A few months back we reported on XPwm, a window manager and a desktop that emulates the behaviour of Windows XP. Today, the project is renamed to XPde, it has a new release, and it now looks more polished. Read more for the message the developer sent us.
XPde, XP-like desktop environment
XPde it’s a project that tries to recreate the Windows XP desktop environment on Linux. The main purpose is to build a bridge for all the normal Windows users, allowing them to “feel at home” in front of a Linux computer. This is done by reproducing every Windows XP feature “exactly”, and when I say “exactly”, I mean to the pixel, so with the adecuate theme, a normal user could hardly distinguish between Windows XP and XPde. If you are a developer, this environment is not for you, I encourage you to use Gnome or KDE, because are more powerful desktops and have more features for to developers, but if you are developer looking for a desktop to install to your Windows customers, this is for you.
I started this project a long time ago, it was first called w2kwm, and it was just only an experiment, but after see all the Linux distributions that are focusing on the desktop market, I decided to spend some time on it.
This project it’s being developed with Kylix 3, the best tool (IMO) to develop Linux applications, this project is also useful to show how powerful this tool can be. The license of the project is GPL, but I have not polished the code yet, so it’s not available for download, I will publish it on a few days.
Visit http://www.xpde.com for more information, downloads and screenshots.
Regards,
José León Serna
IANAL but by the time this gets a good userbase m$’s legal department may be sending a mail. but as it says in the faq would be a good learning experiance for whoevers writing it
…it looks that the XPde team made a good job of recreating the XP Classic theme. It’s a very good start. Congrats!
(Now to download and to compile)
They should of tryed to heavily modify KDE 3.1 isntead. This just seems too ambitious. And who sues WindowsXP classic anyway?
So if XPde is developed with kylix, will it work on anything that isn’t x86?
They should of tryed to heavily modify KDE 3.1 isntead. This just seems too ambitious. And who sues WindowsXP classic anyway?
Why don’t you try and heavily modify KDE 3.1 to show them how well you can do it, rather than making useless comments like that on this forum.
If you can do better, then do it. Thats the great thing about OSS, but don’t dare sit back and flame other peoples work unless you have the right to.
Andrew
Being a Windows user myself, I have to say that is the best looking window manager I’ve seen so far
very nice indeed. i think next time I try to convert to a linux machine at work this will be the desktop I’ll be installing. Very nice work.
IANAL either but I’m concerned about legal issues. Release the sources as fast as you can before MS’s letter arrive
-eks
And who sues [sic] WindowsXP classic anyway?
I do. Mainly because using Luna takes up more screen space, especially using Explorer. Screen on the laptop isn’t that big. And Luna is *ugly,* IMHO.
> IANAL but by the time this gets a good userbase m$’s legal
> department may be sending a mail.
MS is not Apple. I’ve never heard that MS is/was doing anything like this.
I wish somebody would make a BeOS GUI replica for linux…That would be sweet
“…XPwm, a window manager and a desktop that emulates the behaviour of Windows XP. Today, the project is renamed to XPde…”
Well, the important thing is that they realized that periodic renaming of their product is central to customer brand recognition. Caldera, QNX, and Redmond Linux all use this strategy, and now everyone uses them.
Brad,
Not my cup of tea, but… it seems several guys are trying to replicate BeOS — some using Linux as basis. Look for past articles right here at OSNews (one is called Open BeOS, IIRC).
OTOH, regarding XPde, there have been other more modest approaches before (like qvwm, similar to Win 95). There’s some sense in the idea: showing a familiar face to newcomers to linux, etc.
I humbly believe we linux users already have gone past that point with KDE and Gnome. I also think that, provided one has a powerful machine (say a 2GHz one), Nautilus will become faster (and people who tried say it is better in Gnome 2)… I guess this is one additional (and last?) point where Microsoft will find itself unable to compete with Linux in a not too far-fetched future.
/* Sarcasm mode on */
Of course, I may be wrong. After all, there are so many “geniuses” working at Microsoft… ;-P
It is quite nice looking, and looks quite well done but whats the point. WindowsXP will be replaced by Windows.net(loghorn…foghorn?) in two years anyway…
>> IANAL but by the time this gets a good userbase m$’s legal
>> department may be sending a mail.
