This upcoming Ubuntu move to Unity
as its Desktop Manager, got me wondering where the modular line lies between a Desktop Manager and X.
My understanding is that X is a window manager, and window = GUI.
Is the Desktop actually needed at all, to run GUI apps?
eg. Can X exist without a Desktop Manager, and can GUI apps be launched from the terminal running in X (which may have to be auto-started with X)...
I can launch a GUI app from the terminal now (Gnome desktop), but I don't know if that is based on a dependancy to the Desktop.
I may be completely on the wrong track here... but that's what questions are for ;)