KDE

The K Desktop Environment is an Open Source graphical desktop environment (GUI) and framework built with Trolltech's QT Toolkit for Unix and thus Linux workstations. The "K" may or may not stand for "Kool". KDE 1.0 was released in July 1998, to be followed by version 2.0 in October 2000. The current version (2.2.2) was released in November 2001.

According to the [KDE website]; "KDE is a network transparent contemporary desktop environment for UNIX workstations. KDE seeks to fill the need for an easy to use desktop for Unix workstations, similar to the desktop environments found under MacOS or Microsoft Windows."

KDE was originally patterned after (and presumably intended to replace) CDE, the "Common Desktop Environment". CDE is an older Unix desktop environment used by commercial Unix vendors, such as Sun Microsystems and Hewlett-Packard.

An ongoing flame war has occurred between users of KDE and GNOME as to which GUI is "better". Like most flame wars, there has been little resolution.