I have both KDE and GNOME installed on LEAP 42.1. Whenever I boot my computer, it always defaults to KDE - I have tried logging out of a KDE session and back into a GNOME one but that doesn’t work. I have changed the DEFAULT_WM to gnome in the sysconfig in YaST, this did change the value in the text file but it still defaults to KDE on boot. I have automatic login enabled so not sure if that is interfering here…
The Display Manager (DM) and Window Manager (WM) are only display components/subsystems, not the Desktops themselves.
Disable auto login (best in sysconfig),
Then when your machine boots and arrives at the User login, you will see options to select any installed Desktop and set one as Default.
TSU
Thanks. I take it then, once I have logged on with GNOME if I turn on automatic login again it should stick with GNOME?
Okay just an update on my test - upon turning autologin back on in sysconfig, it is back to defaulting to logging in with KDE even though GNOME is selected. Could it be a bug or am I just being obtuse?:\
You have made gnome default in the menu on the login page?? Selecting it is just a one time thing. Log out then try that
Yes, I log out, select GNOME and login with GNOME. I then reboot and it goes straight back in to KDE (with autologin enabled and gnome selected as default WM in sysconfig).
Typically I find that there is not only an entry for each Desktop, but there is an additional entry that sets the currently set Desktop as default.
Also, don’t be misled by the login appearing the same no matter the Desktop, I’ve found the login page’s appearance is related to the Display Manager, not the Desktop.
But, YMMV… I also noticed that the presented options can change depending on the running Display Manager.
TSU
Okay I think I understand why it wasn’t working before. I was changing the default window manager without changing the display manager. I’ve changed from sddm to gdm and it now defaults to GNOME. I had always thought the display manager was just the login manager and it wasn’t necessarily tied to the desktop environment you were logging into. I suppose my confusion was that I was wanting to change the default desktop environment but there doesn’t seem to be a catch-all option like that in oS config.
It feels like you should be able to use whatever DM you want but the WM should be independent. From the X11 wiki:
Display manager: Program that initiates a windowing system session by launching the windowing system and usually asking for a username and password.
Window manager: Controls the placement and movement of windows, window chrome, and controls.
Additionally using sddm, I did see an option to select a desktop but no option to set or select a default.
I think you may still misunderstand what the Window Manager is…
It doesn’t have anything to do with the initial login page, and it doesn’t really have anything to do with managing how Desktop graphics are implemented (Those are related to the Display Manager).
The Window manager is how individual windows are displayed on the Desktop, this is typically what you see each time a graphical application displays on the Desktop.
TSU
You’re right actually, I was still a little bit hazy on what the definitions were but I’m pretty sure I’m clear now :).
Given that the process isn’t necessarily straightforward for changing the default DE when auto-login is enabled, maybe some kind of entry into the wiki would help (I can have a shot at this) if it’s an appropriate place to put this kind of information.