AfterStep

is a rock solid clone of the NextStep GUI implemented as an X-windows window manager.

It doesn't have all the cool tricks and toys that KDE has , but it doesn't look like Win95 either. I just launch my favorite K-toys from AfterStep

and I have the stability of AfterStep with the utilities of KDE. The Wharf opens out into folders that can contain quite a few apps, scripts or script launched apps. The Main Wharf can also hold or Swallow things like a cd player, a pager, a clock and an xload. You can even link and and rename the wharf app so you can launch two with wharves with the same .steprc. I haven't run out of space yet even at 640x480 16bpp on a little 14 inch apple monitor. The windows are collapsible into Icons of you can draw them up windowshade style. Colors, gradients, Icons, placement and startup apps are all configurable. The .steprc that I'm using includes TkDesk, kfm, kppp, ascd, the gimp, nedit, and of course pine and netscape.