GNOME

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Gnome-2.6-en

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GNOME (GNU Network Object Model Environment) is a free and open-source desktop environment for Unix-like operating systems. It is part of the GNU Project and is developed by The GNOME Project, which is composed of both volunteers and paid contributors. GNOME is designed to be simple, easy to use, and accessible, providing a consistent and coherent user experience.

History[edit | edit source]

GNOME was started in August 1997 by Miguel de Icaza and Federico Mena. The project was initiated to create a free and open-source desktop environment and to counter the then-proprietary KDE desktop environment, which relied on the Qt toolkit that was not free software at the time.

Features[edit | edit source]

GNOME provides a wide range of features, including:

A user-friendly interface with a focus on simplicity and ease of use.
A suite of integrated applications such as GNOME Files, GNOME Terminal, and GNOME Text Editor.
Accessibility features to assist users with disabilities.
Support for multiple languages and internationalization.
A flexible and extensible architecture that allows for customization and extension through GNOME Shell extensions.

Architecture[edit | edit source]

GNOME is built on top of the GTK (GIMP Toolkit) and uses the GNOME Shell as its default user interface. The architecture is modular, allowing for the development of individual components that can be used independently or together to form a complete desktop environment.

GNOME Shell[edit | edit source]

GNOME Shell is the core user interface of GNOME. It provides basic functions such as launching applications, switching between windows, and managing virtual desktops. GNOME Shell is designed to be visually appealing and intuitive, with features like the Activities Overview and dynamic workspaces.

GTK[edit | edit source]

GTK is the underlying toolkit used by GNOME for creating graphical user interfaces. It is also used by many other applications outside of GNOME, making it a widely adopted toolkit in the open-source community.

Development[edit | edit source]

GNOME is developed by The GNOME Project, which is governed by the GNOME Foundation. The development process is open and community-driven, with contributions from individuals and organizations around the world. GNOME follows a time-based release schedule, with new major versions released every six months.

Applications[edit | edit source]

GNOME includes a variety of applications that are designed to integrate seamlessly with the desktop environment. Some of the core applications include:

GNOME Files (file manager)
GNOME Terminal (terminal emulator)
GNOME Text Editor (text editor)
GNOME Software (software manager)
GNOME Settings (system settings)

Adoption[edit | edit source]

GNOME is the default desktop environment for several major Linux distributions, including Fedora, Debian, and Ubuntu. It is also available for other Unix-like operating systems such as FreeBSD.