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# Chapter 3. What is KDE?

# 3.1. What is KDE?

KDE is a desktop environment. In other words, KDE is a collection of programs, technologies and documentation that attempt to make life easier for the computer users. KDE is targeted to Unix workstations. It features network transparency and a contemporary work philosophy.

The creators of the K Desktop environment are a world-wide group of software engineers. This groups major goal in free software development, is to provide high quality software that empowers the user with easy control of his computer's resources.

KDE seeks to fill the need for an easy to use desktop for Unix workstations, similar to the desktop environments found under the MacOS or Window95/NT. KDE fills the need of users for an easy to use work environment. Tools used to reach this end are: enhanced inter application communication, component reuse, generalized drag and drop, uniform look and feel and many more. Thus, KDE offers much more than the traditional Unix window managers.

Stability, scaleabitilty and openness are qualities which have made Unix the undisputed choice for the information technology professional for many years. KDE builds on top of this excellent base framework and brings new, much needed qualities: usability, user friendliness and beauty! KDE was the first and stays the forefront player into bringing these qualities to Unix. KDE was the first, and stays the forefront player in bringing these qualities to Unix, which constituted for years, the premier platform for server computers and scientific institutions, but wasn't very attractive for desktop users.

Without Unix the internet would not exist, or at least would have a vastly different form. Unix has not, until now, addressed the needs of the average computer user. This fact is particularly unfortunate, since a number of implementations of Unix (Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, etc) are freely available on the internet, all of which are of exceptional quality and stability.

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