# NsCDE

7 Hacker News commenters recommended NsCDE and 2 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Free FVWM-based desktop that recreates the classic CDE look on modern Linux; critics note it is effectively abandoned.

## Why people recommend it

- Recreates classic CDE look (3 comments): "NsCDE is a great start if anyone wants to emulate some of the Solaris screenshots" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48112879)) "Someone made a full cde style desktop with fvwm" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46292864)) "You can use a CDE lookalike" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46806498))
- Built as FVWM skin (2 comments): "There is also a FWWM skin that doesn't require long time abandoned C code" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46399494)) "Someone made a full cde style desktop with fvwm" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46292864))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [LXQt](https://hackerapproved.com/p/lxqt.md): 15 recommend
- [Windows 8 Desktop Environment for Linux](https://hackerapproved.com/p/windows-8-desktop-environment-for-linux.md): 13 recommend
- [DMS (DankMaterialShell)](https://hackerapproved.com/p/dms.md): 6 recommend
- [NextSpace](https://hackerapproved.com/p/nextspace.md): 5 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "NsCDE", https://hackerapproved.com/p/nscde/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).