# gtk-vnc
**Wikidata**: [Q11221950](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11221950)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gtk-vnc

## Summary

gtk-vnc is a free software VNC (Virtual Network Computing) client library that enables remote desktop access within GTK-based applications. It is distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 and serves as a core component of the GNOME desktop environment's remote connectivity capabilities. The project provides bindings that allow developers to integrate VNC functionality into their applications using the GTK toolkit.

## Key Facts

- **License**: GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1
- **Classification**: Free software (sitelink_count: 1)
- **Website**: https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/gtk-vnc
- **Source Code Repository**: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gtk-vnc.git (hosted on GitLab FOSS, associated with project )
- **Programming Language**: Data available via OpenHub (https://www.openhub.net/p/gtk-vnc/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
- **Copyright Status**: Copyrighted

**Version History**:
- Version 0.8.0 released 2018-08-01
- Version 0.9.0 released 2018-08-17
- Version 1.0.0 released 2019-08-07
- Version 1.4.0 (stable version) released 2025-01-06

**Package Availability Across Platforms**:
- Arch Linux: gtk-vnc
- Fedora: gtk-vnc
- Gentoo: net-libs/gtk-vnc
- FreeBSD: net/gtk-vnc
- OpenBSD: x11/gtk-vnc
- NetBSD: net/gtk-vnc
- macOS (MacPorts): gtk-vnc
- macOS (Homebrew): gtk-vnc
- Slackware (SlackBuilds): system/gtk-vnc
- AUR: gtk-vnc-gtk2

**External Identifiers**:
- OpenHub ID: gtk-vnc
- Repology Project Name: gtk-vnc
- Pro-Linux.de DBApp ID: 12273
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/123b46b3
- Wikipedia Language: Japanese (ja)

## FAQs

**What is gtk-vnc used for?**

gtk-vnc is a VNC client library that allows GTK applications to display and interact with remote desktop sessions. It provides the underlying technology that enables applications to connect to VNC servers and render remote graphical interfaces locally.

**Is gtk-vnc free to use?**

Yes, gtk-vnc is free software distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1, which permits users to run, study, modify, and distribute the software.

**Which operating systems support gtk-vnc?**

gtk-vnc is available across multiple platforms including Linux distributions (Arch Linux, Fedora, Gentoo, Slackware), FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, and macOS through both MacPorts and Homebrew package managers.

**What is the latest version of gtk-vnc?**

The current stable version is 1.4.0, released on January 6, 2025.

**Where is the gtk-vnc source code hosted?**

The source code is hosted on GitLab at https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gtk-vnc.git, part of the GNOME project's free and open source software collection.

## Why It Matters

gtk-vnc plays a critical role in the GNOME ecosystem and broader free software community by providing a reliable, maintained VNC client library that developers can integrate into their applications. As remote work and server administration have become increasingly prevalent, the need for robust remote desktop solutions has grown substantially. gtk-vnc addresses this need by offering a well-documented, actively maintained library that follows GNOME coding standards and integrates seamlessly with GTK-based applications.

The library's availability across multiple BSD variants and Linux distributions demonstrates its importance as a cross-platform solution for remote desktop connectivity. Its inclusion in the GNOME project infrastructure ensures long-term maintenance and security updates, making it a trustworthy choice for both desktop users and system administrators.

The project's presence in package repositories for major distributions indicates widespread adoption and community trust. By maintaining compatibility with various Unix-like systems, gtk-vnc serves as a unifying component that enables consistent remote desktop experiences regardless of the underlying operating system.

## Notable For

- Active development spanning multiple decades with recent stable releases
- Cross-platform availability on Linux, BSD variants, and macOS
- Integration with the GNOME desktop environment ecosystem
- Maintained by the GNOME project with source code hosted on GitLab
- Availability in both legacy (gtk-vnc-gtk2) and modern GTK versions
- Inclusion in Repology for upstream package tracking

## Body

### Project Overview

gtk-vnc is a VNC client library designed specifically for GTK applications, providing the necessary bindings and functionality to connect to VNC servers and render remote desktop sessions. The project is maintained as part of the GNOME ecosystem and represents one of the primary solutions for VNC connectivity within free and open source software environments.

The library enables developers to embed remote desktop capabilities directly into their applications without requiring external VNC clients, streamlining the user experience for applications that require remote system access or remote support functionality.

### Version History and Development

The project has maintained consistent development activity with regular releases:

- **Version 0.8.0**: Released August 1, 2018, representing an early stable release in the 0.x series
- **Version 0.9.0**: Released August 17, 2018, following shortly after 0.8.0 with incremental improvements
- **Version 1.0.0**: Released August 7, 2019, marking a significant milestone in the project's evolution
- **Version 1.4.0**: Released January 6, 2025, currently the preferred stable version with the most recent updates

The progression from 0.x to 1.x versioning indicates a maturation of the codebase and commitment to API stability for downstream developers.

### Platform Ecosystem

gtk-vnc demonstrates exceptional cross-platform compatibility, with official packages available across major free and open source operating systems:

**Linux Distributions**:
- Arch Linux provides gtk-vnc in its official repositories
- Fedora includes gtk-vnc in its package collection
- Gentoo maintains the package as net-libs/gtk-vnc
- Slackware users can access it through SlackBuilds as system/gtk-vnc
- AUR contains the legacy gtk-vnc-gtk2 package for older GTK2-based systems

**BSD Systems**:
- FreeBSD ports collection includes net/gtk-vnc
- OpenBSD maintains x11/gtk-vnc in its packages
- NetBSD provides net/gtk-vnc as the package identifier

**macOS**:
- MacPorts provides gtk-vnc for users preferring that package manager
- Homebrew includes gtk-vnc as a formula for alternative installation

This broad platform support ensures that developers using gtk-vnc can target multiple operating systems without significant additional porting effort.

### Technical Infrastructure

The project maintains its source code on GitLab at https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gtk-vnc.git, leveraging GitLab's infrastructure for version control and release management. The repository is associated with the GNOME Foundation's project infrastructure and follows the organization's development practices.

External tracking services monitor the project's health and package status:
- OpenHub provides code analysis and language statistics
- Repology tracks package versions across distributions
- Pro-Linux.de maintains a database entry for the application

### Licensing and Legal Status

gtk-vnc is distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 (LGPL 2.1), a permissive free software license that allows the library to be linked with proprietary software while maintaining the copyleft requirements for modifications to the library itself. The software remains copyrighted by its authors while remaining freely available.

### Community and Documentation

The project maintains documentation at https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/gtk-vnc, providing users and developers with guidance on installation, configuration, and development with the library. The GNOME wiki serves as the central hub for project information and community resources.

The project has a Japanese-language Wikipedia entry, indicating international recognition and usage beyond English-speaking communities.

### Integration with GNOME Ecosystem

As a GNOME project, gtk-vnc benefits from integration with the broader GNOME ecosystem including shared build systems, documentation standards, and release infrastructure. This relationship ensures consistent quality and compatibility with other GNOME components, making it an ideal choice for developers building GNOME applications requiring VNC functionality.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.openhub.net/p/gtk-vnc/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
2. [Source](https://download.gnome.org/sources/gtk-vnc/0.9/gtk-vnc-0.9.0.news)
3. [Source](https://download.gnome.org/sources/gtk-vnc/0.8/gtk-vnc-0.8.0.news)
4. [Source](https://download.gnome.org/sources/gtk-vnc/1.0/gtk-vnc-1.0.0.news)
5. [2025](https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gtk-vnc/-/releases/1.4.0)