>MS is not Apple. I’ve never heard that MS is/was doing anything like this.
They tried to do it with Lindows
“And who sues [sic] WindowsXP classic anyway?”
I do too, whever I use XP, though I usually use Win2k. The first thing I do is to go into the desktop properties/tweakui and turn off all of the effects such as menu fading and all of the other crap that serves no purpose other than to slow down my machine.
What toolkit (Qt/GtK?) does this project use for its UI? I doesn’t seem to say anywere on the site?
that’s the best windows XP feature :p
i like the classic interface…it’s not nearly as slow
I like it, nice layout.
Keep up the good work, hope this can make Linux Desktop better and more easy to use.
why do people always belittle the open source projects of others?
this is without a doubt a valid project…it fills a need…and it’s obviously useful since it has a reasonable userbase (which will no doubt grow after hitting OSNews)
yet people have to belittle it…MS is gonna sue them…why didn’t they just modify KDE (which would be OK for this but isn’t OK for Red Hat?)…who uses the XP Classic desktop anyway
if you don’t have anything nice to say…why not next time say nothing at all?
these people are working hard on this and it’s no less valid a project than Gnome or KDE
so let’s be supportive? huh guys?
-bytes256
It is quite nice looking, and looks quite well done but whats the point. WindowsXP will be replaced by Windows.net(loghorn…foghorn?) in two years anyway…
That’s very pessimistic. It’s like saying, “why play guitar? Dave Miller is much better than I’ll ever be” or “Why play golf? Tiger’s just gonna beat you anyway. Why create your own program? Why create your own OS?” The point is IS because we can and that’s why it’s done. Tiger woods didn’t see the golf greats as an obstacle but an inspiration to perfect his talent. So if M$ is coming out with (frogforlorn) let’em. We’ve got our own way of doing things.
My personal opinion (which is just as valid as eugenias on gnome2) is that this just looks horrible
Has anyone tried it yet?
Is it fast ? How does it compare to XFCE?
I thought “well duh,” A win2k look alike will be extremely useful for businesses thinking of ditching windows and their liscencing schemes for linux. also the simple pleasures I got from win2k UI with the ability to get rid of those damned pixel borders sounds great.
Now if only X could be as responsive as windows.
Hmmm – they could definetely be on shaky ground, trademark wise.
I have always disagreed with the granting of the trademark “Windows” (though I would support it if it required the full title of “Microsoft Windows”), however Microsoft did manage to buy someone off and get the trademark on the generic word “Windows.”
(Of course, this trademark is on shaky ground, with the MS vs Lindows.com courtcase – but it stands as a valid trademark currently.)
Looking at the screenshot for the “Run” dialogue at http://www.xpde.com/run.jpg it states:
[i]”Type the name of a program, folder, document or Internet resource, and Windows will open it for you.”
By capitalising the “W” in “Windows,” they are effectively acknowledging the MS trademark. They are also trying to pass off the OS as “Windows.” This could land them in a sticky spot quite quickly.
Of course, one should never use an “and” after a comma anyway!
This is brilliant.
I notice in the Start menu, icons fr KOffice components – My I ask if this DE includes the QT and KDE components needed to launch KOffice? Or indeed if it will install alongside KDE and allow use of its installed apps?. also, how about running GNOME apps on it?
Sorry if my questions are stupid – I am no expert on Linux.
Hello:
This is to answer all the comments about XPde.
>but by the time this gets a good userbase m$’s legal department may be sending a mail
Why they can sue me? I don’t include any kind of MS copyrighted material nor any kind of MS copyrighted code. I don’t know if MS has patented the taskbar and the desktop, but if it’s the case, KDE, Gnome, MacOS X and the rest will need to pay to MS. There’s out many solutions like Qvwm and others that even include copyrighted MS icons, this is not my case, so I would like someone tell me how can MS sue me for create XPde.
>They should of tryed to heavily modify KDE 3.1 isntead. This just seems too ambitious
Yes, it’s too ambitious, but why not? ;-). You can get a KDE with Windows XP style here:
KDE XP style
http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=1499
It includes MS copyrighted material, like icons, but it’s still a KDE, the look and behaviour it’s not the same, this is what I’m trying to do with XPde.
