Editing Cinnamon (desktop environment)

{{Short description|Desktop environment}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Cinnamon
| title = Cinnamon
| logo = Cinnamon-logo.svg
| logo caption = 
| logo_size = 
| logo_alt = 
| screenshot = Cinnamon 5.2.png
| screenshot size = 
| caption = Cinnamon 5.2 on Linux Mint 20.3
| screenshot_size = 
| screenshot_alt = 
| collapsible = 
| developer = [[Linux Mint]] team
| released = {{Start date and age|2011}}
| discontinued = .
| latest release version = 6.0.3<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/linuxmint/cinnamon/releases/tag/6.0.3|title="Cinnamon 6.0.3 Released"|website=[[GitHub]] |access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref>
| latest release date = {{time ago|Dec 28, 2023}}
| latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q1092551|P348|P548=Q51930650}}
| latest preview date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q1092551|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}}
| programming language = [[C (programming language)|C]] ([[GTK]]), [[JavaScript]], and [[Python (programming language)|Python]]
| operating system = [[Unix-like]]
| genre = [[Desktop environment]]
| license = [[GNU General Public License|GPL-2.0]]
| website = {{URL|https://projects.linuxmint.com/cinnamon/}}
}}

'''Cinnamon''' is a [[free and open-source]] [[desktop environment]] for [[Linux]] and other [[Unix-like]] [[operating system]]s, which was originally based from [[GNOME 3]] but follows traditional [[desktop metaphor]] conventions.

The development of Cinnamon began by the [[Linux Mint]] team as the result of the April 2011 release of GNOME 3, in which the conventional desktop metaphor of [[GNOME 2]] was discarded in favor of [[GNOME Shell]]. Following several attempts to extend GNOME 3 so that it would suit the Linux Mint design goals through "Mint GNOME Shell Extensions", the Linux Mint team eventually [[Fork (software development)|forked]] several GNOME 3 components to build an independent desktop environment. This separation from GNOME was finished with the release of Cinnamon 2.0 in October 2013. [[Applet|Applets]] and desklets made explicitly for Cinnamon are no longer compatible with GNOME Shell.

As the distinguishing factor of Linux Mint, Cinnamon has generally received favorable coverage by the press, in particular for its ease of use and gentle [[learning curve]]. With respect to its conservative design model, Cinnamon is similar to the [[Xfce]], [[MATE (software)|MATE]], GNOME 2, and [[GNOME Flashback]] desktop environments.

==History==
{{More citations needed|section|date=October 2023}}
As with many other desktop environments based off of GNOME, including [[Canonical (company)|Canonical's]] [[Unity (user interface)|Unity]], Cinnamon was the result of disapproval of the GNOME team's abandonment of a traditional desktop experience in April 2011. Until then, GNOME (i.e. GNOME 2) had included the traditional desktop metaphor, but in GNOME 3, this was entirely replaced with GNOME Shell, which lacked a taskbar-like panel and other basic features of a conventional desktop. The elimination of these basic features was unacceptable to the developers of distributions such as [[Linux Mint|Mint]] and [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]], which are geared to users who want interfaces that they are familiar with.

To overcome these differences, the Linux Mint team initially set out to develop extensions for the GNOME Shell to replace the abandoned features. The results of this effort were known as the "Mint GNOME Shell Extensions" (MGSE). Meanwhile, the MATE desktop environment had also been forked from GNOME 2. Linux Mint 12, released in November 2011, subsequently included both, thereby giving users a choice of either GNOME 3 with MGSE or a MATE desktop that closely resembled GNOME 2.

However, even with MGSE, GNOME 3 was still largely missing the comforts of GNOME 2 and was not well received by the user community. At the time, some of the missing features could not be replaced by extensions, and it seemed that extensions would not be viable in the long run due to concerns of significant changes upstream from the GNOME team. Moreover, the GNOME developers were not willing to cooperate with the wishes of the Mint developers. To give the Mint developers finer control over the development process, GNOME Shell was forked as "Project Cinnamon" in January 2012.<ref name="introducing cinnamon">{{cite web |last=Lefebvre |first=Clement |date=2 January 2012 |title=Introducing Cinnamon |url=https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=1910 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229103411/https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=1910 |archive-date=29 February 2012 |work=The Linux Mint Blog}}</ref>

Gradually, various core applications were adapted by the Mint developers. Beginning with version 1.2, released in January 2012, Cinnamon's window manager is [[Muffin (software)|Muffin]], which was originally a fork of GNOME 3's [[Mutter (window manager)|Mutter]].<ref name="cinnamon 1.2">{{cite web|url=http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/?p=119|title=Cinnamon 1.2 released|last=Lefebvre|first=Clement|date=23 January 2012|work=cinnamon.linuxmint.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101211537/http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/?p=119|archive-date=1 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Similarly, since September 2012 (version 1.6 onwards), Cinnamon includes the [[Nemo (file manager)|Nemo]] file manager which was forked from [[Nautilus (file manager)|Nautilus]]. Cinnamon-Settings, included since May 2013 (version 1.8 onwards), combines the functionality of GNOME-Control-Center with that of Cinnamon-Settings, and made it possible to manage and update applets, extensions, desklets and themes through the control-center. Gnome-Screensaver was also forked and is now called Cinnamon-Screensaver.

