the main differences!!

I like KDE cause it has a cute dragon. GNOME is a stinky foot.
- I like KDE cause it has a cute dragon.
  A what? I've only ever seen the K cog.
  
  https://community.kde.org/Konqi
- You say that as if the later is worse
  
  You say that as if the later is worse
- I always thought the GNOME icon was a indirect meme about Richard Stallman eating something from his toe

Me be like:

Is that really a thing? I don't usually get into discussions about DEs that often, and pretty much never irl. So I haven't seen any general vibe at all.
Like, my impression of kde vs gnome is that they're both very geared towards a more general user that's going to be doing basic things, but with the ability to go more advanced as needed. I kinda assumed they were both going to draw people that are "basic" like the images in the meme for gnome, with cinnamon users also being in that range, where something like xfce would be for folks that want a bit more modularity and "hackiness".
I'm not being a smartass, I just don't really know if there's more to the meme than just a bit of fun or not.
- Bottom right uses Enlightenment. Bottom left made his own tiling window manager which turned out exactly like the other tiling window managers.
- The philosophies of the two DEs are diametrically opposed. For example KDE will let you customize everything, they'd even let you customize their mothers of they could, while GNOME won't let you customize anything, at least not without extensions that break every time GNOME updates.
  KDE devs are also a lot less opinionated than GNOME devs. If they could, GNOME devs would question the use case of your clothes, conclude they're useless and then strip you naked. KDE devs will be fine with whatever you're wearing.
  Now as you may have gathered I definitely prefer one over the other, but I do recognize some people may like GNOME for its simplicity, looks, flow and I even heard some like the lack of customization because it prevents them from getting distracted with tinkering. All in all use case depends on what you want to do with it, tho hopefully Cosmic DE beats the shit outta GNOME devs those damn pricks.
  
  I keep hearing how customisable KDE is but I couldn't find a way to change how big the app icons in the application launcher were, they're so huge!
- No you're right, it's mostly stereotypes that don't have any real world importance. From my intermediate POV, it comes down to GNOME being a resource hog which the 1337 H4X0Rz don't like. But with most modern systems having more than enough resources to spare, you're not likely to notice unless you're the sort to always have one eye on the system monitor pegged to your desktop. It's an argument for the sake of an argument. I use KDE btw.
  
  It's that gnome isn't configurable at all.
- I've come to the conclusion that even gnome has too many features for me. It would be fine if they were all perfect, but it's software, so...
  Off the top of my head:
  Language doesn't switch fast enough when I use ibus to type Chinese. The fact that I need to concern myself with my input method because choosing Chinese actually only types in Latin characters by default is lol
  Can't use the file manager to mess with files or folders owned by root. Text editor similarly sucks, I actually sudo gedit because it just works. It is a Gnome issue because vscodium just asks me to put in my password to save the file.
  When I alt tab or super key out of a wine game, going back into it will have the alt key pressed down (not sure which key combination, but it's an issue)
- In my experience, it strongly depends. In my team at work, the biggest Linux nerd is on GNOME, basically because he doesn't care where his TMUX session runs.
  And I'm the guy with the most elaborate desktop workflow (tiling and 40+ virtual desktops among other aspects) and I wouldn't want to use anything but KDE, because nothing else has as many features + customizability to support me in that workflow.
  But yeah, both of us started out on such mainstream desktops, then spent multiple years checking out all other desktops and eventually found different paths back to the mainstream.
- I use KDE plasma because I'm new to Linux but also want something minimal system-wise. I love the programs and the interface. Maybe my opinion would be different if I spent more time with other DE's or used it as my daily driver, but I'm sold on it now.
  GNOME is definitely more user-friendly for someone who is moving over from Windows/Mac. I wouldn't recommend KDE to someone who is just going to stick to using one-click apps.
  
  I don't understand.
  The lack of even the most basic customisation of Gnome ia mind-blowing to me. Why do i need to install a gnome shell extension for even the most basic functionality that even MacOs has!?
  
