides to the world an open and completely free desktop computing platform for either at home or at work.

This platform is available to anyone free of charge including its source code for anyone to modify.

While there will always be room for improvement we believe we have now delivered a viable alternative to some of the more commonly found and commercial operating systems/desktops combinations available today. It is our hope that the combination of Unix and KDE will finally bring the same open, reliable, stable, and monopoly free computing to the average computer user, that scientists and computing professionals world-wide have enjoyed for years.

## KDE The Application Development Framework

KDE focuses on the user's needs, but it's obvious that this focus is more easily achieved by also giving developers the best tools. KDE code contains, and comes with some of the best development technologies of the modern computing age.

Authoring applications under Unix/X11 used to be an extremely tedious and labor intensive process. KDE recognizes the fact that a computing platform is only as good as the amount of first class applications available to the users of that particular platform.

KDE defines new technologies in DCOP and KParts, created to offer a component document model and technology. Together with the complete KDE libraries programming interface, DCOP/KParts are set in direct competition with other similar technologies like Microsoft's MFC/COM/ActiveX technologies. The excellent quality and the high level of refinement of KDE's application programming interface (API) enables developers to focus on original and interesting issues and avoid reinventing the wheel.

In view of these circumstances the KDE Project has developed a first rate compound document application framework, implementing the latest advances in framework technology and thus positioning itself in direct competition to such popular development frameworks as for example Microsoft's MFC/COM/ActiveX technology. KDE's KOM/OpenParts compound document technology enables developers to quickly create first rate applications implementing cutting edge technology.

## KDE The Office Application Suite

In its current form, &kde; provides, apart the essential desktop component applications, a suite of powerful office programs, known to world under the name &koffice;.

&koffice; is based on the &kde; DCOP/KParts technologies. It contains presently: a word processor with desktop publishing capabilities (&kword;), a spreadsheet application (&kspread;) and accompanying Charting program (&kchart;), a presentation program (&kpresenter;) and a vector drawing program (&kontour;). Tying things together is the KOffice Workspace, an integrated shell to ease the use of the &koffice; components in conjunction with each other. Additional components include an email client, a news reader, and a powerful PIM (Personal Information Manager - an organizer).

While some of those components are still in alpha developement others are already extremely powerful. For example, &kpresenter;, KDE's presentation application was successfully used at the 5th international Linux congress in Cologne, Germany to deliver a KDE presentation.

We would like to invite you to learn more about KDE and KOffice.