GNOME

In short: GNOME is a Linux desktop with a tidy, minimalist interface that focuses on simplicity and concentration. It uses the GTK toolkit and is the default of Ubuntu, Fedora and Debian.

In more detail: Instead of a start menu and taskbar there is the “Activities overview”: one keypress (Super) shows all windows and search. The compositor Mutter manages windows, the interface is called GNOME Shell.

In detail

• Versions: GNOME 3 from 2011, since GNOME 40 (2021) numbers 40, 41, 42 … twice a year (March and September), the 3x scheme is gone. Each version has a name after a city (46 Kuala Lumpur, 47 Denver, 48 Bengaluru, 49 Brescia).
• Wayland: Wayland by default, the X11 session is being phased out.
• Applications: Files (Nautilus), Web (Epiphany), Terminal, Text Editor, Photos, Calendar, Settings. All follow the GNOME guidelines (Libadwaita).
• Extensions: features like Dash-to-Dock, system bar, tiling through extensions, see GNOME extensions and Tweaks.
• Criticism: few settings, unfamiliar operation, extensions can break on updates.
• Related: Cinnamon and MATE arose as forks because users missed the classic layout.

See also: Linux desktop environments at a glance, KDE Plasma