GNOME 3.0 release

After three years of development, the release of the GNOME 3.0 desktop environment is presented. This is the most significant release of the project since the release of GNOME 2.0 nine years ago.

Major changes

• New desktop shell Gnome Shell, combining such entities as the GNOME Panel and window manager Mutter. It provides functions such as launching applications, accessing documents, executing applets, and switching windows.
• Redesigned Nautilus file manager. The new interface is more light and elegant. New sidebar allows you to simplify the transition to the most important directories. Redesigned server connection dialog;
• A new contextual help system has been added that is focused on displaying hints on specific topics, allowing you to find the answer to the question you are looking for without having to look through long manuals.
• Added Dash panel, designed to provide quick access to frequently used applications;
• The responsiveness of the Epiphany web browser interface has been improved, and a new version of the WebKit engine has been translated.
• Built-in communication framework that allows you to aggregate elements from different sources (from Telepathy connection manager, from Evolution, from Facebook, etc.) into a general contact list.
• The system of notifications has been reworked, which are now displayed in the background, are saved and do not interfere with current work, giving the opportunity to view the accumulated notifications when the time appears.
• Reworked desktop management process. The new concept of grouping windows within individual workspaces allows you to simplify the organization of work and highlight related applications to perform certain tasks into separate virtual desktops (for example, desktops for navigation on the Web and for working on documents).

Despite fairly strong internal changes and the transition to the GTK + 3 library, all applications created for GNOME 2 will work in GNOME 3 without modification.
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When running on legacy systems or virtual machines, compatibility mode will be launched based on the old GNOME shell.

More information about the innovations of GNOME 3.0 can be found at gnome3.org.