>And who sues WindowsXP classic anyway?
I don’t use Luna myself, I don’t really like it, but it will be supported, you can download the metacity LunaXP theme from the web.
>So if XPde is developed with kylix, will it work on anything that isn’t x86?
No, it’s just only for x86, I hope one day Borland port kylix to another platforms, but remember this is only a good oportunity to novice users, not for developers using a Sparc 😉
>Being a Windows user myself, I have to say that is the best looking window manager I’ve seen so far
Thanks!
>IANAL either but I’m concerned about legal issues. Release the sources as fast as you can before MS’s letter arrive
Please, tell me any kind of legal issues I could face with this project, I dont want any kind of problems
>I wish somebody would make a BeOS GUI replica for linux…That would be sweet
The survey on the site says BeOS is the winner!!!, well, someone can fork XPde to make it 😉
>Well, the important thing is that they realized that periodic renaming of their product
>is central to customer brand recognition. Caldera, QNX, and Redmond Linux all use
>this strategy, and now everyone uses them.
I renamed the project because XPwm means only a window manager, and now is a desktop, nothing more 😉
>WindowsXP will be replaced by Windows.net(loghorn…foghorn?) in two years anyway…
XPde.net?, well, it will be easier to create it after XPde is finished, but don’t forget this is a bridge to KDE or Gnome for novice users, I will close the project once MS ceased business ;-)))
>They tried to do it with Lindows
It was a trademark case Lindows vs Windows, just a letter change, I think this is not the same
>I do too, whever I use XP, though I usually use Win2k. The first thing I do is
>to go into the desktop properties/tweakui and turn off all of the effects such
>as menu fading and all of the other crap that serves no purpose other than
>to slow down my machine.
You will be able to turn off all the features you want, but many of that features makes a novice user feel comfortable with a computer
>What toolkit (Qt/GtK?) does this project use for its UI? I doesn’t seem to say anywere on the site?
It’s developed with Kylix 3, so it uses Qt, but I have create my own Qt style and controls to make them look and behave as Windows XP counterparts
>Keep up the good work, hope this can make Linux Desktop better and more easy to use.
Thanks, that’s the point!!
>this is without a doubt a valid project…it fills a need…and it’s obviously useful
>since it has a reasonable userbase (which will no doubt grow after hitting OSNews)
Thanks for your words, but there is no userbase yet, it’s just only a beta product and it’s not fully usable, but thanks anyway.
>Now if only X could be as responsive as windows.
X has some problems on this field, but the main problem are bad designed applications, Kylix is a great compiler and create really fast executables, I invite you to download XPde and drag an icon over the desktop, it’s transparent and it moves really smooth, at least on my PIII 500MHz. I normally develop on this slow machine to optimize my code for speed, remove flickering and to be sure it runs everywhere 😉
>Looking at the screenshot for the “Run” dialogue at http://www.xpde.com/run.jpg it states:
I have removed the Windows trademark, it was a bug ;-), I also added two screenshots more.
>This is brilliant.
Thanks
>I notice in the Start menu, icons fr KOffice components – My I ask if this DE includes
>the QT and KDE components needed to launch KOffice?
XPde it relies on Qt, but not on KDE
>Or indeed if it will install alongside KDE and allow use of its installed apps?.
If you installed KDE, KDE applications will use your current KDE style
>also, how about running GNOME apps on it?
The same as KDE, they will run with Gnome style
>Sorry if my questions are stupid – I am no expert on Linux.
I’m not an expert also, that’s why I created this project, to learn more Linux development.
Regards.
Does it have its own exploer look and feel like File Manager? Drag and Drop, cut, paste, look, behaving the same?
Lycoris, are you checking this out? I mean, dang, it would be so much easier for you to clone Windows XP 🙂
Brandon Barker: So if XPde is developed with kylix, will it work on anything that isn’t x86?
Tell me, what Windows user would be interested in platforms other than x86?
IFightMIBs: And Luna is *ugly,* IMHO.
I wonder, did you try other colour schemes before using Classic? I turned to Classic as soon as I started using XP, but then I found out about Silver (the colour scheme).
