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# Chapter 7 Desktop Applications

Contributed by Christophe Juniet.

# 7.1 Synopsis

While FreeBSD is popular as a server for its performance and stability, it is also suited for day-to-day use as a desktop. With over 24,000 applications available as packages or ports, it is easy to build a customized desktop that runs a wide variety of desktop applications. This chapter demonstrates how to install some popular desktop applications effortlessly using packages or the FreeBSD Ports Collection.

As FreeBSD features Linux® binary compatibility, many applications developed for Linux can be installed on a FreeBSD desktop. Many of the ports using Linux binary compatibility start with “linux-”. This chapter assumes that Linux binary compatibility has been enabled before any Linux applications are installed.

This chapter demonstrates how to install the following desktop applications:

Type of Application | Application Name | Package Name | Ports Name
--- | --- | --- | ---
Browser | Firefox | `firefox` | `www/firefox`
Browser | Opera | `opera` | `www/opera`
Browser | Konqueror | `kde4-baseapps` | `x11/kde4-baseapps`
Browser | Chromium | `chromium` | `www/chromium`
Productivity | Calligra | `calligra` | `editors/calligra`
Productivity | AbiWord | `abiword` | `editors/abiword`
Productivity | The GIMP | `gimp` | `graphics/gimp`
Productivity | Apache OpenOffice | `openoffice` | `editors/openoffice-3`
Productivity | LibreOffice | `libreoffice` | `editors/libreoffice`
Document Viewer | Acrobat Reader® | `no package due to license restriction` | `print/acroread9`
Document Viewer | gv | `gv` | `print/gv`
Document Viewer | Xpdf | `xpdf` | `graphics/xpdf`
Document Viewer | GQview | `gqview` | `graphics/gqview`
Finance | GnuCash | `gnucash` | `finance/gnucash`
Finance | Gnumeric | `gnumeric` | `math/gnumeric`
Finance | KMyMoney | `kmymoney-kde4` | `finance/kmymoney-kde4`

Before reading this chapter, you should know how to:

- Install additional software using packages or ports.

- Enable Linux binary compatibility.

For information on how to configure a multimedia environment, refer to Chapter 8. For information on how to set up and use electronic mail, refer to Chapter 29.

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