From Fedora Project Wiki

MATE Desktop

Summary

MATE Desktop is based on GNOME 2 and provides an intuitive and attractive desktop to Linux users who seek a simple, easy to use traditional interface.

Owners

  • Name: Dan Mashal
  • Email: dan.mashal AT fedoraproject DOT org

Co-maintainers

  • Name: Rex Dieter
  • Email: rdieter AT fedoraproject DOT org

Current status

  • Targeted release: Fedora 19
  • Last updated: 2013-01-25
  • Percentage of completion: 50%
  • Fedora 16/17/18 are already running MATE Desktop 1.5.5 which is the development release of 1.6

Detailed Description

MATE is a traditional Gnome 2 like desktop user interface. Many users have expressed interest in this feature since Fedora 15 in which Fedora was switched from Gnome 2 to Gnome 3.

For the advanced user that doesn't want a cutting edge desktop and just wants to keep it simple this is perfect for them.

The popularity of MATE Desktop is very high. It is one of the 2 choices of DE's for Linux Mint which is one of the most popular Linux distros out right now.

Benefit to Fedora

  • Attract new users to Fedora.
  • Give users another choice and freedom to choose what type of DE/WM they would like to use. This is one of the core foundations of the Fedora project.

Scope

Fix deprecations in core packages (Deprecated code) Caja improvements Improve trash management of removable devices Update dbus interface (#3) Fix back vs parent directory selection (#19) Atril improvements Add xps backend (5ad9169) Panel improvements Add –run-dialog option Control center improvements Set metacity theme if compiz or metacity are running Use same GNOME proxy settings in gsettings-desktop-schemas Add option(s) to show notifications only on one screen (#4) Window list: middle click button to close window (6d3058da) Themes improvement Add GTK3 support for most themes Add support for mpris2 to mate-settings-daemon (#7) Replace mate-doc-utils with itstools (#2) Fix all incorrect FSF addresses Replace MateConf with GSettings Replace MateCorba with DBus Support systemd-logind Replace MateVfs with GIO Remove libmateui (unused), libmatecanvas (unused), libmatecomponent and libmatecomponentui (replace with dbus) Remove libmate (mate-open replaced with gvfs-open, gsettings schemas moved to mate-desktop package) Support opening a remote terminal in mate-file-manager-open-terminal (#2) Move mixer applet to mate-media package (#22) Improvements to mate-calc Update to newest non-Vala gcalctool Add buttons to support inverse trig functions (#6) Sync translations Update .desktop files to indicate MATE variants.

How To Test

Install off Netinstall CD, DVD, or yum.

User Experience

It will improve the user's desktop experience by giving them another choice of Desktops that they can use with Fedora.

Dependencies

X11, Lightdm, systemd/logind, GTK2, python, automake, libtool, gettext and pkgconfig.

mate-common will provide automake autoconf gettext intltool libtool so that it will not be in every package's buildrequires.

Contingency Plan

  • If this feature is not ready by the deadline it will be included in the next Fedora release.

Documentation

  • MATE Desktop website here.

Release Notes

  • This is the second release of MATE Desktop for Fedora. It brings back a classic, intuitive, and easy to use desktop that users have been long requesting.
  • For support please join #Fedora-MATE or #MATE on freenode irc or file a bug in redhat bugzilla.
  • Release notes for 1.4 here: MATE 1.4 release notes

Comments and Discussion