The ThinLinc Desktop Customizer is a combination of a web-based administration tool and a command that is run at session startup for all users. It enables the administrator to decide what menu entries should be presented for specific users, and what icons should be made available on the desktop. Which menu entries and/or desktop entries are given to a specific user is decided based on the unix group memberships of the user, the username and what ThinLinc profile was choosen (if any).

For setting other desktop parameters such as desktop background, screensaver behaviour and desktop style, and for locking down what users can, use a tool such as the KDE Kiosk Tool (for KDE) or Sabayon (for Gnome).

In a typical environment, the administrator first defines one or several KDE or Gnome profiles using the KDE Kiosk Tool or Sabayon. The profiles decide for example the desktop background colour, if a screensaver should be run, what screensaver should be run, what file extensions should be associated with a specific program and many other things. Kiosk tool and Sabayon can also be used to lock down settings. For example, the administrator can decide that the users may not change the type of screen saver or the desktop background.

After setting the basics of the desktop environment in the Kiosk Tool or in Sabayon, the administrator then uses the ThinLinc Desktop Customizer to decide which applications should be made available in the menu and on the desktop, for specific groups of users.