MATE (desktop environment) facts for kids
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Fedora Linux with the MATE version 1.26
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| Developer(s) | Clement Lefebvre, Perberos, Stefano Karapetsas, et al. |
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| Initial release | August 19, 2011 |
| Stable release |
1.28.2
 / 11 March 2024 |
| Preview release |
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| Written in | C |
| Operating system | Unix-like, Unix |
| Type | Desktop environment |
| License | GPLv2+, LGPLv2+ |
MATE (pronounced "mah-tay") is a special type of computer program. It's a desktop environment, which means it creates the look and feel of your computer screen. Think of it as the main control panel and visual style for your computer.
MATE is made of free and open-source software. This means its code is available for anyone to see, use, and change. It works on computers that use Linux and other similar operating systems, like Unix-like systems.
Contents
What's in a Name?
MATE gets its name from a plant in South America called yerba mate. This plant is used to make a popular tea, also known as mate. The creators chose to write the name in all capital letters. This is a common style for other free software desktop environments, like KDE.
You might also hear MATE called "MATE Advanced Traditional Environment." This is a fun, recursive name. It's a bit like how GNU stands for "GNU's Not Unix!" The new name was important. It helped avoid confusion with parts of the GNOME 3 desktop environment.
How MATE Started
MATE was created by a user named Perberos from Argentina. He used a type of Linux called Arch Linux. MATE was made to continue an older version of a desktop environment called GNOME 2.
Many people didn't like the changes in GNOME 3. It replaced the traditional taskbar with something new called GNOME Shell. So, Perberos decided to "fork" GNOME 2. This means he took the existing code and started a new project based on it. MATE's goal was to keep the familiar look and feel of GNOME 2. It also aimed to keep its core programs working.
MATE was officially announced in November 2013. It became a part of the official Arch Linux community in January 2014.
MATE's Main Programs
MATE includes many programs that were originally part of GNOME Core Applications. Developers have also created new programs just for MATE. The programs that were "forked" (copied and changed) from GNOME have new names. Many of these new names come from Spanish words.
Here are some of the main programs you'll find in MATE:
| Application name | Spanish meaning | Originally from | What it does | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atril | lectern | Evince | Reads documents | Supports EPUB books and Caret navigation |
| Caja | box | GNOME Files (Nautilus) | Manages your computer files | Can use extra tools called extensions |
| Engrampa | staple | Archive Manager (File Roller) | Compresses and uncompresses files | |
| Eye of MATE | Eye of GNOME | Views images | ||
| MATE Calculator | GNOME Calculator | A calculator program | ||
| MATE Control Center | GNOME Control Center | Changes MATE desktop settings | ||
| MATE System Monitor | GNOME System Monitor | Shows how your computer is working | ||
| MATE Terminal | GNOME Terminal | A program to type commands | ||
| marco | frame | Metacity | Manages windows on your screen | |
| Mozo | waiter | Alacarte | Helps you edit your computer's menus | |
| Pluma | pen | Gedit | Edits text files |
How MATE is Developed
MATE works well with the GTK 3 program framework. This means it can use many modern applications. The project gets help from important developers. These include Martin Wimpress, who leads Ubuntu MATE, and the team behind Linux Mint.
They believe MATE is another great desktop option. It's like KDE, Gnome 3, or Xfce. Because GNOME 2 was so popular, they are committed to supporting MATE.
New features have been added to programs like Caja. For example, you can now undo or redo actions. You can also see differences when replacing files. MATE 1.6 removed some older parts. It moved to newer systems like GSettings and D-Bus.
MATE developers want to offer a classic computer experience. But they also want to use the newest technologies. MATE 1.20, released in 2018, added support for HiDPI screens. This makes text and images look sharper on high-resolution displays. The GTK version was also updated. In MATE 1.22, many programs were updated to use Python 3. Soon, MATE will also support Wayland. This is a newer way for computers to show graphics.
MATE Release History
MATE has a regular release schedule. You'll notice that there are odd-numbered versions between each official release. These odd-numbered versions are for development. They are not announced as official, stable releases.
Here's a timeline of MATE's main releases:
| Date | Version |
|---|---|
| 2011-06-18 | Announced at Arch Linux forum |
| 2011-08-19 | Initial release |
| 2012-04-16 | 1.2 |
| 2012-07-30 | 1.4 |
| 2013-04-02 | 1.6 |
| 2014-03-04 | 1.8 |
| 2015-06-11 | 1.10 |
| 2015-11-05 | 1.12 |
| 2016-04-08 | 1.14 |
| 2016-09-21 | 1.16 |
| 2017-03-13 | 1.18 |
| 2018-02-07 | 1.20 |
| 2019-03-18 | 1.22 |
| 2020-02-10 | 1.24 |
| 2021-08-03 | 1.26 |
| 2024-02-12 | 1.28 |
Who Uses MATE?
The official MATE website lists many different computer systems that use MATE. This includes 27 different Linux distributions. It also includes 5 Unix-like operating systems. This shows that MATE is a widely supported desktop environment.
See also
In Spanish: MATE para niños