Since October 2013 (version 2.0 onwards), Cinnamon is no longer a frontend of GNOME like [[Unity (user interface)|Unity]] or [[GNOME Shell]], but a discrete and completely independent desktop environment. Although Cinnamon is still heavily built on GNOME technologies and utilizes [[GTK]], it no longer requires GNOME itself to be installed.

Further improvements in later versions include a desktop grid, wildcard support in file searches, multi-process settings daemon, desktop actions in the panel launcher, separate processes for desktop handling and file manager in Nemo; an additional desktop panel layout option that offers a more modern looking theme and grouped windows; improved naming for duplicate applications in the menu (i.e. [[Flatpak]] vs. [[deb (file format)|deb]] packages), pinned files in Nemo, touchpad gestures, and an emphasis on performance improvements.

==Software components==
{{See also|List of GTK applications}}
[[File:Nemo 4.0.6 screenshot.png|thumb|[[Nemo (file manager)|Nemo file manager]] is based on [[GNOME Files]]]]

=== X-Apps ===
[[File:Xed v1.2.2--adwaita dark theme.png|thumb|Xed v1.2.2]]
Cinnamon introduces '''X-Apps'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=New features in Linux Mint 18 Cinnamon |url=https://www.linuxmint.com/rel_sarah_cinnamon_whatsnew.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409034851/https://www.linuxmint.com/rel_sarah_cinnamon_whatsnew.php |archive-date=April 9, 2017 |access-date=17 April 2017 |website=[[Linux Mint]]}}</ref> which are based on [[GNOME Core Applications]] but are modified to work across Cinnamon, MATE and XFCE; most of these applications have a traditional user interface (UI).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/linux-mint-is-getting-its-own-apps-starting-with-the-18-x-branch-499564.shtml|title=Linux Mint Is Getting Its Own Apps Starting with the 18.x Branch|last=Stahie|first=Silviu|date=28 January 2016|website=[[Softpedia]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427214616/https://news.softpedia.com/news/linux-mint-is-getting-its-own-apps-starting-with-the-18-x-branch-499564.shtml|archive-date=27 April 2016|url-status=live|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/linux-mint-devs-showcase-the-first-two-x-apps-for-linux-mint-18-sarah-499863.shtml|title=Linux Mint Devs Showcase the First Two X-Apps for Linux Mint 18 "Sarah"|last=Nestor|first=Marius|date=3 February 2016|website=[[Softpedia]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428151208/https://news.softpedia.com/news/linux-mint-devs-showcase-the-first-two-x-apps-for-linux-mint-18-sarah-499863.shtml|archive-date=28 April 2016|url-status=live|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref>

* '''Xed''' is a text editor based on [[Gedit]]/[[pluma (text editor)|pluma]]
* '''Xviewer''' is an image viewer based on [[Eye of GNOME]]/Eye of MATE
* '''Xreader''' is a [[document viewer]] based on [[Evince]]/Atril
* '''Xplayer''' is a [[media player (software)|media player]] based on [[GNOME Videos]] (Totem)
* '''Pix''' is an [[image organizer]] based on [[gThumb]]

==Features==
Features provided by Cinnamon include<ref name="cinnamon 1.2" />
* Desktop effects, including animations, transition effects and transparency using composition;
* Panels equipped with a main menu, launchers, a window list and the system tray can be adjusted on left, right, upper or lower edge of the screen
* Various extensions;
* Applets that appear on the panel
* Overview with functions similar to that in GNOME Shell; and
* Settings editor for easy customization. It can customize:
** The panel
** The [[Calendar software|calendar]]
** Themes
** Desktop effects
** Applets
** Extensions
* Volume and brightness adjustment using [[scroll wheel]] while pointing at the respective taskbar icon.
* [[Hot corners]] on the screen

{{As of|2012|1|24}} there was no official documentation for Cinnamon itself,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.medvim.com/view?v=sWuxiDDepus |title=Cinnamon 1.4 (GNOME Shell Fork) |work=medvim.com |date=13 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406052835/http://www.medvim.com/view?v=sWuxiDDepus |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 April 2016 }}</ref> There is documentation for the Cinnamon edition of Linux Mint, with a chapter on the Cinnamon desktop.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.linuxmint.com/documentation/user-guide/Cinnamon/ |title=User guides for Linux Mint, Cinnamon edition, many languages and versions |website=linuxmint.com |access-date=17 June 2014 |archive-date=14 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614010749/http://www.linuxmint.com/documentation/user-guide/Cinnamon/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Overview mode===
New overview modes have been added to Cinnamon 1.4. These two modes are "Expo" and "Scale", which can be configured in Cinnamon Settings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Features/Cinnamon-1.4|title=Cinnamon 1.4|last1=Schürmann|first1=Tim|last2=Kißling|first2=Kristian|date=|website=[[Linux Magazine]]|access-date=15 May 2022|archive-date=11 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111062002/https://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Features/Cinnamon-1.4|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Extensibility ===
Cinnamon can be modified by themes, applets and extensions. Themes can customize the look of aspects of Cinnamon, including but not limited to the menu, panel, calendar and run dialog. Applets are icons or texts that appear on the panel. Five applets are shipped by default, and developers are free to create their own. A tutorial for creating simple applets is available.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/?p=156|title=How to make a Cinnamon applet (Force Quit applet tutorial)|last=Lefebvre|first=Clement|date=31 January 2012|work=cinnamon.linuxmint.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204113500/http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/?p=156|archive-date=4 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Extensions can modify the functionalities of Cinnamon, such as providing a dock or altering the look of the [[Alt-Tab|{{key press|Alt|Tab}}]] window switcher.

