Free desktop software for linux

Athene is a commercial operating system developed by Rocklyte Systems for use in the home and office. Athene combines years of Rocklytes R&D with the latest Linux technology to create one of the fastest operating systems available today.
With boot times as fast as five seconds and advanced graphics technology not available in standard Linux distributions, Athene is the best low-cost alternative to Windows for your computer desktop.
Main features:
- Optimised for Intel Pentium and compatible processors.
- Uses SNAP graphics technology from SciTech Software instead of X11.
- Graphics throughput is 17% faster than Microsoft Windows and at least 25% faster than X11.
- Backwards compatible with all Linux X11 applications.
- Linux Kernel 2.6.9
- Fast booting - between 5 to 15 seconds on modern hardware.
- Editable XML based interface.
- Live CDROM allows you to run Athene without installing to a hard drive.
- Discounted upgrades between major versions and free upgrades for minor releases.
- Free online support and no ongoing maintenance or subscription fees.
- Included software:
- Konqueror & Firefox Web Browsers
- GIMP, MPlayer, K3b CD Burner
- GAIM, GFTP, XChat
- KDE 3.2.3 with KDE Application Suite
- KDE Office 1.3
- Open Office 1.1
- Games: Barrage, Exodus, LBreakout 2, LTris, Patience, Mahjongg and more.
- CUPS Printer Support
- The GCC 3.3.3 compiler, plus tools and applications for developers.

Logical Desktop is a desktop environment. A "desktop environment" is a program that allows you to do many different things with your computer, but in a consistent way. Desktop environments can be seen as a "dogma" of how things should be done, and how they should look and feel.

Examples of desktop environments are KDE, Gnome, the Windows interface, etc.

In Logical Desktop, like in all desktop environments, you work by composing actions made of one verb and one or more objects (e.g. "Print" is the verb, and the objects are the printer, the files to print, and the program used for printing).

Logical Desktop is how you specify those things: 1) in any order 2) with automatic hiding of the things that dont make sense.

1. In any order: Logical Desktop enables you to specify your action with many possible styles of interaction (file-oriented, task-oriented, program-oriented, device-oriented). Logical Desktop can do that because it treats verbs and objects with complete symmetry and uniformity: you can select both verbs and objects, and in any order.

2. With automatic hiding: Logical Desktop is more intelligent than traditional systems because it hides the unnecessary things while you are composing the action. More precisely, Logical Desktop hides those verbs/files/devices/programs that make no sense with the current selection.
Combining this with the previous point (that you can select anything in any order), we obtain a very powerful mechanism: if you select a verb first, the objects that dont make sense with it are hidden; if you select an object first, the verbs that dont make sense with it are hidden.

xdesktopwaves is a cellular automata which sets the background of an X11 desktop as if it were under water.

Window and mouse movements cause ripples on the desktop like ships on the sea. You can also simulate rain or a storm stirring up the water.

The Sun Java Desktop System is a secure, comprehensive, and affordable enterprise desktop software solution that combines the best of open source innovation with significant contributions from Sun.
Initially provided with a Linux OS, Java Desktop System is now also integrated with the Solaris 10 Operating System. As a result, Sun customers have the option of deploying the same desktop environment on Sun workstations, Sun Ray thin clients, as well as a broad range of non-Sun notebook and desktop systems with standard x86-based architectures.
Main features:
End user features:
- Automated software updates and patching, including dependency checking/analysis to ensure systems are secure and up-to-date.
- Local and remote management capabilities provide update scheduling and activity log access.
- Interoperability with centralized software management tools.
- Desktop applications are tightly integrated allowing for drag and drop and copy/paste of text, graphics and other elements between applications.
- Universal printer selection of available printers on network, including printers available on Windows networks.
- Single point of entry for directory and file management and networked computers.
- Direct access to content in data and files by single-click application launch for files contained in email, web pages and file manager.
- Intuitive, easy to use, single install mechanism which ensures users can quickly get productive.
- Easy to learn and use, especially for traditional MS Windows users. Featuring:
- Familiar desktop themes for file management and desktop configuration
- Standard keyboard short cut conventions
- Direct access to files and servers using the "Documents" and "Network Places" directories
- Familiar access to networked computers from single "Network Places" directory
- Full product documentation including Quick Start User Guide and other reference documentation.
- Includes selection of great productivity tools including office suite, browser, email/calendar, instant messaging, project management, drawing and video conferencing applications.
- Multimedia-ready with essential video and audio players plus a sound recorder. Featuring Java Media Player with support for MP3 playback and a CD Player.
- Users can access data stored in office productivity files of Microsoft users and printers connected to existing Windows networks.
- Full interoperability with Microsoft Office files.
- Interoperability with POP3, LDAP, SMTP mail servers.
Administrator features:
- Java Desktop System Configuration Manager allows system administrators to define groups of users and the policies for access rights and settings.
- Fine grained control of employee access rights and privileges.
- Remote image deployment to manage a defined set of packages or system images for rapid setup and provisioning of desktops and deploy on multiple systems simultaneously.
- Centralized package management enabling volume software push, patching, updating multiple desktops.
- Software dependency checking and analysis to identify patch and package dependencies and deploy correct set of software.
- Inventory collection of desktop details, OS, hardware profiles and more.
- Performance Monitoring of deployed desktop environments.
- Use a collection of interconnected computers as a unified computing resource.
- Ability for administrator to view and interact with users desktop display to help, guide and troubleshoot.
Developer features:
- Java Studio Standard is a powerful yet intuitive Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Java, providing a comprehensive set of features and functionality.
- NetBeans IDE 3.6 delivers tightly integrated deployment and debugging of web applications on Apache Tomcat 5 and the Sun Java System Application Server, Platform Edition 8.
- J2SE hosts the Linux GTK+ look and feel support in JFC/Swing enables Java applets and applications to be written so they look just like native Linux apps on JDS.

Gnome Desktop Change is a daemon that changes randomly your GNOME desktop background.

Gnome Desktop Change is a daemon that changes randomly your GNOME desktop background. Its totally written in C++, it uses FAM (File Alteration Monitor) to detect changes into directory that contains picture files, and its multithread.

Waimea is a fast and highly customizable virtual multiple desktop window manager. It supports advanced features like transparent textures and Xft fonts.

Komba2 is a windows network administration tool for the K Desktop Environment.

Our target is to make administration beautiful and intuitive without sacrificing power.