# GNOME Shell

> core user interface of the GNOME desktop environment

**Wikidata**: [Q1343860](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1343860)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME_Shell)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gnome-shell

## Summary
GNOME Shell is the core user interface of the GNOME desktop environment, providing the visual and interactive components that users interact with. It is part of the GNOME Project and is distributed as free software under various open-source licenses, including the GNU General Public License.

## Key Facts
- **Part of the GNOME Project**: GNOME Shell is developed as part of The GNOME Project, a collaborative effort to create a free and open-source desktop environment.
- **Free Software**: It is distributed under licenses such as the GNU General Public License, GNU Library General Public License, GNU Lesser General Public License, and Expat license.
- **Operating Systems**: GNOME Shell runs on Linux-based systems and BSD variants.
- **Dependencies**: It depends on software such as libcanberra, GDKPixBuf, GJS, GTK, libxml2, and the X Window System.
- **Development**: The source code is hosted on GitLab and GitHub, with releases tracked on the GNOME GitLab repository.
- **Licensing**: The project adheres to the principles of the free software movement, allowing users to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software.
- **Package Management**: GNOME Shell is available as a package in various Linux distributions, including Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch Linux, and openSUSE.

## FAQs
### Q: What is GNOME Shell used for?
A: GNOME Shell is the primary user interface for the GNOME desktop environment, providing the visual layout, window management, and interactive elements that users interact with.

### Q: Is GNOME Shell free software?
A: Yes, GNOME Shell is distributed as free software under licenses such as the GNU General Public License, allowing users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it.

### Q: On which operating systems can GNOME Shell run?
A: GNOME Shell runs on Linux-based systems and BSD variants, including FreeBSD and other Unix-like operating systems.

### Q: How can I contribute to GNOME Shell?
A: You can contribute to GNOME Shell by submitting code changes, reporting bugs, or participating in discussions on the project's GitLab or GitHub repositories.

### Q: What are the key dependencies of GNOME Shell?
A: GNOME Shell depends on software such as libcanberra, GDKPixBuf, GJS, GTK, libxml2, and the X Window System for its functionality.

## Why It Matters
GNOME Shell plays a crucial role in the GNOME desktop environment by providing the visual and interactive components that users interact with. Its development is part of the broader GNOME Project, which aims to create a free and open-source desktop environment. The project's adherence to free software principles ensures that users have the freedom to run, study, change, and distribute the software. GNOME Shell's availability across various Linux distributions and BSD variants makes it a widely used interface for desktop computing. Its development and maintenance are supported by the GNOME Foundation and The GNOME Project, contributing to the open-source ecosystem.

## Notable For
- **Core User Interface**: GNOME Shell serves as the primary user interface for the GNOME desktop environment, providing the visual layout and interactive elements.
- **Free Software**: It is distributed under open-source licenses, adhering to the principles of the free software movement.
- **Cross-Platform Support**: GNOME Shell runs on Linux-based systems and BSD variants, ensuring compatibility across different operating systems.
- **Active Development**: The project is actively developed and maintained, with releases tracked on GitLab and GitHub.
- **Package Availability**: GNOME Shell is available as a package in various Linux distributions, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

## Body
### Overview
GNOME Shell is the core user interface of the GNOME desktop environment, providing the visual and interactive components that users interact with. It is part of The GNOME Project, a collaborative effort to create a free and open-source desktop environment.

### Development and Licensing
GNOME Shell is developed as part of The GNOME Project, which is supported by the GNOME Foundation. The project is distributed under various open-source licenses, including the GNU General Public License, GNU Library General Public License, GNU Lesser General Public License, and Expat license. This adherence to free software principles ensures that users have the freedom to run, study, change, and distribute the software.

### Operating Systems
GNOME Shell runs on Linux-based systems and BSD variants, including FreeBSD and other Unix-like operating systems. This cross-platform support makes it accessible to a wide range of users.

### Dependencies
GNOME Shell depends on several software components, including libcanberra, GDKPixBuf, GJS, GTK, libxml2, and the X Window System. These dependencies are essential for the functionality and performance of the user interface.

