Release 1.0

WARNING: This is preliminary version of document. New feature descriptions and notes will be added as developmtent evolves.

NEXTSPACE is a Desktop Enviroment (DE) closely integrated with underlying Operating System (OS) - CentOS Linux, leverages the power of OpenStep implementation - GNUstep and revives OPENSTEP user experience.

NEXTSPACE is a set of applications designed with care and accuracy to bring the look and feel of mature DE for everyday usage. Below is a description of most valuable functionality of major NEXTSPACE applications from a user point of view.

Workspace

This is a core application of the entire desktop. It provides ability to manage files (copy, move, link, delete, recycle), applications (start, stop, kill), windows (move, resize, minimize, hide), removable media (automount, eject). You can view output messages of running applications.

File Viewer - file and window manager

• Fully compatible with GNUstep environment.
• Provides navigation through the file system in a column-style viewer.
• Contains Shelf - place for storing links to favourite applications and folder.
• Every File Viewer window keeps it’s own Shelf contents.
• Drag and drop to Dock, other File Viewer window, Recycler.

Window Manager

• Window operations: move, hide, minimize, close, shade (rolling window to titlebar).
• Virtual workspaces. Current workspace number can be displayed on Workspace appicon (configurable through preferences).
• Support of multiple displays: Dock moves to main display if changes occurs.
• Adopts to display resolution changes with no need to restart.
• Remembers last good resolution and display layout.

Dock

• Place to hold application icons (appicons).
• There are 2 non-removable icons: first (with logo of OS) and last (Recycler).
• Can be hidden (Tools->Dock->Hide) or collapsed (Tools->Dock->Collapse).

Icon Yard

• It is a place for non-docked application icons and miniwindows.
• Can be hidden with menu (Tools->Icon Yard->Hide) or keyboard shortcut.

Inspector

• View of files and directories attributes (type, size, date, permissions);
• Calculate overall size of directory (with contents);
• Set permissions on files and directories;
• Preview some type of files (text, RTF, image);
• Set application associations to file types.
• Extendable through third-party modules (bundles) for “Contents Inspector” section.

Console

View output of running applications. Functionaly is simple but can be usefull.

Processes

• View running applications on DE (both GNUstep and X11).
• Kill application at process level.
• View and manage Workspace’s background operations (copy, move, delete, link, mount/eject media, sizing directory contents);

Recycler

• Place where you can move unneeded files and directories.
• Always visible on screen even if there’s no room in Dock (moves to Icon Yard).
• Unlike “File->Destroy” gives ability to place files before destroy. It’s called Trash on some desktop environments.

Preferences

Localization

Fonts

Display and Screen

Keyboard

Mouse

Terminal