XPde Tools - About XPde

XPde is a desktop environment (XPde) and a window manager (XPwm) for Linux. It tries to recreate the Windows XP interface to-the-pixel point, nothing more. No clipboard compatibility between Gtk and Qt applications, no emulation of Windows applications, no unification on the widgets of X applications, just a desktop environment and a window manager.

Basically to learn more about Linux application development, and for fun. I have never been involved in a GPL project before, and I'm already starting to get the first benefits - a lot of friends around the world and a lot of fun. When I started this project, I thought it could be commercial - I even thought some distribution like Lindows or Lycoris would be interested in it. I contacted Lindows and explained the idea - they liked it, but they answered no, so I started to think how to develop this project and how to make it reach it's target. The answer was only through the GPL, because the main purpose is to allow "existing" Windows XP users to use a Linux machine. This can only be possible if it's available to everyone.

Let's say it again. XPde doesn't want you to use it forever!! XPde doesn't try to create a new desktop interface!! It just exists to help "current" Windows XP users!! ;-))

Do you think an "existing" user of Windows XP would want to migrate?, they are ok with what they have!!!

No, an "existing" user of Windows XP doesn't even know there such a thing called Linux, which can be more stable, more secure, with a lower TCO. If they know about it, they have to break too many walls to get into it. They won't want to migrate.

YOU as developer, YOU as sysadmin would like your customers use Linux. It would save you countless hours on the phone, countless hours repairing stupid Windows machines, countless hours cleaning viruses and it would give you a lot of flexibility on the computer management of your customers. XPde is just another tool in your toolset to help you migrate YOUR customers.

Why don't you modify KDE?

Well, we like KDE, and some of us are KDE users, but we are sorry, we think KDE exceeds the purpose of this project. That is, KDE has many features, while XPde is just a list of features that are the same as Windows XP - any "innovation" is forbidden (no, we are not crazy, we are not stupid, we don't take drugs, ....). Also we think Kylix is the most powerful linux development tool ever created. we love it and we want more people to use it, this is a way to do that also.

I use Kylix 3 Enterprise, I have not tested with Kylix 3 Open Edition, but it may work because I don't use any database stuff. if you have success with Open Edition, please, tell me.