Does a little I wrote an article about GNOME in which I mentioned the reasons why I like it and the reasons why I don't. But I think there is something that happens to all of us: when we read “GNOME” or “KDE”, the first thing that comes to mind is the user interface, the wallpaper with a dock or panel where the favorite apps are. and, if it has one, the top panel, but we don't think so much about the applications of the different projects.
I believe that the applications should also have something to say when making a decision when choosing one option or another. It is true that in Linux we can install the apps of one project in another, but by doing so we will also be installing certain libraries and “dirtying” the operating system a bit. Here we are going to talk about some applications of kdegear and some of GNOME-Apps.
GNOME applications: simple; KDE Applications: More Features
Before continuing, I have to say that the applications that we will include in this article are some of the ones that appear by default. on Ubuntu and Kubuntu, because they are distributions with the same root that do not change much what the different projects offer. In both cases, v21.10 Impish Indri has been used.
As well I am going to name the applications as they are in Spanish, and we have the best example in the first comparison: KDE calls its Spectacle screenshot tool regardless of the language in which we use the app, and GNOME calls it Screenshot if we have the operating system in es_ES.
And one last note: I have my Ubuntu in dark mode, and the Kubuntu screenshots have been made as it is by default, that is, with a light tone.
Spectacle and Screenshot
The screenshot tool is widely used regardless of the operating system we are using, even on mobile phones. In the same way that it has served as an example of the names that each project gives to its applications, Spectacle and GNOME Screenshots They serve as an example of what each of them are looking for. The GNOME tool is rather simple, it has the right options to take a picture of the entire screen, a window or a selection, it allows us to show or not show the pointer and configure a delay. Little more. In fact, from the app itself we can't even tell you where it will save the screenshot by default.
Moreover, Show offers more options. To what the GNOME proposal already offers, and from the main screen, we can include or remove the title bars and window borders, among other settings. We also have the «Export» button to open the capture in an app like GIMP. If that doesn't seem enough to us, for a few months now we have also made available a tool to make annotations, such as putting arrows, numbers or pixelating.
Important data: in GNOME 42 this tool will improve a lot and will allow you to record the screen, among other new features.
Gwenview and Image Viewer
After taking a screenshot, we probably want to see it. At this point Image Viewer and Gwenview come into play. Once again, we see how different both projects think. The Pictures viewer of GNOME is basically that, to view images. It offers us options such as opening the image in another app, saving it in another format or setting it as the desktop background, as well as displaying information about the file.
Moreover, Gwenview It offers some very basic editing tools, but they are sometimes very useful. Among them we have to change the size of the image. With a keyboard shortcut (Shift +R) you can reduce the width from 1920px to 1200px, which we use in Linux Adictos. You can also reduce red eyes, but, in my opinion, for more advanced editing I prefer to use other apps.
System Settings and Preferences
The same. Configuration is GNOME's tweaks application, and it's appreciated that everything is tidy and easy to make any changes to the operating system, at least the ones that can be done by default.
In the antipodes we have System preferences, the KDE Settings application. There's a lot more to tweaking by default, and that makes the app not always intuitive. It is true that it has a search box, but it is also developed for English and we will not always find quickly what we have to touch to make a change.
Dolphin and Archives (although here I will say Nautilus)
When a friend of mine and I coincided in the gym and he saw that I was always pressing, he joked telling me «whoever takes a lot of space, the less he tightens up«. I don't know whether to say that about Dolphin, KDE's file manager, as it offers many options and by default it seems overloaded to me. In fact, I remove some options from the left panel and activate the right panel to see the information of the files as in a "preview". But it was hard for me to do it. Also, as provided by KDE you cannot write Sudo Dolphin and navigate with superuser privileges (it will be possible soon), so you have to do it, and I think that's not a good thing.
Moreover, Nautilus It is simpler, it offers everything we may need and it has never had the option of sudo nautilus, something I think I've used since 2006, when I first touched Linux. It can be very simple for those who want something more, but do not forget that in GNOME there are extensions for everything.
