Gnome 1.4 "Tranquility" Released

Roanld Bultje writes: "According to this article on LinuxToday, Gnome 1.4 has just been released! Gnome and all other required packages can be downloaded from Gnome's FTP or a mirror. Medusa seems to have been removed from the final release due to some bugs that were found recently. Let's hope that this new release puts Gnome next to KDE's 2.x-version." Download.gnome.org will pick a mirror site for you automagically.

Comments

Re:Help me get this

[johnnyb]

A GNOME release is much like a distribution release. It is just a collection of packages. The difference being that they've all been tested together. Why they decided to release GNOME 1.4 is that they've added several new things, and updated existing ones. They have added:

bonobo (component architecture)
gnome-vfs (allow anything to be viewed as part of a filesystem)
nautilus (new file manager)
xalf (launch feedback for panel launchers)

Some of these were around in beta form before the release, but the release of GNOME 1.4 marked the inclusion of these packages. It was a major change, so they had a package versinon number change.

However, the process isn't much different than that of a full distribution, only its covering only the desktop portion.

Re:Not too sorry to see medusa go

[ethereal]

last time I tried medusa, it slowed my machine to a crawl while it was running

You might almost say it turned your machine to stone :) hee hee

...or maybe not.

Official Press Release

[Skeezix]

PRESS RELEASE -- The GNOME Foundation announces the release of GNOME 1.4. The release offers a stable, powerful and tightly integrated platform that features the most extensive documentation to date, making the help features very user-friendly. GNOME 1.4 includes Nautilus, the new graphical shell for GNOME that features advanced file and Internet browsing capabilities. Developers will find a set of new and updated tools, making GNOME the ideal programming platform.

"GNOME 1.4 has a wealth of new features, from an updated Sawfish window manager to enhanced support and interoperability with other desktop environments." said Havoc Pennington, GNOME Foundation board chair. "This release represents a major leap forward in the GNOME desktop environment. Users will instantly see an improvement in the usability and power of components like Nautilus. Developers will enjoy the strategic advantages of improvements to the component architecture and streamlined tools for greater internationalization and localization of GNOME-based programs."

New or enhanced features of the GNOME 1.4 desktop environment include:

• Nautilus - a new file manager and desktop environment that allows users to easily manage their files, browse the web and access web-based services through a sophisticated, customizable interface. For example, GNOME users can select any word in a text document and do a Google search on that term or look up the word in an online dictionary.
• Better support and interoperability with KDE and legacy X applications
• New Application Launch Feedback lets the user know when a program is in the process of being loaded.
• Sawfish window manager is now a standard part of GNOME. All aspects of the user interface are customizable through Sawfish, including complete configuration of the look and feel of the desktop.
• Easier to use and more intuitive help browser and help system, boasting extensive documentation covering all aspects of GNOME operations.
• GNOME Fifth Toe, a broad collection of applications that run on GNOME.
• Medusa, the new GNOME searching/indexing package. Medusa is a content and file indexing system that performs quick searches of a users hard drive.

GNOME 1.4 will also include a number of enhancements for developers, including:

• GNOME-VFS - The GNOME Virtual File System provides an abstraction to common file system operations like reading, writing and copying files, listing directories and so on. GNOME-VFS is extensible and usable from any application on the GNOME desktop.
• Updated Bonobo Component Model - 1.4 will include developments in the interfaces that provide standard component programming and program interoperability in Linux and Unix.
• Xml-i18n-tools - a set of tools for better internationalization and localization of GNOME. Xml-i18n-tools contain some utility scripts for internationalizing various kinds of XML files. In addition, it has a merging feature, which will be extended to handle desktop and MIME files in the future.
• GConf, a sophisticated system for storing configuration information. It provides a notification service so applications can be notified when a configuration setting changes. changes. Gconf also allows for pluggable storage backends (text files, databases, etc.) and gives administrators control over default and mandatory settings.
• Enhanced Language Bindings - facilitating the use of GNOME from a number of programming languages. Language bindings included with GNOME 1.4 for Gtk+ include C, C++, Objective C, Ada, Perl, Python, Guile, TOM, Eiffel, Dylan, JavaScript, Pike, Pascal and Haskell. Many of these languages also have support for GNOME widgets available.
• Enhanced GNOME Display Manager - A re-implementation of the well-known xdm (X Display Manager) program that features X authentication, default and per-display initialization scripts, pre and post-session scripts, pluggable authentication modules and TCP wrappers for access control.

"Since the GNOME project is a free software project, we were able to incorporate advances from some of the most talented programmers in the world," said Maciej Stachowiak, head of the 1.4 Release Team. "Hundreds of people from every part of the world contributed to this release. The result is a mature, stable, powerful and fun-to-use desktop, with the promise of a host of new killer applications, due to the programming enhancements."

GNOME is a free software project that is developing a complete, easy to use desktop for GNU/Linux (more commonly known as Linux), BSD and a variety of other Unix and Unix-like operating systems. The GNOME desktop is used by millions of people around the world. More than 500 computer developers, including over 100 full-time, paid developers, contribute their time and effort to the project.
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Re:So, why isn't it on Red Carpet?

[Skeezix]

The Gnome Project releases packages in source format. It will take a bit of time for Ximian, and others to incorporate their patches, build, and bundle the release and get it out on the red carpet channel. The source release always comes first...binaries will follow.
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Re:Mirrors

[ole]

If you want to run a public FTP mirror of the GNOME FTP site, please send us the URL to the mirror and the adminstrative contact address for the mirror, and we'll be happy to add you to our mirror database and provide you with the required password.

