Graphical User Interface

Question 1

X server ( also called X11 or X Window System)

Answer 1

● Manages graphical displays on Linux

	● Acts as a middle layer between applications and the display

	● Handles window rendering, keyboard input, and mouse
	movements

	● Supports network transparency, allowing remote application
	display using X forwarding over SSH

Question 2

What are the drawbacks of X server?

Answer 2

○ Outdated design introduces security vulnerabilities and
performance inefficiencies

	○ Many distributions still use Xorg, an implementation of X
	Server, for software compatibility

Question 3

Wayland (X Server Alternative)

Answer 3

● A modern replacement for X Server, designed for better security
and efficiency

Question 4

What are the advantages of Wayland?

Answer 4

○ Direct communication between applications and display
reduces lag and glitches

○ Improved security by isolating applications from one
another

○ More efficient rendering improves graphics performance

Question 5

What are the challenges of Wayland?

Answer 5

○ Not all applications support Wayland (e.g., some screen
recording and remote desktop tools)

	○ Many distributions, like Ubuntu and Fedora, offer both
	Wayland and X Server (Xorg)

Question 6

Windows Managers

Answer 6

● Window managers control how windows move, resize, and
interact on the screen

Question 7

Two types of Windows Managers

Answer 7

○ Floating Window Managers

			■ Users can freely move and resize windows

		○ Tiling Window Managers

			■ Windows are automatically arranged in a grid
			layout

Question 8

Examples of Window Managers

Answer 8

Mutter, Kwin

Question 9

Mutter

Answer 9

■ Floating window manager for GNOME desktop
environment

Question 10

Kwin

Answer 10

Window manager for KDE Plasma, highly customizable with advanced effects

Question 11

Display Managers

Answer 11

● Provide a graphical login screen and session control

● They start the user’s desktop environment or window manager

Question 12

Examples of Display Managers

Answer 12

○ GDM (GNOME Display Manager)

			■ Used in GNOME-based systems (Ubuntu, Fedora
			GNOME)

		○ SDDM (Simple Desktop Display Manager) 

○ Default for KDE Plasma (Kubuntu, Fedora KDE Spin)