  Kde is minimal now? Doesn't it require a GPU? Aren't there animations?
  I remember trying it out a few years back on my laptop from 2012 and it was unusably slow. Like 10 seconds just to open the menu.
  Xfce ran just fine though. That's a minimal DE.
- Gnome devs say, they don't want you to use themes or otherwise customize it. Probably that's why.

GUIs are for the weak. Monitors are for the weak. My PC is connected to a keyboard and a printer. Hackerman
- You use a keyboard and a peinter? weak! I throw magnets over the memory chips and use a multi-meter. /l334
  
  Ughhh! Filthy casuals like you using the screen on a multimeter! I bet you don't even staple the electrodes to your nipples! Probably use clamps instead 🙄
- Enjoy your bloat, I directly put my finger on the CPU pins to feel the electrical signals.
- I flick toggle switches and read the buffer LEDs.
- Hackerman uses a Powerglove!

The latter is more about i3 users lol

Something about making their own version of every app and than naming it k-something makes me think it's a cult.
- Oh no, they know about the Kult! Burn the kompound!
  
  The Kool Kids Klub will never fall!
- Oh, I wouldn't get on my high horse about that, Gnome apps used to be G- or Gnome-something for a long, long time.
  Now they're just some stock generic name that assumes "why would anyone ever use any other program for music except Music, or videos except Videos?". Pretty much like Apple.
  
  Worse than that, if you're looking for the program in the terminal like when you install the thing it's still called the old name, like:
  Files > nautilus
  Disk usage analyzer > baobab
  They used to have character. The k- naming scheme is just a hint that isn't a qt app really.
- Excuse me, it's called a kult.
- What in the world are you on about? Kandalf be praised
- We wouldn't have Safari (Webkit) or Chrome (Blink) today if it weren't for Konqueror and KHTML! Webkit is a fork of KHTML, and Blink is a fork of Webkit.

yeah, my mom uses kde
- Your mom rules.

This is more like desktop enviromment vs window manager users
- Are there people that use window managers without using desktop environments? I thought that one is a component of the other.
  
  Absolutely, there are a good few window managers designed to be standalone. I use AwesomeWM and i3 is very popular.
  If you don't need a full desktop environment it's nice to have something that mostly stays out of the way.
- I don't think you need to go full WM-onlyism to find yourself unable to relate to Gnome users. There are probably a handful of KDE users who still use Chrome, but we usually have some shame. We're not, like, trying to form HOAs in our neighborhoods like Gnome users are, probably.

Me with no DE:
- $ whoevenami
  
  Cmus play despacito

I use Cinnamon. What does that make me?
- It makes you spicy.

What am I doing ricing KDE when I don't even own a hoodie...
- Ricing? What's that?
  
  Basically anything in !unixporn@lemmy.ml
  Ricing refers to modifying your system to make it look cool. The term comes from street racing, where it basically meant improving perceived performance using cosmetics like spoilers and hood ornaments and stuff. Mostly form over function.
  Also, if you don't mind visiting, you'll see more of what I mean over here:
  https://old.reddit.com/r/unixporn

Listen, we have all moved to hyprland for the pretty animations.

inacurate, they are all femboys

Why not both? Seriously, why shouldn’t I install both DEs so I can figure out what I like best or suit my mood?
Can’t we actually have it all in this scenario?
- NO! You must pick a side and fight!
- I do have both installed, Plasma seems better for gaming with performance and experimental features, while GNOME is very stable for work and, ironically, customizes better for my preferences.
  EDIT: I use Arch BTW
- in my experience, installing one breaks the other or at least changes it. it's a shitshow honestly
- Having both at the same time may break shit. However you can choose a distro like Debian or Arch or any one that just gives you the default DE, customize it to your liking if needed, use it for a set amount of time (like two weeks, a month, whatever) or until you feel like you have a good grasp on it and if you like it, then install another one, uninstall the previous one and repeat until you tried all the DEs you wanted to try or found the one you like and just use that one

What if I use Hyprland?

Instant upvote because KDE is stupid underrated
- I don't think it's that underrated. But yah it's a little underrated.

