UNIX/CDE

UNIX: common name of a class of multi tasking, multi user operating systems, which are strongly related, but differ in many details.

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HP-UX (Hewlett-Packard), Solaris (Sun), AIX (IBM), IRIX (SGI), Linux (on PCs).

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UNIX was mainly used on servers and on special workstations. With the large spreading of LINUX, a free UNIX variant, it is becoming important for PCs as well.

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For UNIX systems exist several different GUIs. The most important one on commercial systems (e.g. on HP-UX and Solaris) is CDE (``Common Desktop Environment''). The common KDE for LINUX combines elements from CDE and Windows.

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A special feature of CDE is the possibility to arrange windows on several screens (``desktops''). A special desktop switch allows to change quickly between them.

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Basic part of CDE is the front panel, usually at the lower side. It contains the desktop switch, the trash, buttons to start some basic tools like the file manager, the calculator or the online help, and menues to start all applications.

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Like in Windows on can place frequently used applications and documents on the desktop for quick access.

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Windows can be reduced to small icons - without stopping the running application - to avoid a cluttering of the desktop . Double clicking on such an icon restores the original window. For convenience these icons are combined in a special window, the ``icon box''.