While FreeBSD is popular as a server for its performance and stability, it is also suited for day-to-day use as a desktop. With over 24,000 applications available as FreeBSD packages or ports, it is easy to build a customized desktop that runs a wide variety of desktop applications. This chapter demonstrates how to install numerous desktop applications, including web browsers, productivity software, document viewers, and financial software.
Users who prefer to install a pre-built desktop version of FreeBSD rather than configuring one from scratch should refer to the trueos.org website.
Readers of this chapter should know how to:
Install additional software using packages or ports as described in Chapter 4, Installing Applications: Packages and Ports.
Install X and a window manager as described in Chapter 5, The X Window System.
For information on how to configure a multimedia environment, refer to Chapter 7, Multimedia.
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