Thanks,
The GNOME system administration team

Re:Now all I need to do is to wait a year or two..

[jilles]

Both problems can fixed easily. For KDE, point your browser to kde.org, find the page with the installation instructions, find the deb sources. Do a apt-get install task-kde. For Gnome, go to ximian.com, find the installation instructions (involves calling lynx and piping its contents to sh). It doesn't get easier. And mind you these instructions even work for potato. All this assumes you have a network connection of course. If you are on a modem, I can imagine you could just put the debs somewhere local.

So after ximian updates their site you (and I) will be able to upgrade. I love debian for this ease of use. A few days ago apt-get informed me that kde 2.1.1 was available, before that news reached me through the regualar news sites. 20 minutes later it was up and running (required no manual intervention at all, no questions asked).

I agree that it would be nice if debian was a little faster in adopting these things but as long as I can get them from third parties this way it is fine with me.

Re:Not really...

[jonathan_ingram]

No, you're wrong - this really is the actual release. It confused me at first as well because of

1. the stupid way they bungled the release (put out a press release saying it's out, then putting out another one saying they were having problems, and then finally getting the release out)
2. ftp.gnome.org not being updated before other mirror sites.

If you connect to the sites listed at http://download.gnome.org , (well, certainly to ftp://gnome.eazel.com/pub/GNOME/ , which is the one I used), you'll see that Gnome 1.4 really has been released. Note that 1.4 is still based around Gtk 1.2, and so is really just an updated Gnome 1.2 -- apart from the addition of Nautilus which I am compiling as I write.

Not too sorry to see medusa go

[Raleel]

Well, I'm sure it'll be back, but last time I tried medusa, it slowed my machine to a crawl while it was running (p2-300, not state of the art, but still...).

Not really...

[selmer]

If you check the gnome-ftp servers, then you'll find out that the GNOME-1.4 that Linuxtoday is mentioning is actually Gnome-1.4 Release Candidate 1. There isn't a press-release up on http://www.gnome.org either. Guess we'll have to wait a little while longer for the "real" release.

So, why isn't it on Red Carpet?

[AugstWest]

Red Carpet seemed like a very cool thing at first, but I've gotten a couple of security updates from mailing lists that haven't shown up on there, and now Gnome 1.4 has been released, and it isn't available either...

It's like they got everything updated and ready for the launch, and then let it go...

Wait for the Japanese

[Greyfox]

The Japanese are traditionally a little slow getting into the game, but once a Japanese programming team assembles, you'll get:

• All the sharing features of Gnome/KDE in the footprint of FVWM.
• Games involving cute furry animals which for some reason can morph into giant killer robots.
• The same stability in release 1.0 that Gnome/KDE will attain in 3.0.
• Applications that commit seppku when they segfault ("Honorable user, unworthy application has segfaulted and is removing itself from your system in shame.")
• Much more of a right to use a Giant Lizard icon.
• 5 year/50,000 mile warranty, all for under $9,999

You are so wrong

[Karma Sucks]

I quote someone who was modded down as a troll for pointing out the facts:

Fact is that Gnome 1.x (including 1.4, /. editor is being generous here) is way behind KDE from the technical point of view. Application integratation, internationalization, accessibility, coherent architecture, etc. etc.

Even core Gnome developers recognize this and are working for complete overhaul in 2.0 (though there have been some backpedaling from the most ambitious plans).

This person correctly points out the state of internationalization, accessibility, and haphazard architecture in GNOME. The application integration is self-evident if you use GNOME at all. If you follow the GNOME lists as closely as I do, you would realize all this.

Fortunately, you do not need to despair, many of these problems have been recognized and are being fixed in GTK 2.0 and GNOME 2.0. GNOME 1.4 is just a stepping stone, and it is by no means as perfect as you would like to believe. I suggest you help instead of making smug false claims.

KDE 2 and Gnome

[yoink!]

I am continually and consistently impressed with the linux community and their development scheme. I recall early last spring when Helixcode was distributing the update to Gnome and how wonderful it was. What I find really funny is that other companies, hint the BIG Guy, would designate whole new version numbers as in 2.0, 3.0, just to give the software buying public something to clearly define one from the other.

Instead we have version 1.4 and people are going to love it because its hopefully more stable and user friendly. I was so impressed with KDE2 when it came out that I stopped using anything else, but made sure the other libraries were installed in case I wanted to run anything. I'm still impressed every day when I sit down and in front of a linux machine and find the interface more intuitive than those of other operating systems.

We're at a wonderful crossroads it seems. The desktops GUIs of opensource software are really beginning to shine, and will increasingly provide an alternative to costly, closed-source, operating systems and software in the near future; something that clearly benefits everyone.


yoink

Help me get this

[stille]

There are several things that could be happening, none of which excludes another:

a) I'm simply stupid.
b) 1.4 has not been released, and everybody says it has just to drive crazy.
c) There is no actual point to talk about gnome this and gnome that. Gnome is just a bunch of individual packages.
d) It's all a huge joke.
e) It's all a huge conspiracy (see b).

Seriously, what's the definition of a gnome release? gnome-core? gnome-libs? gnome-center? All of these have a 1.2.x version number. Or do they simply from time to time say "Hey now Gnome x.y is out" to make people upgrade their packages?

The webiste (gnome.org) gives no information what so ever.

Do you feel as confused as I do? Let me know I'm not alone.

Do you understand totaly and think I'm stupid. Please enlighten me so I will understand as well.

Re:Ximian

[gimpimp]

Usually within 2 days for RPMS, and Debian packages. I'm not sure about other distro's (Mandrake, SuSE etc.)