View Source: BlueCurve - Waikato Linux Users Group

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BlueCurve is a theme, similar to skins in [XMMS]/WinAmp or [Mozilla]/[Netscape] or themes in MicrosoftWindows (9x/ME/XP). It was unique for its time, in that it included [GNOME], [KDE], [Metacity], [GTK]+, and [XMMS] parts.  It also included an icon theme, using RedHat-designed icons.  It was developed by RedHat and introduced as the look&feel of RedHatLinux in versions 8 and higher.

As of 2005, Bluecurve is largely being replaced by [Clearlooks | http://clearlooks.sf.net/], a new theme based on Bluecurve with some [HIG] changes.

! Why was Bluecurve such a good thing?

In a way, this is the first step to removing the GnomeVsKde problem.  There's two big choices out there and an application for one would look really really bad when being run on the other.

    "It's an effort to unify the look and feel," said Erik Troan, Red Hat's director of product marketing. "Users shouldn't have to worry about which (interface) to choose," and programs should work the same on either [GNOME] or [KDE]. "We're not trying to create a 'third user interface,'" Troan says.  Instead, the theme is aimed at "a consistent look and feel ~[which is] 'polished' and more '3D.'"  "We didn't want to use just [GNOME] and get [KDE] users upset. We didn't want to use just [KDE] and get [GNOME] users upset. Instead, we combined the two, and got everyone upset," he quipped.

    Red Hat has created a "[KDE]-like theme for [GNOME], and a [GNOME]-like theme for [KDE]," said Brian Stevens, Red Hat's senior director of engineering. Users can install either [GNOME], [KDE], or both [GUI]s. With the [KDE] default configuration, customers will get "mainly [KDE] apps." With the [GNOME] default configuration, they'll get "mainly [GNOME] apps." Customers installing both [KDE] and [GNOME], though, will be able to pick and choose from among all apps included in the package, Stevens said. "We've also worked on things like the menus and toolbars in [GNOME] and [KDE], to make them more uniform," according to Stevens.

! Screenshots

You can see some good screenshots:

* http://osnews.daemon.be/img/1842/redhat1.jpg
* http://osnews.daemon.be/img/1842/redhat3.jpg
* http://osnews.daemon.be/img/1842/redhat6.jpg
* http://osnews.daemon.be/img/1842/redhat8.jpg (running KDE)

If you use Gentoo, you can type <tt>emerge redhat-artwork</tt> and get the BlueCurve theme.

! ~GreenCurve, ~OrangeCurve

BlueCurve's artist/author [Garrett LeSage | http://www.linuxart.com], now at [Novell], previously updated the <tt>redhat-artwork</tt> [RPM]s with a whole pile of new BlueCurve colour schemes.

! BlueCurve for MicrosoftWindows XP

Why not? Check out the [Bluecurve XP theme | http://www.deviantart.com/view/2465098/] by schmoove, as well as his [Ximian XP theme | http://www.deviantart.com/view/2855851/] mimicking the XimianDesktop.

! Trivia

BlueCurve was a company that made "Internet infrastructure planning software" that was bought by RedHat in 2000.
3 pages link to BlueCurve:
Last edited on Saturday, July 23, 2005 1:50:01 pm by AristotlePagaltzis
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