Rebuilding Linux for the Desktop

The Linux desktop is built from pieces supplied by several disparate groups, including the Linux kernel, X window system, Mesa OpenGL library. On top of these pieces the Gnome and KDE projects build the GUI seen by the Linux user. The capabilities of these hidden layers of infrastructure circumscribe the overall Linux desktop experience and have, until recently, remained surprisingly static for the last twenty years.

Recent changes in the way the operating system interacts with the graphics hardware have unlocked new possibilities for user interaction. Fancy desktop effects, smoother application updates and new modes for input have started to draw attention to Linux as a leader in desktop innovation, rather than lagging behind other systems.

This presentation will outline the architectural changes involved in this transition, changes affecting the kernel, graphics drivers, window system, and desktop environment. The current status of these projects and future directions will be described.