common desktop environment (CDE)

Common Desktop Environment (CDE) is an initiative launched in 1993 by well-known computer companies to develop a uniform graphical user interface for all Unix variants.

The basis for this standardization were development tools from the Open Software Foundation( OSF) and MOTIF as well as the Visual User Environment (VUE) from Hewlett Packard. Client applications for e-mail and messaging were also integrated.

Common Desktop Environment (CDE) is a standardized graphical user interface( GUI), similar to the K-Desktop-Environment( KDE), with user-friendly operation. The CDE interface provides various capabilities such as a collaborative workspace and access to the system and network resources.

The Common Desktop Environment (CDE) was developed by The Open Group.