How to create a simple desktop environment?

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I want to know how to create a simple desktop environment, such as KDE, Gnome and LXDE, for Linux, or specifically, Ubuntu/Kubuntu, but I do not know how to begin and how complex it is.

I want to create a simple, efficient and lightweight desktop and to reproduce some good features from KDE, Gnome and Windows XP. I do not want to reinvent the wheel, I want to design the graphical interface and main dialogs.

I could use C++ with Qt, or maybe with X11 calls. A simple desktop like TWM would be the first step, then I could add taskbar, start menu, new features and play with new ideas.

Thanks.

Edit

I have installed icewm and I think it is what I need to begin. On the login screen, I can choose if I use KDE (desktop environment) or icewm (window manager). I do not understand what a window manager actually is.

I have downloaded icewm source code and I am confused. There are some concepts that I have to understand, such as, what happens after the login screen when the desktop is loaded, how a window works, etc.

Edit 2

I think I need a good tutorial. I have to understand how a Window Manager or Desktop Environment work. There are some concepts that I have to know.

environment desktop user-interface linux
3 Answers

I would use X calls and learn how to boot to a CLI (command line interface). Booting to a CLI allows you to switch between window managers / desktop environments. Then I would design a window manager. And finally finish off with a desktop environment.

It starts with frame buffers. These are how 80's graphics worked.

Then you have the X window system. This however doesn't show you multiple windows at once. Only one at a time.

A window manager is the program that controls where your windows go. This allows for multiple X windows to take up one screen.

A desktop environment then builds on that to add things like a task bar, start menu and desktop icons.

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