Is there any reason why I should install KDE instead of Gnome?

First things first, this is not a KDE vs Gnome thread.

I’d like to know what are the benefits of installing KDE instead of Gnome, bearing in mind that KDE is the official DE of OpenSUSE.

I mean, does Gnome work just as well as KDE? Or does it have bugs or glitches or incompatibilities or any other thing that make you go for KDE instead.

What do you mean “official”? During installation you have choice of KDE, GNOME and XFCE directly in top level installer dialog (and a couple more if you dig into software selection). What makes KDE more official than GNOME?

https://en.opensuse.org/KDE

“Plasma Desktop from KDE is the default workspace on openSUSE”

KDE is not the official desktop, though the default choice in the installer is KDE. Pick what you prefer. Or install both ( like I’ve done for years ).

There could be reasons, but generally speaking the answer to the title’s question from an external point of view is “no”.

There probably is a reason that KDE is the default desktop in openSUSE. Perhaps there is a clue in the order of those available in the installer, and it’s not an alphabetically ordered list. I can think of two reasons for the order: relative numbers of users, and the openSUSE makers’ ability to support i.e the relative strengths of the contributing teams - including upstream support.

For example, if there are fewer distros with KDE as there primary desktop, which I think is the case, then there is less competition for resources. That should help to maintain a strong and cohesive team of contributors. I’m not implying that there is anything not right with the Gnome or other desktop’s support. :slight_smile:

Also try before you buy (so to speak) if you’re a desktop environment agnostic, try them all over a period of time, you’ll quickly be swayed one way or another by how a desktop environment flows for you. Some environments will get in the way of how your brain wants to work naturally, others won’t get in the way so much, and you will just end up using them by default.

No all encompassing perfect solution though, despite marketing to the contrary.

From a seasoned Gnome user, let’s say also that Gnome IS the official Desktop of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, so it seems to me that it is not less “official” or “supported” than KDE.
But let’s say that likely the KDE user base in OpenSUSE is larger, hence the “default” choice in the installer…

“and the openSUSE makers’ ability to support i.e the relative strengths of the contributing teams - including upstream support.” → this was my main concern, as Tumbleweed is rolling release.

Install them all then use the one you want only costs a little disk space. Gnome can be picky about problems in the video driver and may not start but KDE and others is not so picky. So having several desktops available makes it easier to trouble shoot and fix video problems

Hi
Gnome is the default supported desktop :wink: rather than KDE, KDE was dropped in SLE 12 only because of the release time of the KDE components and upstream dropping support for KDE 4.x.x. It will probably reappear in SLE 13 somewhere down the line :wink:

KDE is the default, but that does not make it official.

I usually install KDE, Gnome, XFCE and LXDE. That way I can try them all.

Personally, I prefer KDE, with XFCE is my second choice. But we all have different preferences. Unless you are tight for disk space, I suggest installing at least KDE and Gnome, then try them both to see which better suits you.

Installing all (KDE, Gnome, XFCE and LXDE), and additionally installing texlive/latex still only uses around 10G in the root file system (not counting overhead, which can be large for “btrfs” with its multiple snapshots).

I think most of you still didn’t get the point of the thread.

Of course I can install every DE available and try them all and choose the one that better suits me, but first that’s unnecessary as I’ve been using Linux for almost a decade and already know the pros and the cons, and second, that’s not the point of my question.

Guess that, as some of you pointed out, default doesn’t mean official, so I’d expect the same support for KDE and Gnome.

IF you want to test that expectation, and you have the free time, it could be worth looking at openSUSE Bugzilla where you can search it on KDE or Gnome for example.

You will find a link to search for “open bugs Tumbleweed” and also for other releases, on this web page: openSUSE:Submitting bug reports - openSUSE Wiki

IMHO there is a huge difference between the meaning of the words “official” and “default”.

When you mean with “support”, amongst other things, the service that is offered here on the forums by your fellow users, then I can assure you that there are many Gnome and many KDE users here and you can search through the threads here to see that there are many KDE and many Gnome questions/problems and most are answered adequate enough.

The only problem here on the forums being that often people forget to mention what DE they use. So whatever your final choice maybe, if you ever feel the urge to ask something here, do not forget to tell what you use :wink:

The ‘default’ is more historical and legacy, the distro was always KDE based and has it’s roots there. Look at the helpers and contributors and devs on the KDE forums, look what they run; it’s predominantly openSUSE and Kubuntu and I’ll bet most of those who run openSUSE will contribute to the project somewhere along the line.

Put it like this; you won’t get a better KDE experience, or support, in any other mainstream distro than those two. You can go boutique KDE specific, if you want, with Chakra, KaOS, etc. But they all have their downsides also. Slackware has a superb vanilla KDE if you want that route. I’ve tried, and lived with, all the KDE orientated distros, and you can’t fault openSUSE KDE implementation overall imo.

Historical, yes, but not quite sure what is meant by legacy here. IIRC there was a significant period in which Gnome was the default, possibly due to being 1st alphabetcally. There was a definite decision taken to change it back to KDE, I think due to more users, but with stated equality for openSUSE’s Gnome and KDE projects. :slight_smile:

I took it to mean “maintenance” as it seemed to follow from post(s) referring to upstream support. I believe the forum provides technical help for all the openSUSE desktops, but it’s a different type of commitment.

IMHO since my arrival with 10.1 the support found here always excellent, for GNOME, KDE and other issues :wink:

Am comfortable GNOME user.

One good reason is that you can customize almost everything , either from interface, either from rc files (and you may lock it ).

In comparison, the new gnome API fails, furthermore, the gnomeshell is not stable => every months , it is redesigned ! features are appearing and disappearing on the volunty of few peoples…if you have written gnomeshell extension, it is broken and have to rewrite it…
I spent almost 6 months trying to customise and secure an industrial gui interface using gnome and left it. I managed to do it in few days with KDE.

KDE is nice, but be careful, some bad features, not really working at this time : disabling baloo api is adviced.

Regards.
Steph