What is a Virtual Desktop in Linux?

Linux users are sometimes picky enough when it comes to their activities as they relish the use of virtual desktops or workspaces as they may be called. Desktops are multi-monitor systems where all monitors can show all virtual desktops at once in a single pane to make it easy for the user to arrange and handle more than one workspace. Providing this facility has been part of Linux operating systems for ages and many of its Desktop Environments like Gnome, KDE Plasma, Xfce and many others incorporate this.

This article will define the virtual desktop and explain how this concept has developed in Linux history, its advantages, and how virtual desktops are implemented in various desktop environments for Linux.

What are Virtual Desktops?

At its simplest level, a virtual desktop is an interface feature which helps in building various desktop environments on a single physical screen. In other words, this multiple desktop switching can be treated as a separate desk on which you may place several applications, files and windows and thus do not need to board them on the main screen.

As the name suggests, you might have opened your web browser and your email client application on one virtual desktop and still be working on some programming tasks having a terminal and a code editor on another. The benefits of switching between these widespread and sophisticated environments simplify the work structure and help in avoiding distractions.

Virtual desktops address this need effectively. The advantage of virtual desktops comes in handy, especially for users who perform numerous multitasking activities or are working on different projects at the same time since they help in isolating the activities and performing tasks efficiently without the use of several monitors.

Advantages of Implementing Virtual Desktops

Enhanced Organization and Sitting Arrangement: With the help of virtual desktops, users will be able to arrange their workspace in a more managed way; for example by letting users assign different jobs to different desktops, users avoid a situation where too many windows are opened in the same time. This separation enhances concentration and is thus helpful to a person’s productivity.

Increased Multitasking: Application virtualization enhances multitasking as a user can jump from one task to another without losing the focus of the previous task. For instance, work on a report on one desktop but with communication tools such as Slack or email, apps open on another one. This happens so because of avoiding distractions related to performing important activities.

Reduced Physical Strain: With the help of virtual desktops, the operating system can distribute and balance the workload more efficiently. Instead of having to work on everything in one big workspace, you can easily find multiple desktops, each dedicated to a different task with its own set of applications.

Flexibility and Individualization: In most instances, Linux desktop environments have virtual desktops which can be modified in several regards. 

Install different numbers of desktops, configure keyboard shortcuts and load certain applications on certain desktops to make this interpolate easier. This is because it allows users to organize their work in the best way that suits them.

How Are Virtual Desktops Structured in Various Linux Distributions

GNOME: GNOME, arguably one of the most common desktop environments in the Linux system, possesses a comparatively simplified concept of headings. In GNOME, workspaces are created dynamically depending on the user’s activities. For instance, the moment a user clicks the button to open a new window, a new workspace is automatically added. These can be accessed by pressing the Super (Windows) key and the appropriate arrow keys or through the Activities Overview which shows all active workspaces and windows in miniature.

KDE Plasma: KDE plasma provides a virtual desktop environment that is extremely flexible in flexibility. The actual process allows the users to specify the number of workspaces they need, and all the properties within the workspaces can be modified. Each workspace can have a separate default wallpaper as well, so there’s a division between tasks visually as well. The desktop pager widget makes the changing of virtual desktops easy while, the use of keyboard shortcuts like Control, Alt and arrow keys adds more tools for desk navigation.

Xfce: As its primary feature, namely weightlessness, xfce offers a rather standard implementation of the virtual desktop extension. The Xfce panel has a workspace switcher which even controls how the user moves windows from one desktop to the other. Moving between your workspaces is also made easier for the users, thanks to the integration of keyboard key functions within the safe program that is rather light on system resources.

Other Environments (LXQt, Mate, and Cinnamon): Virtual desktops with different levels of customization are also supported by other desktop environments such as LXQt, Mate, and Cinnamon. For example, LXQt offers basic workspace capabilities and is lightweight, similar to Xfce. In contrast, Mate and Cinnamon offer a more conventional desktop experience with user-friendly workspace switchers and customizable choices.

Conclusion: Hence, now you know the concepts of virtual desktops in Linux. It is an excellent work model that can help you access different workspace environments on a single display. For users trying to multitask on different computing workspaces, Linux virtual desktops are a viable option.