Gedit and Kate
Here I also mention the name Gedit instead of "text editor" for his fame and for the future. Currently, the GNOME text editor is a simple application for writing plain text with basic options. If it exists, it is because GNOME users like that simplicity very much, but the project is working in a text editor which will offer more options (more information).
Moreover, Kate you are ready to be more productive. It is clearly visible, at the bottom right, a section to choose what type of file we want to create, for example, HTML. It's not going to work like Visual Studio Code, but it does have its tidbits. In addition, you are more prepared to create more complex projects.
Ark and File Roller
Here we could repeat the same thing as in previous comparisons, that the KDE option offers more options by default than the GNOME option, but there is something I would like to say before that: Ark has failed me more than File Roller. There was a time when you couldn't create files from within Dolphin, while File Roller has always worked flawlessly.
For everything else, we are dealing with software that is used to compress and decompress, and in both cases we can do it. If any format is not supported by default, you can install the package from the terminal or software center.
Discover and Software Center
Between these two, it seems to me that GNOME's simplicity wins out over KDE's attempt to offer something full of features. I think it is important to mention that here we are talking about the Software Center from GNOME, and not from Ubuntu Software which is actually Canonical's Snap Store which, well, I'd recommend keeping in a drawer.
The Software Center resembles a well-designed, distraction-free store that invites you to browse. But nevertheless, Discover it looks like KDE's System Preferences: there's so much to it that it gets lazy. move through its menus.
Konsole and Terminal
Konsole offers many options by default, such as the ability to open new tabs or split the screen with just one click, while GNOME Terminal is much simpler. Still, if you want a tool for command line ninjas, it's probably a good choice to go with software other than either of these two.
Other apps
There are many more applications than we could put in a post like this, but practically we will always say the same thing: what KDE offers has more functions, but what GNOME offers is simplicity and ease of use. Among other examples we have:
- Elisa and Music, although in these cases both applications are not very loaded.
- Okular and the Document Viewer, where the first one even allows us to make annotations.
- Or the mail client, which both in Kubuntu and Ubuntu have opted for Thunderbird because it seems that no other option convinces them.
Simple or complex applications?
In the end, and as in everything, the decision must be made by each one, but I think it is important to keep in mind that the decision to choose between GNOME, KDE, Xfce or another desktop should not only focus on the graphical environment. Apps are also important.
some kde apps are very useful
Very true what you say. -Many people tend to choose between one or another desktop looking more at its graphic interface, design, how it is organized or structured, and less is said about the apps of these desktops.
That is precisely the reason why I continue to use plasma, it will be that I am so used to the great customization that plasma offers me that when I see the “simple” gnome apps it never stops convincing me.
I think that in the end, if one tool offers you 20 options and the other 10, I consider that the 20 tool is better because it is more powerful and allows you more options to adapt to your work and with the other one you can be left lame.
Contrary to you I prefer dolphin and a very useful feature for me is being able to split a window into two panes at a time so I can work with two locations quickly and also be able to copy or move files from one to another more easily I think that Nautilus doesn't allow something as useful and basic as that.
In the end, that simplicity of gnome also limits you a lot and for me that is more of a problem than a solution.
Totally agree with Johny127. For a user who is only going to use the computer to navigate, perhaps edit some text and manage some files, even Gnome is enough. XFCE perfectly gives you the functionalities you need. For work and productivity, Gnome is very far from Plasma, very far.
On the other hand, when you say
"Also, as KDE offers you can't type sudo dolphin and navigate with superuser privileges (you will be soon), so you have to get used to it, and I think that's not a good thing." you are doing it wrong. Plasma always presents two options to launch Dolphin from startup “Dolphin” and “Dolphin (administrator)” which can also appear as “File manager (super user mode)”. And if it is from terminal, everything that is in windows and you have to launch as superuser, you have to put “kdesu COMMAND”, not “sudo COMMAND”.