Can I create a totally new desktop?

Replies

• 

  Kaustubh Katdare

  What exactly are you trying to create? Could you please add a little description to the topic? 

• 

  Jyoti Hodavdekar

  I am working on a project where I have to completely revamp our traditional OS desktop which generally has a start menu on bottom left, desktop icons and time at the bottom right. I have to completely redesign an OS desktop, something fresh. Let your creative juices flow, whatever you can think of, no restrictions really. I will be implementing it in Python over a period of 3 months. What I need creative ideas, not implementation. 

  So let me know whatever crazy things you can come up with. Tell me what you would change in our traditional desktop, what would you remove? what would you add? Need ideas!

  I hope to submit a rough sketch to my supervisor in about a week's time.

• 

  Kaustubh Katdare

  #-Link-Snipped-# - any ideas here?

  PS: I'd rather make it more MacOS like. It's super simple and get things done. Btw, I'll recommend you to look at Rainmeter Desktop Customization tool and also Compiz for Ubuntu. 

• 

  yorha 2b

  Interesting, There are dozen of Desktop environments and WMs that it's obvious to say that OS desktop are no longer 'traditional'.

  Infact, some DEs are very much customizable that you could make it look like anything you want it. Everything (almost) is modular (eg : KDE)

  
  

  I am linking some of the good projects from which you might want to take inspiration :

  1. GNOME – Simple, beautiful, elegant.

  2. #-Link-Snipped-#

  3. dwm - dynamic window manager | suckless.org software that sucks less

  4. i3 - improved tiling wm

  5. MATE Desktop Environment | MATE

  6. Official Video – Deepin Technology Community

  7. Enlightenment Main

  8. Xfce Desktop Environment

  9. Liri

  10. The thoughtful, capable, and ethical replacement for Windows and macOS ⋅ elementary OS 

  
  

  Any specific reason to choose python ? 

• 

  Ramani Aswath

  VR monitors for desktops are already available. Logitech has come far with its VR keyboard.

  So make a VR desktop.

  Maybe we can do virtual work as well.

• 

  Alisha Tandon

  I cheer for a minimalistic desktop that only shows frequently used apps and a settings button. Everything else is an overkill. 

• 

  Jyoti Hodavdekar

   Thank you, for all your inputs, especially #-Link-Snipped-#

  #-Link-Snipped-# , Python because it is the language preferred by both me and my supervisor.

  Any inputs/ideas that anyone can come up with would be hugely helpful and appreciated.

  Regards.

• 

  Kaustubh Katdare

  #-Link-Snipped-# - Python is an excellent choice. However, it's not clear if you are only going to focus on the UI improvements. Also you seem to be referring to Windows Desktop in your first post. Are you also going to implement functional changes? If yes, which operating system are you going to modify? As #-Link-Snipped-# mentioned, there are several options available in the Unix domain.

  If you are focusing on UI improvements, you'll also have to consider the graphics capabilities of your target machines. Some are going to be graphics intensive; and may not work on all the machines. 

  Ultimately, you are going to need your desktop to offer quick access to -

  1. Applications
  2. System Settings
  3. ...and some visual enhancements - like screen-saver or wallpapers.