What's New in GNOME 45 Riga: Top 10 Desktop Environment Changes / ITech content

Contents:

• What is GNOME
• What has changed in the GNOME 45 release

On September 20, 2023, an update to one of the most popular desktop environments for Linux, GNOME, was released. This update stands out from the competition with its stylish design and prompt implementation of new technologies. One of the key improvements is full support for the Wayland protocol, which is responsible for graphic rendering on various drivers. GNOME continues to evolve, providing users with modern tools and improving the user experience.

In this article, we will look at the improvements implemented in the 45th version, as well as new applications that have become available to users. Learn about key updates and features that will help you optimize your work with the program.

What is GNOME

For operating systems based on the Linux kernel, many options for desktop environments (DE, or desktop environment) are available. These environments are a set of programs that shape the appearance and functionality of the graphical interface of the operating system. Choosing the right desktop can significantly impact the user experience, as each environment offers unique features and settings, allowing the user to optimize their work depending on individual preferences and tasks.

A desktop environment includes a set of elements that form the user interface of an operating system. The main components of the desktop include the taskbar, the start menu, application and file icons, and the desktop background. These elements provide convenient access to programs and files, allow you to organize your workspace and customize it to suit your individual preferences. Effective use of the desktop environment helps increase productivity and comfort when working with a computer.

• the desktop itself;
• the program launcher;
• options for the context menu, the application launch menu, and program windows;
• widgets;
• file manager;
• image viewing services;
• application window design.

The content that the user sees on the computer screen after installing the operating system includes the graphical interface, menus, icons, and toolbars. These elements play a key role in the user's interaction with the system, providing access to programs and functions. Proper configuration and optimization of these visual components can significantly improve the user experience and increase the efficiency of working with a computer.

GNOME is the most common desktop environment for the Linux operating system. This environment is pre-installed on many popular distributions, such as Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian. GNOME also serves as the foundation for other desktop environments, such as Cinnamon. With its intuitive interface and rich feature set, GNOME appeals to users seeking simplicity and ease of use.

The design of modern GNOME shares some similarities with macOS, but overall, it has a unique style. The appearance of the GNOME desktop can be easily customized through system settings or with community-developed extensions. This allows users to tailor the interface to their preferences, creating a personalized experience with the operating system. GNOME offers a wealth of customization options, making it an attractive choice for users who value personalization and functionality.

It's important to understand that following rules and guidelines is key to successfully completing any task. Strictly following instructions helps avoid errors and improves work efficiency. It's essential to pay attention to detail and thoroughly check results to ensure high quality and compliance with standards. Attention to detail and a willingness to adapt to changing conditions are essential factors in achieving your goals.

Before upgrading to GNOME 45 Riga, it's important to ensure your installed extensions are compatible with the new shell version. You can check if your add-ons are supported in GNOME 45 on the GNOME Extensions website. Please note that extensions that worked in previous versions of GNOME may not be compatible with this new version.

What's changed in GNOME 45

The release notes report significant improvements in system performance, as well as reduced resource consumption by both the system and individual applications, including the Software Center, Symbols, Clock, Files, and Calculator. These changes are aimed at optimizing program performance and improving overall device efficiency, which in turn allows users to experience a faster and more stable experience.

There are no specific numeric values ​​for the claimed improvements. Therefore, you will have to rely on these reports and conduct your own tests on your computer.

The new version of GNOME introduces tooltips for settings items, which significantly improves the user experience. The About section has also been updated and now looks more compact and stylish. These changes make the interface more convenient and intuitive for users.

The developers have updated the "Privacy" section to provide users with more convenient access to settings. The Date and Time section has also been redesigned, adding new features for more flexible customization of date and time formats displayed in the desktop's top bar. These changes are aimed at improving the user experience and simplifying interaction with the system. A modern responsive design model is used for program development. One of the most noticeable changes is the sidebar menu background, which now stretches from the top to the bottom of the window. Other improvements include rounded window corners, a subtle shadow separating the title from the content below, and many other details. All these elements quickly adapt to the screen resolution, providing ease of use on various devices.

