The Zen of Gnome Desktop

gnome desktop focuses on presenting only the essential elements necessary for a functional environment. It is a system for users who value the work they do over the technology they use to do it. It is for the patient, the forgiving, the zen at heart.

Gnome uses Linux technologies to provide a platform that is easy to learn, use and expand. The core framework includes the GLib data structures and utilities library, the GTK widget toolkit, the X Window System window manager and the Cairo 2D vector-based drawing library. Additional libraries and extensions include the D-Bus IPC framework, Clutter accelerated graphics library, Pango international text rendering library, Pulse Audio low-level audio API and the GStreamer multimedia framework.

The Gnome Software Center is the place to install new applications that extend your desktop functionality. There is also a built-in applications menu that lets you quickly and easily access all of the installed programs on your computer. The system will set certain applications as your defaults (e.g., totem as your video player, LibreOffice for office suite functionality). Gnome also integrates online accounts into the desktop so you can access contacts, appointments and chats right from your desktop.

One of the most innovative and useful features of Gnome is its Activities Overview, which enables you to create virtual desktops that are dynamically populated with apps based on your activity. You can drag app icons into a virtual desktop and then launch them there. The activities overview will also display running application windows in a matrix, making it easy to find and move between them.

Another neat feature is the notifier that appears when an application is ready to be used. Clicking on the notification brings that app to the front of the screen so you can easily work with it. This is a nice feature that could save you time compared to other desktops that require you to search for applications or open them manually.

When you want to close your desktop session, you can choose the Log Out option in the System menu. This will shut down all of your windows and kill jobs that are not backgrounded. It will also free up resources on the servers so they can be used by others.

The Gnome desktop provides a solid experience for users who like speed and simplicity with a clean aesthetic. It is not for those who want the bells and whistles of other systems, but it offers a solid base for users who will customize their desktop to suit their needs. The desktop is also accessible for those with disabilities by using the Assistive Technology Toolkit (ATK) application programming interface and a variety of specific assistive technology providers, such as speech synthesis and recognition software. In fact, the Gnome Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) try to make the desktop physically and cognitively ergonomic for those with disabilities. Those with accessibility concerns should consult their system administrator for more information.