The Title says it all: Is a MATE desktop version of openSUSE planned?
I have found MATE to be very useful on other distros and wonder if a MATE version is planned for openSuSE.
TIA
I don’t think that an official version is planned, at least not in the near future.
I have found MATE to be very useful on other distros and wonder if a MATE version is planned for openSuSE.
MATE is available for openSUSE:
Index of /repositories/X11:/MATE:/STABLE:/1.6/openSUSE_13.1
There are even 1-click installs in that repo, click on the above link in your browser and install MATE by just clicking on the *.ymp files…
You could also create your own openSUSE Live or Installation CD/DVD containing MATE with Welcome – SUSE Studio .
And openSUSE 13.1 with MATE 1.6 is even already available there: 
Mate_Stable_1.6-13.1_testing_image_32bit – SUSE Gallery
Mate_Stable_1.6-13.1_testing_image_64bit – SUSE Gallery
But this seems to be a LiveCD only, I can’t find any possibility to install it.
On Fri 06 Dec 2013 08:16:01 PM CST, d hinds wrote:
The Title says it all: Is a MATE desktop version of openSUSE planned?
I have found MATE to be very useful on other distros and wonder if a
MATE version is planned for openSuSE.
TIA
Hi
It’s already been around for a while, just not shipped
http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/X11:/MATE:/STABLE:/1.6/openSUSE_13.1/
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° SUSE Knowledge Partner (Linux Counter #276890)
SLED 11 SP3 (x86_64) GNOME 2.28.0 Kernel 3.0.101-0.8-default
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Thank you Malcolm and Wolfi.
Apparently, the possibility of installing the MATE desktop environment on openSUSE exists. However, my experience with modifying existing distribution has been limited to what can be done with the software management tools provided (including a few terminal commands).
As I understand it, the problem is one of dependencies. MATE is a fork of Gnome 2 and the current Gnome is v. 3. The difference is sufficient to require a very different set of applications. Caja isn’t Nautilus with a different name and neither Caja nor Mate are found in openSUSE’s Software Manager.
IAC, the functionality is what interests me. The add-ons to the tool bars (which openSUSE gnome had prior to the switch), like the “Force a misbehaving application to quit” icon - that’s very useful. Does Gnome 3 have a comparable tool? Also, there’s no way to invoke the screen saver manually (on demand).
I see that Malcolm is running Gnome 2.28.0, so the panels and menus I am referring to are available on his computer, I assume.
But what about the compatibility with new technologies like Wayland etc.? Mate is an attempt to maintain a functional technology that was left out of Gnome 3 (AFAIK) in a state compatible with future developments. At least, that’s how I understand it.
Otherwise, I find Gnome 3 faster, as long as no problems arise.
On Sat 07 Dec 2013 08:16:01 PM CST, d hinds wrote:
Thank you Malcolm and Wolfi.
Apparently, the possibility of installing the MATE desktop environment
on openSUSE exists. However, my experience with modifying existing
distribution has been limited to what can be done with the software
management tools provided (including a few terminal commands).
As I understand it, the problem is one of dependencies. MATE is a fork
of Gnome 2 and the current Gnome is v. 3. The difference is sufficient
to require a very different set of applications. Caja isn’t Nautilus
with a different name and neither Caja nor Mate are found in openSUSE’s
Software Manager.
IAC, the functionality is what interests me. The add-ons to the tool
bars (which openSUSE gnome had prior to the switch), like the “Force a
misbehaving application to quit” icon - that’s very useful. Does Gnome
3 have a comparable tool? Also, there’s no way to invoke the screen
saver manually (on demand).
I see that Malcolm is running Gnome 2.28.0, so the panels and menus I am
referring to are available on his computer, I assume.
But what about the compatibility with new technologies like Wayland
etc.? Mate is an attempt to maintain a functional technology that was
left out of Gnome 3 (AFAIK) in a state compatible with future
developments. At least, that’s how I understand it.
Otherwise, I find Gnome 3 faster, as long as no problems arise.
Hi
But I’m running SLED on this system, not openSUSE, that’s on other
machines
There is always gnome-classic you can install? Plus numerous extensions
at https://extensions.gnome.org
Lockscreen is there (can’t remember the key combo at moment) check the
settings->keyboard they are all there. There is also the tweak tool to
further customize.
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° SUSE Knowledge Partner (Linux Counter #276890)
SLED 11 SP3 (x86_64) GNOME 2.28.0 Kernel 3.0.101-0.8-default
If you find this post helpful and are logged into the web interface,
please show your appreciation and click on the star below… Thanks!
**SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (**SLED), formerly introduced as **Novell Linux Desktop, is Linux distribution supplied by SUSE and targeted at the business market. It is targeted for desktops. New major versions are released at an interval of 24–36 months, while minor versions (called service packs) are released every 9–12 months. SUSE Linux Enterprise products, including SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, receive much more intense testing than the openSUSE community product, with the intention that only mature, stable versions of the included components will make it through to the released enterprise product. (Wikipedia)
********I am checking out the extensions at https://extensions.gnome.org
Thanks for the tip.******
Well, I told you how to install it.
Just click on those 1-click installs:
http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/X11:/MATE:/STABLE:/1.6/openSUSE_13.1/mate-core.ymp
http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/X11:/MATE:/STABLE:/1.6/openSUSE_13.1/mate-desktop-environment.ymp
http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/X11:/MATE:/STABLE:/1.6/openSUSE_13.1/mate-desktop-environment-extra.ymp
As I understand it, the problem is one of dependencies. MATE is a fork of Gnome 2 and the current Gnome is v. 3. The difference is sufficient to require a very different set of applications. Caja isn’t Nautilus with a different name and neither Caja nor Mate are found in openSUSE’s Software Manager.
MATE is a fork of GNOME2, that’s correct.
They renamed to GNOME2 applications (some at least) to not clash with GNOME3.
Caja should be part of the package “mate-file-manager” I guess…
You have to add the repo first to see it in the Software Manager, but the 1-click installs above do even that for you.
See also here for more information:
http://en.opensuse.org/Portal:MATE
I installed OpenSUSE 13.1 with the Gnome desktop last night and downloaded the files form the repositories below to install the Mate desktop.
http://download.opensuse.org/reposit…/mate-core.ymp
http://download.opensuse.org/reposit…nvironment.ymp
http://download.opensuse.org/reposit…ment-extra.ymp
However, I cannot see how to activate Mate as there seems to be no option at the GRUB screen for different desktops.
How would I go about activating the Mate desktop? Would it be better to reinstall the whole system?
You should be able to select it at the login screen, not GRUB.
If you’re using Auto-Login, just logout of GNOME and you should get to the login screen.
If you want to disable Auto-Login, have a look at /etc/sysconfig/displaymanger.
How would I go about activating the Mate desktop? Would it be better to reinstall the whole system?
You can select the default desktop environment in /etc/sysconfig/windowmanager (you should set “DEFAULT_WM” to “mate” I guess).
But the Login Manager should remember your last selection (at least kdm does, not sure about gdm right now).
Many thanks. As you said when I logged out I found it by accessing the small cog wheel symbol by the sign in box in the log in screen. I will try out some of the other desktops and see which is best.
This looks like a very good system.
Thanks again.