Plain text configuration Window Managers and Desktop Environments available out there:

Now lumina is a special case, it has tools to configure the desktop environment. But it saves all of that configuration in a flat text file, or in several text files available. So there is no need to use the internal tools, but it is easier using that tools. Still the configuration can be saved to a revision control system like f.e. git or RCS is.

Why to care about text file configuration WM's and DE's, and why is this good anyway?

  • Text files are human readable, it is not as XML.
  • It can be stored in RCS system
  • It is easy to edit with the simplest editor f.e. nano or mcedit
  • No hidden complexity
  • Easy to restore

It does not fancy stuff without you notice it. It is simple and easy at same time. There is no black box. By the way, do you remember the last time after an update that your DE and your icons and all the profile setting got lost?