At the moment, not all GNOME applications Adapted to a unified style. Updates affected applications such as Calendar, Symbols, Clock, Contacts, Files, and Settings. Work continues to improve the visual design and functionality of the remaining applications, which contributes to a more harmonious user interface in the GNOME ecosystem. This is an important step towards improving the convenience and efficiency of users.

We have significantly improved the search module, which has led to an increase in its speed and optimization of results sorting. Now users will find it easier and faster to find the necessary files among large amounts of data. These updates make search more efficient and convenient, which significantly improves overall productivity when working with information.

In the List view, the option to select visible columns is now available, allowing you to apply settings to all folders or just the current one. This feature significantly simplifies document management and increases the efficiency of working with them.

When deleting an application installed via Flatpak, a prompt now appears to delete the remaining data. The GNOME Software Center offers to remove all files and information associated with the program, including configuration files. This is useful for users who don't plan to reinstall the software in the future. This approach allows you to free up disk space and maintain order in the system.

The interface adapts depending on the number of active applications, ensuring optimal use of space. When the game is launched, the update download process is automatically paused, avoiding lag and ensuring a seamless gameplay experience.

The developers of the new release announced smoother calendar operation, improving the user experience. They also announced new hotkeys that will simplify navigation and management of calendar functions. These changes are aimed at optimizing the application and increasing its efficiency.

• F5 — calendar synchronization;
• F8 — calendar menu;
• Ctrl + Alt + M — calendar management.

Months can now be scrolled smoothly, simplifying the process of creating events that span dates from adjacent months. This feature significantly improves the usability of the calendar, allowing you to quickly find the dates you need without having to constantly switch between months.

The function of searching for the nearest points of interest has been implemented, and A button has also been added to display the current direction. Clicking this button automatically changes the map orientation to face north. This greatly simplifies navigation and improves the user experience when working with the map.

Most GNOME distributions previously had the Cheese application for working with Webcams were available, but they were often missing. Now, the need for third-party solutions is eliminated, as the new Camera app is available in the shell. It allows for photo and video recording with adjustable settings. After shooting, users can view the results directly in the app, making the process more convenient and efficient.

During testing of the new Camera release, an issue with recognizing the author's webcam arose. Unlike Camera, the Cheese app handled this issue successfully. Each new release often comes with bugs, and in this case, we hope for speedy updates to the Camera app to fix the identified bugs.

The new Loupe app significantly improves on the old image viewer thanks to its high performance. It offers a smooth interface that allows you to quickly switch between images, as well as conveniently zoom and rotate them. Loupe is the ideal choice for users who value speed and ease of use when working with graphic content.

Loupe is a minimalist file information viewer. It offers an intuitive interface that adapts to various devices, including smartphones and tablets running Linux. The program also supports touchpad gestures, making interaction more convenient. Loupe is ideal for users who need simplicity and functionality when working with files.

In the upper left corner of the screen there is now an activity indicator, which has replaced the familiar "Browse" button. This indicator not only retains all of its previous functions, but also receives a number of new features.

• The active desktop is marked on the indicator with a white bar, while the others are marked with a gray dot.
• When you hover over the indicator, you can switch between desktops using the mouse wheel.

The new GNOME also introduces other interesting features. The updated interface offers improved customization options, allowing users to tailor the workspace to their needs. New window management tools have also been introduced, making multitasking more efficient. In addition, the updates affected system performance, ensuring smoother application operation. New security features ensure user data protection at a higher level. GNOME continues to evolve, offering users modern solutions and a user-friendly interface.

• The keyboard backlight can be adjusted in the Quick Settings menu.
• Video playback now uses system hardware resources when possible. This is much faster and requires less power, which is important when working on a laptop.
• The quick settings menu can be called up by pressing Win + S or Command + S.
• Cursors and visual effects for them have been updated.
• New wallpapers have been added.
• Wayland support for Input Leap, allowing you to control multiple computers with one keyboard and mouse.
• A camera use indicator has been added in addition to the existing microphone indicator.

Significant technical changes have occurred during the update process. Applications continue to use the GTK4 and Libadwaita libraries, which have now been updated to versions 4.12 and 1.2, respectively. Additionally, the GJS JavaScript engine has been updated to version 1.76, which is based on SpiderMonkey version 115. These changes improve application performance and functionality, which in turn improves usability.

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