## What is KDE?

KDE is a network transparent contemporary desktop environment for Unix workstations. It was written by a world-wide network of software engineers committed to free software development. KDE seeks to fill the need for an easy to use desktop for Unix workstations, similar to the desktop environments found under the MacOS or Window95/NT. We believe that the Unix operating system is the best operating system available today. In fact Unix has been the undisputed choice of the information technology professional for many years. When it comes to stability, scalability and openness there is no competition to Unix. However, the lack of an easy to use contemporary desktop environment for Unix has prevented Unix from finding its way onto the desktops of the typical computer user in offices and homes. Unix dominates the server market and is the preferred computing platform for computing professional and scientists. Without Unix the internet would not be. But Unix did not address the needs of the average computer user. This fact is particularly unfortunate since a number of implementations of Unix ( Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, etc) are freely availabe on the internet. All of which are of exceptional quality and stability.

### KDE The Desktop Environment

With KDE there is now an easy to use contemporary desktop environment available for Unix. Together with a free implementation of Unix, KDE constitutes a completely free and open computing platform available to anyone free of charge including its source code for anyone to modify. While there will always be room for improvement we believe to have delivered a viable alternative to some of the more commonly found and commercial operating systems/desktops combinations available today. It is our hope that the combination Unix/KDE will finally bring the same open, reliable, stable and monopoly free computing to the average computer user that scientist and computing professionals world-wide have enjoyed for years.

### KDE The Application Development Framework

Authoring applications under Unix/X11 used to be an extremely tedious and laborsome process. KDE recognizes the fact that a computing platform is only as good as the amount of first class applications available to the users of that particular platform. In view of these circumstances the KDE Project has developed a first rate compound document application framework, implementing the latest advances in framework technology and thus positioning itself in direct competition to such popular development frameworks as for example Mircrosoft's MFC/COM/ActiveX technology. KDE's KOM/OpenParts compound document technology enables developers to quickly create first rate applications implementing cutting edge technology. KDE's KOM/OpenParts technology is build upon the open industry standards such as the object request broker CORBA 2.0.

### KDE The Office Application Suite

At this moment KDE is developing an office application suite based on KDE's KOM/OpenParts technology consisting of a spread-sheet, a presentation applications, an organizer, an email and news client and more. While some of those components are still in alpha developement others are approaching release status rapidly. KPresenter, KDE's presentation application was successfully used at the 5th international Linux congress in Cologne, Germany to deliver a KDE presentation.
We would like to invite you to learn more about KDE.

Bernd Johannes Wuebben
for the KDE Project