9 Improvements Needed in GNOME
Although I regularly use KDE, Xfce, and other desktops for GNU/Linux, I keep returning to GNOME. Sometimes I use the default Metacity window manager, and other times the quicker Sawfish, but, with either choice, GNOME has an uncluttered look that allows me to focus on my work rather than my software. It also contains enough customization that I can easily set my increasingly long list of preferences with a minimum of effort.
However, my loyalty is far from unqualified. Despite being in development for a decade, GNOME still lacks one or two utilities that I consider essential. Other default tools are lacking in functionality, or could stand a modern redesign. I also question some of GNOME's policy decisions.
If I can be excused from building dream castles and planning to move on the first of next month (as Harlan Ellison would say), here are the improvements that I would most like to see in GNOME:
* A font manager: Font administration is a basic necessity for any graphic designer. Designers need to load and unload fonts, so that they don't overload their system with thousands of fonts. They also need to enable or disable fonts by groups, so they can load all the fonts for one project with a minimum of mouse clicks. KDE 4 can manage fonts this way, so why can't GNOME? If nothing else, it could make Fontmatrix part of the default installation.
* A multiple-item clipboard:
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version
- 1838 reads
- PDF version
More in Tux Machines
- Highlights
- Front Page
- Latest Headlines
- Archive
- Recent comments
- All-Time Popular Stories
- Hot Topics
- New Members
digiKam 7.7.0 is releasedAfter three months of active maintenance and another bug triage, the digiKam team is proud to present version 7.7.0 of its open source digital photo manager. See below the list of most important features coming with this release. |
Dilution and Misuse of the "Linux" Brand
|
Samsung, Red Hat to Work on Linux Drivers for Future TechThe metaverse is expected to uproot system design as we know it, and Samsung is one of many hardware vendors re-imagining data center infrastructure in preparation for a parallel 3D world. Samsung is working on new memory technologies that provide faster bandwidth inside hardware for data to travel between CPUs, storage and other computing resources. The company also announced it was partnering with Red Hat to ensure these technologies have Linux compatibility. |
today's howtos
|
Only 9?
Working in a Gnome shop and using it at work for more than a year, I've switched back to KDE. I've found much more than 9 improvements are needed before it can harness the power and capabilities that KDE gives me.
Insert_Ending_Here
Perspective
Well, let's be fair. GNOME is a great desktop, but it's a matter of personal needs. I typically use KDE too, but I doubt my parents would use all the features.
Useless points
Every desktop environment still has major issues.
The thing I don't like about these articles is that although they are correct and Gnome does need major work, almost all of the points made by the author are nonsense.
There are far more issues with Gnome:
1. Too much reliance on gstreamer. I think Gnome should use one api that in turn has a gstreamer backend. This way someone can write a xine-lib backend.
2. No coordination with gtk+ releases. Gtk+ 2.12.0 was a catastrophe. Not until gtk+ 2.12.8/9 were all visible issues fixed.
3. Releasing each 6 months isn't always good. Even if a dot zero release is rock stable, I would like to see at least two more months for feedback from distribution developers.
But otherwise, I see no problems with Gnome.