# EDE

> desktop environment

**Wikidata**: [Q1323918](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1323918)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ede

## Summary
EDE (Equinox Desktop Environment) is a free software desktop environment designed for Unix-like operating systems. First published on January 6, 2003, it provides a graphical user interface built upon the FLTK (Fast Light Toolkit) framework. The software is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL).

## Key Facts
- **Full Name:** Equinox Desktop Environment (EDE)
- **Classification:** Free software; Desktop environment
- **Platform:** Unix-like operating systems
- **GUI Framework:** FLTK
- **Licenses:** GNU General Public License, GNU Lesser General Public License
- **Initial Release Date:** January 6, 2003
- **Latest Stable Version:** 1.2 (released November 16, 2007)
- **Latest Development Version:** 2.0-beta (released October 8, 2009)
- **Official Website:** http://equinox-project.org
- **Programming Language:** Q2407

## FAQs
### Q: What operating systems can run EDE?
A: EDE is designed to run on Unix-like operating systems. It functions as a graphical desktop environment within these systems.

### Q: What graphical toolkit does EDE use?
A: EDE utilizes the FLTK (Fast Light Toolkit) framework for its graphical user interface components.

### Q: Is EDE free to use?
A: Yes, EDE is classified as free software. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License and the GNU Lesser General Public License, allowing users to run, study, change, and distribute it.

### Q: When was the first version of EDE released?
A: The software was initially published on January 6, 2003. The first stable version (1.0) was released later that year on March 18.

## Why It Matters
EDE serves as a distinct implementation of a desktop environment within the free software ecosystem, specifically tailored for Unix-like architectures. Its significance lies in its use of the FLTK toolkit, distinguishing it from more prevalent environments that often rely on GTK or Qt. By adhering to the definitions of free software, EDE ensures that users maintain the liberties to study, modify, and redistribute the code, contributing to the diversity of open-source desktop solutions available for Unix-like systems. Its continued development through the 2000s, culminating in the 2.0-beta release, demonstrates a sustained effort to provide alternative graphical interfaces for the open-source community.

## Notable For
- **Toolkit Implementation:** Distinctive use of the FLTK (Fast Light Toolkit) framework rather than common alternatives like GTK or Qt.
- **Licensing Structure:** Dual-licensing under both the GNU General Public License and the GNU Lesser General Public License.
- **Free Software Compliance:** Strict adherence to free software principles, allowing users to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software.
- **Long-term Development:** A development history spanning from 2003 to 2009 across multiple stable and pre-release versions.

## Body

### Technical Specifications
EDE is an instance of a desktop environment and is categorized as free software. It is specifically built to operate on Unix-like operating systems. The project relies on the FLTK graphical user interface toolkit (identified in the source as `gui_toolkit_or_framework`).

The software's source code is written in the programming language identified as Q2407. It is legally distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License and the GNU Lesser General Public License. The copyright status is listed as copyrighted.

### Version History
The development of EDE is documented through a series of stable and pre-release versions:

- **1.x Series:**
    - **1.0:** Released March 18, 2003.
    - **1.0.1:** Released January 21, 2004.
    - **1.0.1.1:** Released March 17, 2004.
    - **1.0.2:** Released June 6, 2005.
    - **1.0.3:** Released June 6, 2005.
    - **1.0.4:** Released August 31, 2005.
    - **1.1:** Released September 2, 2006.
    - **1.2:** Released November 16, 2007 (Last listed stable version).

- **2.x Series (Pre-release):**
    - **2.0-alpha:** Released April 22, 2009.
    - **2.0-beta:** Released October 8, 2009 (Listed as preferred version).

### Project Identity and Resources
- **Aliases:** Equinox Desktop Environment, EDE.
- **Website:** The official project website is hosted at http://equinox-project.org.
- **Development Repositories:** The project maintains a presence on SourceForge (project ID: `ede`) and is tracked by Open Hub (ID: `ede`) and Repology (project name: `ede`).
- **Documentation and Community:** EDE has an associated gallery on Wikimedia Commons titled "Equinox Desktop Environment" and an article on ArchWiki titled "Equinox_Desktop_Environment". It has Wikipedia articles in approximately 11 languages, including Arabic, Azerbaijani, Estonian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, and Russian.
- **Identifiers:**
    - Freebase ID: `/m/0hwtp`
    - pro_linux.de DBApp ID: `857`

## References

1. [Source](https://sourceforge.net/projects/ede/files/ede/)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013