KAMiKAZOW: MS is not Apple. I’ve never heard that MS is/was doing anything like this.
You see, Microsoft, unlike Apple, don’t bank of its UI to get more users 🙂
Brad C.: I wish somebody would make a BeOS GUI replica for linux…That would be sweet
BlueEyed OS. (No sources nor packages yet though).
Look for past articles right here at OSNews (one is called Open BeOS, IIRC).
OpenBeOS is making a BeOS clone from scratch.
Johan: They tried to do it with Lindows
Lindows wasn’t sued because of its UI nor looks, cause it certainly doesn’t look like Windows, nor does it want to be like Windows. They sued Lindows.com because of trademark violation.
Anonymous: What toolkit (Qt/GtK?) does this project use for its UI? I doesn’t seem to say anywere on the site?
It uses Kylix. So it is Qt.
bytes256: these people are working hard on this and it’s no less valid a project than Gnome or KDE
start_rant()
{
Firstly, it is person (from what I see), not people. Secondly, I don’t think this is a valid project as much as KDE nor GNOME. Both KDE and GNOME have at least the guts to think of something new.
Cloning Windows serve no purpose. Linux would win on the desktop no matter what, because it is commodity software. However, consumers getting a new computer or a new OS want something they can do more with, not the same amount. They aren’t part of the Linux jihad against Microsoft unlike every other GNU fanatic. If they switch, it is either two reasons
– Their office uses it
– It is easier to use/ can do more.
}
return 0;
No offence José.
Antarius: I have always disagreed with the granting of the trademark “Windows”
And I always, even while I was anti-MS, supported it. Because “windows” either refer to the hole in the wall in which that is normally covered with glass, or a GUI metaphor. It isn’t a generic term for operating systems or platforms, which what Windows is. Notice Microsoft never sued the X Consortium, or a bunch of shareware makers, or other operating systems calling a window, well, as window.
DISCLAIMER: Xp user here, ironically using WIndows XP right now. I think the main problem for Linux right now is applications, nor user interface. My dad for example, cannot use Linux because the best office suite on Linux is OpenOffice.org/StarOffice which isn’t as good as Office for his tasks, and Cross Over Office IIRC doesn’t run Access.
Would all the icons (My Computer, My Documents, etc.) would be there on the desktop by default? They shouldn’t, because it XP they aren’t shown by default.
Plus, the Recycle Bin icon is suppose to be on the bottom right by default.
No offence, just nitpicking 🙂
Hi,
You should check out xfwm4 as your next window manager. Its sweet.
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=19869&release…
> Of course, one should never use an “and” after a comma anyway!
English grammar requires a comma between two independent clauses that are joined with a coordinating conjunction such as “and.” Where did you learn your grammar?
First of all my comments arn’t specifically aimed at this project, just most things that live on X11. Why bother trying to replicate windows. If you like windows then use windows, if you don’t like windows why bother cloning it?
I just don’t understand it.
Of course these people are free to develop what they want etc.
Have you ever thought that perhaps people like the Windows UI/desktop, but would like a GNU/Linux core?
I am a Linux newbie from the Windows and BeOS world. I can’t understand why anyone would want the Windows Desktop on as thei r Linux desktop. Especially the task bar. I think the the deskbar in BeOS or the Taskbar of KDE is much more efficient (with XPde you loose features, like changing desktop/workspaces from the deskbar – sure you can probably do this with a simple keyboard press, but what Linux newbie is gonna know that?).
As a newbie, I installed Mandrake Linux as my first distro. The KDE desktop, and GNOME as well (haven’t tried any others), are extremeley easy to use and familiar enough for Windows users to use with ease.
It isn’t the desktop that I had trouble with, but the directory structure…I can never find where my rpms go. Software installs end up all over the place. How many folders can be called bin, dev, usr, local? The directory structure is atrocious. How can any Windows user navigate this mess? BeOS’ home and boot structure was easy enough…I’m not sure if I’ll figure out this Linux mess.
Another thing that makes the Linux desktop hard to use for a newbie is closing windows on crashed programs. The expected ctrl + alt + delete of the windows world doesnt work. You can close it in 2 seconds with a command line argument, but what Windows newbie is gonna know? It took me a good week with Linux to figure out what the XKill icon on the Mandrake KDE desktop was ;D
-David
if you don’t like windows why bother cloning it?
