MATE Desktop Environment – the continuation of GNOME 2

Last Updated on July 11, 2021

The MATE Desktop Environment is the continuation of GNOME 2. It provides an intuitive and attractive desktop environment using traditional metaphors for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.

If you love cascading menus, top and bottom panels, and an absence of desktop effects, MATE may offer a friendly home environment.

MATE is composed of a number of applications.

MATE is supported under most popular Linux distributions.

  • Provides the following applications:
    • Caja – the file manager for the desktop. It’s a fork of GNOME Files (Nautilus)
    • Pluma – a simple text editor with some useful features. It’s a fork of Gedit.
    • Eye of MATE – a simple graphics viewer. Eye of MATE is a fork of Eye of GNOME.
    • Atril – a simple multi-page document viewer. It can display and print PostScript (PS), Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), DJVU, DVI, XPS and Portable Document Format (PDF) files. It’s a fork of Evince.
    • Engrampa – an archive manager that creates and modifies archives, views the content of archives, views a file contained in an archive, as well as extracting files from an archive. The application is a fork of Archive Manager.
    • MATE Terminal – a terminal emulation application that provides shell access. It offers multi-tab support and profiles. The software is a fork of GNOME Terminal.
  • Supports HiDPI displays with dynamic detection and scaling.
  • Fully supports the GTK+ 3 application framework.
  • Various desktop layouts such as Familiar, Mutiny (a homage to Unity), Redmond, Cuperinho (a macOS inspired affair), and Traditional.
  • HUD (Head Up Display) – enables menu options to search by pressing Alt.
  • Good keyboard support.
  • Cross-platform supports – besides Linux, the environment runs under FreeBSD, PC-BSD, GhostBSD, and OpenIndiana.

Website: mate-desktop.org
Support: Blog
Developer: MATE team
License: GNU LGPLv2, GNU GPLv2

MATE desktop environment

The MATE Desktop Environment is written in C, C++ and Python. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

Return to Desktop Environments Home Page


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David
David
1 year ago

Gnome 2 is still the best!
I have been using Linux Operating Systems almost ever since Linux existed. I have experimented with almost every Linux Distro available. I have concluded that if Gnome 2 / Mate is not available, it is a waste of my time to install, unless I install all Mate software after installation.

VOA
VOA
1 year ago
Reply to  David

Given that there are over a thousand Linux distros, I seriously doubt anyone has tried “almost every Linux Distro available”. And certainly not for any length of time.

Derek
Derek
1 year ago
Reply to  VOA

Good call

David
David
1 year ago

Actually, I have tried all and still strongly prefer Gnome 2

Kol
Kol
1 year ago
Reply to  David

Don’t be mendacious. Incredulous you’ve tried all 1000+ Linux distros.