- "Bonsoir, Elliot"

I used to be a GNOME fanboy, but then GNOME 3 came and I can't stand it. Now I'm a KDE fanboy
- i actually kinda like gnome since gnome 40 release.
  it still sucks to use on small displays like laptops tho due to all the padding everywhere
  also gnome's touchpad gestures and multi-desktop management is superior to that of kde.
  
  Gnome is awesome on my big ultra wide monitor but sucks balls on my old laptop with a 768p display. I think the meme is backwards.
- That was me with gnome 1.1 or 1.2, when they replaced the window manager by something way less configurable.
  
  Luckily Xfce exists which gives you back all of the configurability of old Gnome.
  Move those panels around, add as many as you like!
  Me, I've just looked at screenshots of old gnome and can't remember why I ever thought 2 panels visible at all times were a good idea.
  I love current gnome, cause with a single extension I can hide literally all of it until I need to bring it up with the super-button. And then I have my favorite apps, open windows, workspaces, systray, clock and a search field all visible at once.

Eh, my main reason for going KDE is every time I try Gnome, it feels like "what do I do now" and "where is the program I opened"
I know that would get better with time spent using it, but then again, KDE feels like I can make it do what I want a lot easier
And none of the other DEs look as nice and polished, which, I know, that's not the important part ... But dammit, I'm gonna be spending a lot of time staring at it, I'd like it to look good to me at least
- Gnome is better on that now, but I have been using gnome since back when KDE was using non-free libraries to be prettier
  Gnome probably isn't the best free desktop anymore, but I guess I'm used to it
  
  There's a lot to be said for familiarity and its impact on productivity... Which is why I hate when UI layouts change for no apparent reason other than to be different.
- The last time I was meaningfully using Linux was around the time of Ubuntu 8.04 - my experience was the opposite of this.
  When I have the time, I'll be dipping back in on Zorin (which I think defaults to modded KDE) - I've spun up VM, and it seems like it's worth a shot... I just need to confirm it'll play the small handful of games I play, find a slicer app, and pull the trigger. Damn near everything else is Web-based or self-hosted.
  
  Yeah, Gnome is VERY different than in 2008

I've run MATE for nearly a decade and am now running XFCE, preparing to jump into a window manager as soon as I get a machine for my exclusive use.
What does that make me?
- You've got to XFCE it MATE. It makes you a nerd like the rest of us.

Fluxbox users are in the walls!

Eliminate your rat-based mousing desires and join us in celebrating StumpWM, back behind the dumpsters, where they keep the extra parentheses.

Ehm... Elliot uses Gnome.
https://youtu.be/ishgn7-NLlU?si=ox06KyNHHk35XlDL
- Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
  https://piped.video/ishgn7-NLlU?si=ox06KyNHHk35XlDL
  Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
  I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.

KDE is not complicated
- I installed a Fedora KDE Plasma spin and it enabled features on my laptop i didn't know existed. It was nice. Windows 11 sucks. I'm happy to get rid of it.
- Kinda depends: for me pretty much all de-s are complicated. I mean what happens when you want a de to do X? I used to go to settings/whatever, then google the problem in like 10 different ways when I inevitably don't find it. And with wm-s you just search the wiki
- I thought kde users were windows users who are afraid of change.
- I once installed Kubuntu on my laptop and when I booted it, it was very overwhelming to see so many options, I realized it would take me two or more days, and it feels extreme, and you also need the terminal a lot. That's why I love Ubuntu GNOME, but it's ok if you like KDE Plasma.

i use dwm btw, gnome and KDE is bloat
- I only use the terminal. GUI is bloat.
  
  Coding in vim is the way to go.
- Connoisseur!

I'm a widow of Window Maker.

It is accurate as you need to waste copius amount of time to get KDE to work without stutter
- Not my experience.
  
  it is mine though

I use xfce nice clean simple and not overly complicated everytime I try a new desktop manager I find myself going back to xfce as they say keep it simple and cozy
- How is XFCE nowadays? I am on KDE for the past ~3 years and been long-term XFCE user.
  IMO biggest KDE advantage over XFCE is that everything literally works out of the box - audio, bluetooth, shortcuts (i hate setting up script yo turn on/off mousepad.
  I am using X instead of Wayland anyway.
  Anything changed in XFCE over several years?
  
