KDE vs i3Solved

That’s probably because they are two different things altogether, @ryanmoore. KDE is a Desktop environment (DE), which is basically a complete graphical ecosystem. It comes with its own window manager called KWin, a file manager, panels, system settings, app launchers, everything you would expect from a full desktop. 

i3, on the other hand, is just a window manager (WM). It only controls how windows appear, resize, and stack. The rest, like menus, terminals, and file management, you have to add yourself if you want. 

Think of it like this: Kde is like walking into a fully furnished office. Everything is there, desks, chairs, computers, even coffee machines. i3 is just an empty room with modular desks. You bring your own furniture and arrange it however you like. That is why it feels minimal and blank at first. 

So you are basically saying i3 just manages windows and that is it? What should I do if I need other stuff like a file manager or menus? Isn’t a DE better since it already comes with everything including a window manager? What is the point of using just a window manager then? 

Well, using a standalone window manager can be more work, yes. You will need to install and configure your own file manager, terminal, and maybe even a system tray. But the upside is total control. You only add what you really need. No unnecessary background services or heavy apps. 

If you are new to Linux, a DE is definitely easier to start with. But if you like to tinker or want a lean setup for a low-end laptop, a WM like i3 is perfect. It is lightweight, fast, and once you learn the keyboard shortcuts, your workflow becomes super efficient. 

So, to put it simply, KDE feels like a ready-to-use office, and i3 feels like a bare workstation where I set up everything myself. 

Exactly. Both are great. It just depends on what kind of Linux experience you want.