Comparison of X Window System desktop environments. A desktop environment is a collection of software designed to give functionality and a certain look and feel to an operating system.
Technical elements of a desktop environment[edit] A desktop environment (DE) can be broken up into several components that function independently and interact with one another to provide the look and feel and functionality of the desktop environment. A fundamental part of a DE is the window manager or WM. A window manager creates a certain way for application windows to present themselves to the user. Enlightenment - Beauty at your fingertips.