GNOME

	GNOME Shell 41 with GNOME Web (released in 2021-09).png GNOME Shell with GNOME Web (version 41, released in September 2021)
Original author(s)	Miguel de Icaza and Federico Mena
Developer(s)	The GNOME Project
Initial release	3 March 1999; 27 years ago
Written in	C, XML, C++, C#, HTML, Vala, Python, JavaScript, CSS, and more
Operating system	BSD, Linux, Unix
Platform	Wayland and X11
Available in	38 languages
Type	Desktop environment
License	GPL-2.0-or-later

GNOME is a computer desktop environment. It was designed for Linux, but many other operating systems can use it too. GNOME aims to provide an easy way to use a computer. GNOME is a free software project. It was made because people were questioning whether KDE is free. GNOME is part of the GNU project.

Aims

According to the GNOME website:

The GNOME project provides two things: The GNOME desktop environment, an intuitive and attractive desktop for users, and the GNOME development platform, an extensive framework for building applications that integrate into the rest of the desktop.^[5]

The GNOME project puts heavy emphasis on simplicity, usability, and making things “just work” (see KISS principle). The other aims of the project are:

Freedom—to create a desktop environment with readily-available source code for re-use under a free software license.
Accessibility—to ensure the desktop can be used by anyone, regardless of technical skill or physical circumstances.
Internationalization and localization—to make the desktop available in many languages. At the moment, GNOME is being translated to 161 languages.^[6]
Developer-friendliness—to ensure ease of writing software that integrates smoothly with the desktop, and allow developers a free choice of programming language.
Organization—to adhere to a regular release cycle and maintain a disciplined community structure.
Support—to ensure backing from other institutions beyond the GNOME community.

Applications

GNOME has many applications written for it. Some of them include:

Abiword - A word processor, used for writing documents
Calculator - For doing maths
Epiphany (software) - Internet browser
Empathy - Internet messenger
Ekiga - VoIP and video conferencing
Eye of GNOME - View your picture files
Gthumb - View your photos
GIMP - Art and photo software
Nautilus - File manager
Totem - Play music and video

GNOME Media

GNOME 1.0 (1999, 03) with GNOME Panel 1 and File Manager
GNOME 2.6 (released in March 2004)
GNOME 2.18 (released in March 2007)
GNOME 3 has a modern approach to user interface design and naming the applications. This screenshot shows GNOME Weather running on GNOME Shell, both in version 3.14 (September 2014)
GNOME aims to provide a simple user experience and responsive user interface on both desktop and tablet systems by using client-side decoration (CSD) and a modern approach in designing user interface
GNOME Tour 41 on GNOME 41
An edited image of GNOME Flashback 3.36 that shows its functions including the Main menu, and the plug-ins of GNOME Panel