# GSound > small library for playing system sounds **Wikidata**: [Q113996518](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113996518) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gsound ## Summary GSound is a small library for playing system sounds. It serves as a wrapper library based on libcanberra, developed by The GNOME Project. Distributed as free software under the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 or later, it enables running, studying, changing, and distributing the software and its modified versions. ## Key Facts - Instance of: free software, software library, wrapper library - License: GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1 or later - Developer: The GNOME Project - Based on: libcanberra - Operating system: BSD (Unix-like operating system based on or descended from the Berkeley Software Distribution series of Unix variant options) - Websites: https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/GSound (English), https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gsound (English) - Source code repository: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gsound.git (GitLab, main branch , reference ) - FreeBSD port: audio/gsound - Gentoo package: media-libs/gsound - Ubuntu packages: gir1.2-gsound-1.0, gsound-tools, libgsound-dev, libgsound-doc, libgsound0 - Debian source package: gsound - Debian stable packages: gir1.2-gsound-1.0, gsound-tools, libgsound-dev, libgsound-doc, libgsound0 - Guix variable name: gsound - SlackBuilds package: libraries/gsound - Copyright status: copyrighted - Different from: Gsound, GNUsound - Wikidata description: small library for playing system sounds - Free software class sitelinks: 120 - BSD class sitelinks: 5 ## FAQs **What does GSound do?** GSound provides functionality as a small library specifically for playing system sounds. It acts as a wrapper around libcanberra to simplify this task in software applications. **Who develops GSound and under what license is it released?** The GNOME Project develops GSound. It is released under the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 or later, qualifying it as free software that users can run, study, change, and distribute freely. **On which operating systems does GSound run?** GSound runs on BSD, a Unix-like operating system descended from the Berkeley Software Distribution series of Unix variants. **Where can I find GSound's source code and documentation?** Source code is available at https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gsound.git. Documentation and project details are on https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/GSound, both in English. **What packages provide GSound in major Linux distributions?** FreeBSD offers it via the audio/gsound port. Gentoo uses media-libs/gsound, Ubuntu provides gir1.2-gsound-1.0, gsound-tools, libgsound-dev, libgsound-doc, and libgsound0, Debian has gsound as the source package with stable binaries like gir1.2-gsound-1.0, and SlackBuilds lists it under libraries/gsound. **How is GSound classified and what distinguishes it from similar projects?** It is an instance of free software, software library, and wrapper library. GSound differs from Gsound and GNUsound. ## Why It Matters GSound addresses the need for a compact, accessible way to handle system sound playback in applications, particularly within GNOME ecosystems and compatible environments like BSD. By wrapping libcanberra, it simplifies integration for developers, reducing complexity in audio handling across Unix-like systems. Its free software status under LGPL v2.1+ empowers widespread adoption, modification, and distribution, fostering collaborative improvement in open-source audio tooling. Availability across distros like FreeBSD, Gentoo, Ubuntu, Debian, and SlackBuilds ensures broad accessibility, while GNOME's involvement ties it to a major desktop project's standards, influencing sound management in graphical interfaces. This positions GSound as a foundational component for consistent user feedback through sounds in free software environments. ## Notable For - Serving as a lightweight wrapper library based on libcanberra for system sound playback. - Development by The GNOME Project, integrating it into a prominent free desktop ecosystem. - Extensive packaging support across BSD, FreeBSD ports, Gentoo, Ubuntu, Debian stable/source, Guix, and SlackBuilds. - Dual English-language official sites: GNOME Wiki and GitLab repository. - Clear distinctions from similarly named projects like Gsound and GNUsound. - Copyrighted free software with 120 sitelinks in its free software class. ## Body ### Overview and Classification GSound functions as a small library dedicated to playing system sounds. It qualifies as free software, defined by distribution terms allowing users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it along with modified versions. Classed as a software library and wrapper library, it wraps libcanberra to provide this capability. ### Development and Licensing The GNOME Project develops GSound. Its license is the GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1 or later. Copyright status is copyrighted, aligning with free software principles. ### Platforms and Operating Systems GSound operates on BSD, a Unix-like system based on or descended from the Berkeley Software Distribution Unix variants. ### Official Resources Primary websites include https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/GSound in English as the preferred site, and https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gsound also in English. The source code repository resides at https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gsound.git, with qualifiers for GitLab hosting and main branch reference. ### Distribution Packages - FreeBSD: Available via the audio/gsound port. - Gentoo: Packaged as media-libs/gsound. - Ubuntu: Includes gir1.2-gsound-1.0, gsound-tools, libgsound-dev, libgsound-doc, libgsound0. - Debian: Source package is gsound; stable packages are gir1.2-gsound-1.0, gsound-tools, libgsound-dev, libgsound-doc, libgsound0. - Guix: Accessible via the gsound variable name. - SlackBuilds: Found under libraries/gsound. ### Distinctions and Related Entities GSound is different from Gsound and GNUsound. It is based on libcanberra, enhancing its core functionality as a wrapper. ### Wikidata and Sitelink Metrics The Wikidata description states: "small library for playing system sounds." The free software class has 120 sitelinks, while BSD has 5 sitelinks.