Linux client personalization

Considering the modular structure of Linux, it becomes clear that profiles must 

differ a lot from the Windows profiles. As there is no registry in Linux, all settings 

must be saved in another way. Linux does this mostly via using readable text 

files, which have file name extensions such as .conf or .profile.

The file /etc/profile sets the system wide environment and startup programs for 

logins. These system wide defaults may be extended by profiles in the local or 

home directory of the user. The local .bash_profile (Bourne Again SHell) is one 

example on Red Hat; the .profile file on SuSE is another example. 

Structurally, Linux stores user profile data in a very different way than Windows 

does. All individual user settings are stored inside the user's home directory, 

$HOME. For example:

/home/username

Linux does not implement a registry the way Windows does. Instead, user profile 

information is stored in configuration files within the individual user home 

directories. And these files are usually created by specific applications that need 

to store user personalization data required by that application.

One advantage of these files is that they are ASCII based text formatted and 

thus human readable. Another is that the content can be automatically 

manipulated by scripts if desired. Also, by modifying permissions on these files it 

is possible to prevent undesired changes by the user. This could have the effect 

of  locking down  certain aspects of the user's login environment.

Most applications create a hidden folder, beginning with a dot or period (.), in 

which configuration files for those applications are created and maintained. 

Further discussion of Linux methods for containment of personalization data will 

focus on the two currently most popular desktop session managers: KDE and 

Gnome. This topic strongly overlaps with methods for standardizing the desktop 

look and feel (in other words, how to design and enforce consistent 

personalization data). See 4.3,  Standardizing the desktop  on page 51, for more 

details.

Desktop personalization: KDE containment model

In KDE, desktop personalization is based on information found in a standard 

directory structure within the user's home directory in the following location:

/home/username/Desktop

 Appendix D. Client personalization 

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