Because $199
…of course most peoples have a warezed copy of it at home so they don’t see much reason to use a free Windows clone when they can have the real thing for the same price.
Although I believe one of the compelling aspects of Linux is its robust variety, it seems strange to me to want to replicate the Windows user interface. Afterall, one of the reasons I (and I assume some others) use Linux is the dislike of the Windows interface.
But as long as there is choice available in Linux (appearantly to the chagrin of those who would like to standardize everything), it will remain the most compelling operating system for me.
Cheers!
you want everyone to have the freedom to do what they want with their applications and to be able to remake linux to suite their needs. but on the other hand everything has to look, feel, behave, and if possible completely mimic Mandrake-Linux or else it gets condemned by half of the people here. i really don’t understand the mentality of have 700 different distro names for mandrake linux.
I think its a great way for people that only know how to use windows to break them into using a linux distro. I think it will help people transistion easier. Which means we will get more people running linux. Which is good!
Great project, I’m definitly going to check it out!
It looks good. I hope it adds some usablility to the Linux desktop. I don’t care for the fonts too much though. A little too stick like ( isn’t that a common Linux font?). I figure that it can be changed though.
…since I can’t seem to find neither the source *nor a license* in the tarball offered on xpde.com.
Nor does “strings * | grep copyright” or
“strings * | grep copyright” executed in the top level
dir reveal anything except not your copyright for the fonts.
I have not tried the software, but deleted both the tarball
and the unpacked contents since I would be knowingly
violating copyright laws continuing to keep or use the files
after finding out by procedures that should be thought of as
reasonable when confronted with an archive that is expected
to contain freely redistributable software of unknown
license that no copyright is granted. 😉
I’m lucky to not reside in the USA, otherwise I’d probably
already have commited a DMCA violation 😉
((! is_copyrighted(product))!=(in_public_domain(product))).
If you like xpde, you should check out qvwm (www.qvwm.org). It’s not much more than a window manager, but it does a good job of emulating the windows look and feel.
I realize xpde aims to be more than just a window manager and more of a desktop, but I thought someone might find it interesting. On a side note, qvwm web’s site doesn’t seem to be responded and perhaps it’s long been orphaned and xpde looks like it’s picking up where qvwm left, adding more of a desktop “xperience” (sorry, i just had too) =)
what is the point of cloning somthing just so you don’t have to pay for it?
talk about cheap.
Windows is far from perfect even MS seem to realise this as they continually add new versions, so why do many OSS projects only try to clone it.
what is the point of cloning somthing just so you don’t have to pay for it?
talk about cheap.
Mind you, not everyone can afford to buy the latest Windows all the time. Sometime you are an organisation that has 50000 PCs, and you are tired of spending millions every year on MS licenses.
Or you are a non-profit/charity organisation and even $199 is $188 too much.
Or you live in a country where $199 is the average yearly salary. If a PC can cost only 2 years of salary instead of 3 this is definitely a major saving.
…of course most peoples have a warezed copy of it at home so they don’t see much reason to use a free Windows clone when they can have the real thing for the same price.
Most people don’t even know what is warez. Warez is common among stingy computer litterates, but most people use legal copies of Windows, most of which come from corporate discounts or OEM versions.
Or you are a non-profit/charity organisation and even $199 is $188 too much.
$199 is the retail price. It is much cheaper for a machine when you buy corporate licenses in bulk.
Besides, in countries where $199 is the average monthly/year salary, computer sales don’t go quite too well…
This is really great, but will definitely need lots of work before being more or less finished. If I only had enough time to help, hmmm, maybe 🙂
I guess Linux guys will miss the virtual desktop. Even under XP, there are virtual desktop softwares, so why not include one for this window manager?
Why cannot someone create a fork of XPde to add all the features Linux users expect?
Because there isn’t any sourcecode 🙂
The source is out…
Q:
I have just submitted to sources to the download section, are released under GPL license, if you have problems building it you can ask on the forums. Kylix 3 is required.
Virtual desktop, i don’t need it..