### Source Code and Development
The source code for GNOME Shell is hosted on GitLab and GitHub, with releases tracked on the GNOME GitLab repository. The project's development is supported by the GNOME Foundation and The GNOME Project, ensuring its continued improvement and maintenance.

### Package Management
GNOME Shell is available as a package in various Linux distributions, including Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch Linux, and openSUSE. This package availability makes it easy for users to install and use GNOME Shell on their systems.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "name": "GNOME Shell",
  "description": "Core user interface of the GNOME desktop environment",
  "url": "https://www.gnome.org",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q121121", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME_Shell"],
  "applicationCategory": "Desktop Environment",
  "operatingSystem": ["Linux", "BSD"],
  "license": ["GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later", "GNU Library General Public License, version 2.0 or later", "GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1", "Expat license"],
  "softwareVersion": ["3.20", "3.22", "3.24", "3.24.3", "3.26.2", "3.27.1", "3.27.91", "3.28.0", "3.28.1", "3.32.0"],
  "datePublished": "2011-03-00",
  "developer": ["GNOME Foundation", "The GNOME Project"],
  "codeRepository": "https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell.git"
}

## References

1. Free Software Directory
2. [Source](https://wiki.gnome.org/Engagement/GNOME3Myths#GNOME_3.0_depends_on_Mono.21)
3. [Source](https://www.gnome.org/news/2016/03/gnome-3-20-released/)
4. [Source](https://www.gnome.org/news/2016/09/gnome-3-22-released-the-future-is-now/)
5. [Source](https://www.gnome.org/news/2017/03/gnome-3-24-released/)
6. [Source](https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell/tags/3.24.3)
7. [Release 3.24.3. 2017](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.24.3)
8. [Source](https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell/tags/3.26.2)
9. [Release 3.26.2. 2017](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.26.2)
10. [GNOME Shell Extensions 3.27.1. 2017](https://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-announce-list/2017-October/msg00015.html)
11. [Release 3.27.1. 2017](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.27.1)
12. [Source](https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell/tags/3.27.91)
13. [Release 3.27.91. 2018](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.27.91)
14. [Source](https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell/tags/3.28.0)
15. [Release 3.28.0. 2018](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.28.0)
16. [3.28.1 · Tags · GNOME / gnome-shell](https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell/tags/3.28.1)
17. [Release 3.28.1. 2018](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.28.1)
18. [Source](https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell/tags/3.32.0)
19. [Release 3.32.0. 2019](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.32.0)
20. [Source](https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell/-/tags/3.34.0)
21. [Release 3.34.0. 2019](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.34.0)
22. [Release 3.15.3. 2014](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.15.3)
23. [Release 3.15.4. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.15.4)
24. [Release 3.15.90. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.15.90)
25. [Release 3.15.91. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.15.91)
26. [Release 3.15.92. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.15.92)
27. [Release 3.16.0. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.16.0)
28. [Release 3.16.1. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.16.1)
29. [Release 3.16.2. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.16.2)
30. [Release 3.16.3. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.16.3)
31. [Release 3.16.4. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.16.4)
32. [Release 3.17.1. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.17.1)
33. [Release 3.17.2. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.17.2)
34. [Release 3.17.3. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.17.3)
35. [Release 3.17.4. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.17.4)
36. [Release 3.17.90. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.17.90)
37. [Release 3.17.91. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.17.91)
38. [Release 3.17.92. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.17.92)
39. [Release 3.18.0. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.18.0)
40. [Release 3.18.1. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.18.1)
41. [Release 3.18.2. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.18.2)
42. [Release 3.18.3. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.18.3)
43. [Release 3.18.4. 2016](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.18.4)
44. [Release 3.18.5. 2016](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.18.5)
45. [Release 3.19.1. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.19.1)
46. [Release 3.19.2. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.19.2)
47. [Release 3.19.3. 2015](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.19.3)
48. [Release 3.19.4. 2016](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.19.4)
49. [Release 3.19.90. 2016](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.19.90)
50. [Release 3.19.91. 2016](https://github.com/GNOME/gnome-shell/releases/tag/3.19.91)