In article <wildstar200-46D5FC.14200923112005@blackhole.shreve.net>,
Jeffrey Rolland <wildstar200@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hello, all!

I have a newbie question about desktop environments and window managers.

My Power Mac 7500 is almost ready from its improvements, and I plan on
installing YDL 4.0.1 on it once it is ready.

I hope others chime in with other opinions and advice. I just have
mine.

Load up YDL and use it right out of the box. Use it as it is set up and
learn changes as you go. The knowledge will build on itself and soon
you will be able of bop things around as much as you want.

I beleive KDE is both a window manager (The 'window manager' may just
be called 'K'- could be wrong) and a system of applications which can
be easily configured to work together.


I would like a Mac-like desktop system for it, but I have never run
linux before, so I need some guidance.

Is GNUStep a desktop environment, similiar to KDE and GNOME, or is it
something orthogonal (just an IDE)?

If GNUStep is a desktop environment, how difficult is it to install
WindowMaker as a window manager for Yellow Dog? I understand that KDE is
ready to run out of the box (I don't know what window manager runs with
KDE out of the box, maybe someone can help; is KDE a window manager as
well?), and I don't know what is involved in installing a non-default
environment like GNUStep/WindowMaker.

It's not hard. You can edit one file by hand (.xinitrc) or there might
be a utility shell script with the window manager of your choice to do
it for yyou.

The beauty of all this GNU, Linux and free software is taht is is
pretty well self documented. It is possible to do most anything you
want by fiddling with it and reading all the documentation which comes
along with the software.

Once WindowMaker is in place, how hard is installing GNUStep?

If I am off base (GNUStep is not a desktop environment), or this is too
difficult, I can always just run KDE (it is a Solaris/CDE-like desktop
system, which isn't a bad second choice), but I would prefer
GNUStep/WindowMaker.

Any help (and as much detail as possible, I am a complete newbie -
haven't even done the firet install yet) is appreciated.

I have a "Companion to Installing Yellow Dog Linix 4.0.1" right next to
me even as we speak. You are taken step by step through the process
and to configuring X the first time around. It is on the YDL website
and I suggest you DL it and follw the instuctions and then tinker with
one thing at a time.

Good luck.

raoul

Use debian ppc. You should have no trouble fitting in as long as you plan
ahead.