How to Pick the Ideal Graphical User Interface for Your Ubuntu Server

When it comes to selecting the finest graphical user interface (GUI) for an Ubuntu server, there are a few factors that need to be taken into consideration. There are some individuals who want a desktop environment that is more conventional, while there are others who favor an interface that is more minimalistic or streamlined. 

What kinds of jobs do you want your server to do?

 That’s one of the most crucial considerations to give some thought to. If you require a server for a certain operation, such as operating a database or hosting a website, then you will want to pick a graphical user interface that is intended exclusively for that task. For example, if you need a server to host a website. If you are seeking for a graphical user interface (GUI) that will enable you to administer your server from a distant location, then you will need to choose one that has strong remote management features. But there are a lot of graphical user interfaces that are made for broad use that you may use if you aren’t sure what kind of server you need. 

The degree of expertise you have working with Linux servers is the second factor to take into consideration. There are graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that are easier to use than others; thus, if you are new to Linux servers, it is recommended that you begin with a GUI that is simple to use. On the other hand, if you are an experienced Linux user, you could want a more complex graphical user interface (GUI) that provides you with a greater degree of control over the configuration settings of the server. 

Checking to see whether you need support for numerous languages is another one of the crucial elements that you need to take into consideration. If this is the case, then you will need to choose a graphical user interface that is compatible with the language(s) of your preference. The simplicity of use and the features available are also important aspects to take into consideration. 

Last but not least, it is essential to check that the graphical user interface (GUI) is compatible with the version of Ubuntu you are using. Be careful to conduct your study before settling on a choice since not all graphical user interfaces are compatible with each and every version of Ubuntu. 

In the end, the finest graphical user interface (GUI) for your Ubuntu server will be the one that caters to your specific tastes and requirements. Experiment with a few different possibilities until you find one that suits your needs and preferences best.

Which graphical user interfaces for Ubuntu servers are the best? 

If you are more used to using Windows or Mac than Linux, then the concept of selecting from a variety of desktop environments may seem weird to you. In point of fact, having options to choose from increases the level of excitement around the situation. So, what are our options in this predicament? 

Some of the Best Graphical User Interfaces for Ubuntu Server: 

• GNOME
• KDE 
• Plasma 
• MATE 
• Xfce 

Let’s take a look at the characteristics of each one so that we can evaluate all of the options and choose the best one.

Gnome

• Stable
• GTK Support
• Regular Updates

KDE Plasma

• Stable
• Highly Customizable
• Visually Appealing

MATE

• Resource-Efficient
• Intuitive Design
• Time-Tested

Xfce

• Easy to Use 
• Very Lightweight
• Very Stable

Meet GNOME

The most widely used graphical user interface (GUI) desktop for Linux distributions is GNOME, which stands for the GNU Network Object Model Environment. This piece of software is both free and open-source, and it serves as the graphical user interface (GUI) for the workstation version of Ubuntu (the one for personal computers like your laptop). Simply the fact that GNOME was built specifically for Ubuntu is more than enough to put it in the running for the title of best graphical user interface for Ubuntu servers. In addition to this, GNOME is dependable and simple to use. 

In what other ways does it manifest itself? 

Other notable and useful GNOME features include the following: 

• Extremely Reliable 
• Regular Updates 
• Participatory Community 
• Quite a Few Apps 
• Mobile touch-friendly 
• Having a strong sense of integration 
• Effective user interface 
• Support for native applications that are based on GTK. 
• Strong and reliable communications system 

Without resorting to some convoluted workarounds, GNOME does not provide a great deal of visual customization (a more true description would be that it offers almost no visual customization). However, it more than makes up for that by having an excellent layout. If your server has a limited amount of resources to spare, this might be an issue since it may place an excessive amount of strain on the performance of the RAM and the CPU. To summarize the situation, the fact that GNOME is the default desktop environment is not due to a lack of merit; rather, the opposite is true.

Welcome KDE Plasma

KDE Plasma is the other standard graphical user interface desktop for Linux distributions. Although it does not enjoy the same level of popularity as GNOME, it is nevertheless considered a mainstream desktop environment, and it has the capabilities necessary to support that claim. It is open source software that is free to use and gives users the ability to quickly add or delete the components that they need. 

Top features of KDE Plasma include: 

• Lightweight 
• Simple in Operation 
• Extremely Modifiable and Adaptable 
• Participatory Community 
• Super fast 
• Provides support for a great deal of applications 

The aesthetically pleasing KDE Plasma desktop environment is without a doubt the most customisable Linux desktop environment ever created. You have complete control over the way it looks, and it just takes a few clicks to make adjustments. It has a taskbar and start menu that are quite similar to those seen in Windows, as well as icon placements that are very recognizable to users. Even while it has a smaller number of programs, each and every one of the ones it does have is more capable than any one GNOME application. However, when it comes to using KDE Plasma as a server operating system, the resource-efficiency of the software is perhaps the most significant aspect to take into consideration. KDE Plasma is an excellent choice if you do not have a lot of resources or if you require those resources for other vital activities. 

If you are used to Windows, running Linux with KDE Plasma is a terrific method to keep overhead down while having a more “natural” experience than you would get with other distributions of Linux.

How about MATE?

MATE is a well-seasoned veteran when it comes to delivering a desktop experience that is not just attractive but also lightweight. It is much more resource-efficient than KDE Plasma, which makes it an excellent option as the graphical user interface for the Ubuntu server or as an operating system for servers. 

The Best Aspects of MATE 

• Extremely Effective Use of Available Resources Intuitive and Experienced-based Design 
• Can be executed on low-cost equipment. 
• Offers support for the whole suite of apps 

Actually, MATE is derived on GNOME 2, which is an earlier version of the desktop environment that is now the most popular. Regardless of where it came from, MATE has its own unique graphical user interface (GUI), which has a layout similar to Windows and runs quite quickly. MATE is the desktop environment you want to use if you want your server operating system to look nice while yet being as lean and efficient as possible. Some industry professionals even believe it to be even more lightweight than Xfce.

Last but least – Xfce 

When it comes to minimal desktop environments, Xfce is consistently ranked in the top three; also, it is the Ubuntu GUI desktop that uses the fewest system resources out of all the ones on this list. This airy feel, on the other hand, comes at the expense of a less contemporary graphic style. If you are using a server with minimal resources, such as a VPS, and you don’t mind using obsolete graphics, then Xfce is without a doubt the finest Ubuntu server GUI for you to use. However, it is possible that it is not the greatest option for a laptop or workstation. It enables you to direct the resources that you do have toward the activities that are genuinely important, such as managing online traffic or operating your web application. 

Some of its distinguishing characteristics are as follows: 

• Lightweight 
• Stable environment 
• User friendly 
• Attractive design 
• Provides a wide variety of add-ons and apps 
• Simple to operate