π GNOME 3.8
π Summary
Update GNOME to the latest upstream release
π Owner
- Name: Matthias Clasen
- Email: mclasen@redhat.com
π Current status
- Targeted release: Fedora 19
- Last updated: 2013-03-14
- Percentage of completion: 91%
GNOME 3.7.91 is in rawhide.
π Detailed Description
GNOME 3.8 continues development along the lines of 3.6:
- Building out the central features of GNOME 3:
- A new panel will allow to configure GNOME shell search, and applications can provide search results to the shell
- The display of search results in the GNOME shell overview was redesigned
- Notifications can be configured in a new panel
- Privacy settings are collected in a new panel
- Sharing (mainly of data, in the local network) can be centrally controlled in a new panel
- Support for OwnCloud in Online Accounts
- Better accessibility
- Improved IBus integration
- Modifier-only shortcuts can be set in the Keyboard panel
- IMEs can have menu items in the statusmenu (the whitelist was removed)
- Per-window changes of input source are possible again
- Nicer candidate popups
- New applications
- A note-taking app
- A new photo app
- A new clock app
- A new weather app
- Support in the shell and the network control panel for "enterprise" networking features, such as bridging, bonding, and VLANs.
- Fallback mode is going away in 3.8. Instead, there will be a set of supported extensions that is grouped together in a 'classic' mode, which provides a more GNOME 2-like user experience
For detailed descriptions and designs of the features that are being worked on for GNOME 3.8, see the feature list and the progress reports here and here.
π Benefit to Fedora
Fedora stays in sync with upstream. The classic mode will provide an alternative for users who are more comfortable with the GNOME 2 user experience.
π Scope
- Keep existing GNOME packages updated
- Follow upstream module changes
- gcalctool β gnome-calculator Done
- gnome-games β many little game modules
- four-in-a-row (gnect) Done
- gnome-klotski (gnotski) Done
- gnome-mahjongg Done
- gnome-mines (gnomine) Done
- gnome-sudoku Done
- gnome-tetravex (gnotravex) Done
- iagno Done
- lightsoff Done
- swell-foop Done
- gnome-robots (gnobots2)
- gnome-nibbles (gnibbles)
- five-or-more (glines)
- quadrapassel
- tali (gtali)
- gnome-chess (glchess)
- Package the extensions and session definition for classic mode (Done, part of the gnome-shell-extensions package)
- Package new applications and new dependencies of existing GNOME packages
- Photos (likely a preview in 3.8) Done
- Notes (likely a preview in 3.8) Bijiben review
- Weather (likely a preview in 3.8) Done
- gnome-getting-started-docs Done
π How To Test
Generic 'desktop testing' is always appropriate for a major new desktop version.
Specific testing for new features:
π Search
- Test that nautilus, gnome-boxes, gnome-contacts, gnome-documents are listed in the search panel
- Test that turning off search altogether is reflected in the GNOME shell search
- Test that turning off individual search providers is respected in GNOME shell search
- Test that the order of search results in GNOME shell matches the order in the search panel
- Test that tracker indexes the directories that are listed in the search locations popup
- Test that clicking on applications in the GNOME shell search launches them
- Test that clicking on individual search results launches the right app with this item
- Test that clicking on the search provider icon launches the right app with the same search
π Notifications
- Test that the notifications switch in the user menu prevents all notifications from popping up
- Test that the "show popup banners" switch in the notification does the same
- Test that the "show in lock screen" switch prevents all notifications from showing up while the screen is locked
- Test that the details setting for each listed application have the desired effect
- Test that an application that is not listed in the panel gets added to the list after it sents a notification
- Test that Super-M toggles the message tray up and down
π Privacy
- Check that the lock screen settings work as expected; also check the interaction with screen-related power saving settings
- Check that visibility settings are respected
- Verify that cleaning recent files works
- Verify that purging trash and temporary files works, and that it respects file ownership in /tmp and /var/tmp
π Sharing
- Check that Bluetooth settings are respected
- Check that Personal file sharing settings are respected
- Check that activating screen sharing starts and stops vino
- Check that other screen sharing settings are respected
- Check that media sharing works
- Check that remote login starts and stops sshd
- Check that not having vino, rygel or sshd installed causes the relevant settings to be disabled
π OwnCloud
- Check that OwnCloud accounts can be set up in the Online Accounts panel
- Test that OwnCloud data shows up in nautilus via the gvfs backend
- Check that evolution picks up OwnCloud accounts for mail and calendar
π Classic mode
- Check that choosing 'classic mode' in the gdm session chooser works as expected and is remembered
- Check that the application menu shows favourites and categories that match the GNOME shell overview
- Check that windows have minimize and maximize buttons
- Check that nautilus shows icons on the desktop
- Check that the taskbar can be used to restore minimized windows
- Check that Alt-Tab shows windows instead of applications
- Test the interaction between the taskbar, the message tray and the on-screen keyboard
π Clocks
- Test that launching gnome-clocks from the GNOME shell calendar works
- Test that you can add and remove clocks for multiple locations
- Test that you alarms notify you at the right time, and that repetition works
- Test that the timer notifies you when the time is up
π Photos
- Test that Photos shows pictures from Pictures/
- Test that titles can be set and are shown
- Test Online Accounts integration (TBD: which providers, and what)
- More TBD
π User Experience
Overall desktop experience should be largely unchanged from F18.
Noticeable changes in the details:
- First time login experience will have an 'initial setup' wizard
- Redesigned search results display in the GNOME shell overview
- New settings panels for search, notifications, privacy and sharing
- Support for OwnCloud in online-accounts
- Classic mode will be available as an alternative session
π Dependencies
π Contingency Plan
- If GNOME 3.8 does not happen in time for Fedora 19, ship a release candidate like 3.7.91
- Upstream will also look at dropping individual features if they are not ready in time
π Documentation
- GNOME 3.8 planned features
- GNOME 3.8 schedule
- GNOME 3.8 release notes (not yet available)
π Release Notes
Fedora 19 includes the latest version of the GNOME desktop, 3.8. For more information about what is new in this GNOME release, see the release notes.