  Anecdote alert: XFCE recently worked out of box on my 2014 hp Pavilion

1.8 gb minimum RAM usage on default KDE vs 1.6 GB RAM Usage on Compiz with all the fancy effects enabled like the see through 3D cube.
- Mine took way less than 1,8gb. Nowadays I just use wm though. 500mb idle usage is neat

Right! You use Gnome when there's good natural light =)

I dunno, the people in the top left look pretty happy.
- They do, and judging by their environment, pretty wealthy as well. Plus a happy family. As opposed to being unhinged enough to give finger guns to a laptop or be bombarded with "tech stuff". Great ad for gnome :)
  (I'm just joking around. KDE is great too.)

I use both. What does that mean for me?

What does this make Cinnamon users?
- cozy reindeers.

I find it amusing that what I can only assume appears to be a professional artist as being used as an example. Considering that gnome is forcing Wayland yet has no color management. Not that x11 is perfect at color management but it at least exists

KDE is fairly unstable and requires me to change settings to make it work for me. Gnome just works
- GNOME doesn't even have the settings I need to make it work.
- Yo, what? Nobody ever uses Gnome without extensions.
  
  OK that's not entirely true as I use blur my shell and dash to dock
- That's such a role reversal. It used to be that gnome couldn't do half the things KDE could, and was too configurable to be easy
- I really don't see the worth in hassling with KDE. Theres nothing wrong with GNOME
  
  I used to love Gnome. Now I hate how it looks. Looks like they tried to mix MacOS and Android and just royally botched it.
  
  Maybe not for you. For me, I spend hours fiddling with it trying to get it the way I want, get frustrated, and eventually go back to KDE.

Emacs user:

I am hacker man.

Hah, this is final proof, gnome users are children.

NixOS

As a kubuntu user I approve. 👍

TWM Users/Ricers:

KDE gives you bad hair?

But what if I don't want to wear a hoodie and sunglasses when I'm inside on my computer?

What about window manager people? Like i3 etc
- You won't be able to catch one on camera.

Bottom images more like people that using i3 or openbox

People who use Windows even though everybody hates it
- people who use macOS and FreeBSD!!
  
  Technically, MacOS is a BSD
  
  Tipical Apple user
- I use windows and Linux btw
  
  Linux is just an app for Windows. Always has been.

What about XFCE users?
- they most likely own a room full of servers and everything is customized!

Is the gnome we are talking about that one that for reaching the taskbar you have to move the mouse to the top of the screen and then immediately to the bottom every time?
- If you aren't using the super key to access that menu you are using gnome wrong imo. Three finger swipe on track pad is also a great way to access the same menu.
  KDE is fuckin fantastic, but it aims to replicate the windows ui and workflow. If that's what you want then I highly recommend it over gnome. But personally I don't think that desktop UX should be stuck in the early 2000s Redmond style. Once I changed my habits to use my windows button on the keyboard instead of moving my mouse all over hell to access the menu it's all I ever use. Mouse is just a fallback when the other hand is busy. I try every new KDE version because I kind of hate how the gnome devs act sometimes, but I can't get used to that workflow anymore.
  I hope cosmic is great.
- I genuinely don't know the last time I used the activities button, or the taskbar. To open activity view, I press super. To open programs, I search. To switch programs, I click on them in activity view
  
  I'm new to linux. Having things at hand is useful because I don't know the names to search or what keys to press.
- Yes, the one with great score when it comes to Fitt's law which plays a huge role in UI design. When you put it that way it seems stupid to go from one edge to the other to reach an option. In reality it's an easiest target to hit since it's huge and requires no precision, edge to edge scroll.
  
  I don't know if my screen is too big or my mouse is at a different speed. But for me it takes a lot of effort to do those big movements.

I’m a Guh nome

True. Just true

Deleted.

surprisingly accurate.