GNOME Display Manager
GNOME Display Manager is a graphical login manager for the windowing systems X11 and Wayland.
The X Window System by default uses the XDM display manager. However, resolving XDM configuration issues typically involves editing a configuration file. GDM allows users to customize or troubleshoot settings without having to resort to a command line. Users can pick their session type on a per-login basis. GDM 2.38.0 is the last version that features customization with themes; subsequent releases do not support themes.
Software architecture
GDM is a display manager that implements all significant features required for managing attached and remote displays. GDM was written from scratch and does not contain any XDM or X Consortium code.Components
GDM comprises the following components:- Greeter – the graphical login window
- Pluggable authentication module
Hidden features
Until version 2.22, GDM had a few Easter eggs, in the form of strings to be entered in the username box. These can be found in the source file "gui/guilogin.c", in a function named "evil".- Dancing login – type "Start Dancing" to start, and "Stop Dancing" to stop.
- *, rather than the graphical one ).
- "Gimme Random Cursor" – can be used repeatedly.
- * This changes the mouse cursor to a randomly selected 1 of 77 different "cursor fonts" as defined in the X11 specification.
- "Require Quarter", then log in normally – a dialog box that reads "Please insert 25 cents to log in." appears after entering the password. Clicking "OK" allows the login process to proceed as normal.