Fedora 21 comes with the ugly Gnome 3, and I installed XFCE and MATE, but I don't know, how to set either of them as a default X window manager. After I logout from Gnome 3, I don't see any selection from installed window managers.
On the login screen, select a user from the list. Click on the Preferences icon right below the password field. A window appears with a list of several different desktop environments. Choose one, and enter password as usual.
GNOME is the default desktop environment for Fedora but you can install the OS with KDE (as well as a few other desktops) by using one of the many Fedora spins.
The Metacity window manager is the default window manager for GNOME. It is a simple and efficient window manager which also supports custom themes.
The default desktop environment of Fedora is GNOME, but if you prefer an alternative desktop environment such as KDE Plasma Desktop or Xfce, you can download a spin for your preferred desktop environment and use that to install Fedora, pre-configured for the desktop environment of your choice.
As I interpret your question, you want to install switchdesk
$ yum install switchdesk switchdesk-gui
and run that. You can also try changing settings in /etc/sysconfig/desktop
as described here.
If you want to simply try out a different desktop environment at login time, try installing lightdm or kdm (from the fine folks who bring us KDE) and pick one before you log in.
EDIT The advice above maybe outdated.
GDM does not seem to allow you to choose your desktop environment the way KDM and lightdm (and others probably) do. Using my favourite DM, lightdm, as an example (use sudo or switch to root):
$ sudo yum install lightdm
...
$ sudo systemctl reboot
It is possible to do this without rebooting
$ sudo systemctl stop gdm # this will abruptly halt your session and take you to a text console
Log in as root and then type
$ systemctl start lightdm
When I change DM, I like to reboot to make sure my changes persist. If (like mine did) your machine does not boot to a graphical screen, then log in as root and type:
$ systemctl start lightdm
Both KDM and lightdm allow you to select a DE from a pulldown menu.
If you want to revert back to Gnome's display manager:
$ sudo systemctl enable gdm
$ sudo systemctl disable lightdm
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