Developers can upload their themes, applets and extension to Cinnamon's web page and let users download and rate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/?p=141|title=New sections for themes, applets and extensions: Cinnamon|last=Lefebvre|first=Clement|date=28 January 2012|work=cinnamon.linuxmint.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531205219/http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/?p=141|archive-date=31 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Adoption==
{| class="wikitable"
!Distribution
!Since version
!Since date
!Officially
supported
!Notes
|-
|[[Arch Linux]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Cinnamon |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Cinnamon |access-date=7 July 2017 |website=ArchWiki |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406012900/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Cinnamon |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|Also available for [[EndeavourOS]], which uses Arch repositories.
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|[[Artix Linux|Artix]]
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|[[CentOS]]
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|[[Debian]]
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|[[Fedora Linux]]
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|Cinnamon is available as a spin or is available in the Fedora Linux repositories.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 January 2013 |title=Fedora 18 Features Updated User Interfaces and Desktop Environments |url=http://www.redhat.com/about/news/press-archive/2013/1/fedora-18-features-updated-user-interfaces-and-desktop-environments |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204142747/https://www.redhat.com/en/about/press-releases/fedora-18-features-updated-user-interfaces-and-desktop-environments |archive-date=4 December 2014 |publisher=[[Red Hat]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[FreeBSD]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The FreeBSD GNOME Project |url=https://www.freebsd.org/gnome/ |access-date=27 April 2016 |archive-date=7 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007091721/https://www.freebsd.org/gnome/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|[[Funtoo Linux]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cinnamon Stages are now available! |url=https://forums.funtoo.org/topic/4899-cinnamon-stages-are-now-available/ |access-date=2021-01-21 |website=funtoo forums |date=22 December 2020 |language=en-US |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111062002/https://forums.funtoo.org/topic/4899-cinnamon-stages-are-now-available/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|[[Gentoo Linux]]
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|[[Linux Mint]]
|Ubuntu-based release: 12 <ref name="introducing cinnamon" />
LMDE: 1? - Update pack 4 <ref>{{cite web |last=Lefebvre |first=Clement |date=5 April 2012 |title=Update Pack 4 is out! |url=https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=1949 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524214111/https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=1949 |archive-date=24 May 2015 |work=The Linux Mint Blog}}</ref>
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|Cinnamon is available in the Linux Mint repositories since (Ubuntu-version) 12
and is included in all Linux Mint versions 13 and higher. {{Update after|2014|12|1}}
|-
|[[Mageia]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Mageia App Db Groups (Graphical desktop) |url=http://mageia.madb.org/group/list/t_group/147%2C77%2C85%2C7%2C89%2C6%2C146%2C3%2C16%2C86/level/2/group_name/Graphical+desktop |work=mageia.madb.org |access-date=7 October 2015 |archive-date=5 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505013700/http://mageia.madb.org/group/list/t_group/147%2C77%2C85%2C7%2C89%2C6%2C146%2C3%2C16%2C86/level/2/group_name/Graphical+desktop |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|[[Manjaro Linux]]
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There are three official editions of Manjaro: [[Xfce]], [[KDE Plasma 5]] and [[GNOME]]. While not official releases, ''Manjaro Community Editions'' are maintained by members of the Manjaro community. They offer additional [[user interface]]s over the official releases, including [[Budgie (desktop environment)|Budgie]], Cinnamon, [[Deepin]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nestor|first=Marius|date=2020-09-28|title=First Look at Manjaro Deepin Edition: Deepin Beauty Powered by Arch Linux|url=https://9to5linux.com/first-look-at-manjaro-deepin-edition-deepin-beauty-powered-by-arch-linux|access-date=2020-10-11|website=9to5Linux|language=en-US}}</ref> [[i3 (window manager)|i3]], [[MATE (software)|MATE]], and [[Sway (window manager)|Sway]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://manjaro.org/download/#Community|title=Manjaro - Downloads|website=Manjaro |access-date = 28 April 2020}}</ref>

|-
|[[OpenMandriva Lx|OpenMandriva]]
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|[[openSUSE]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Portal:Cinnamon |url=https://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Cinnamon |access-date=7 July 2017 |website=openSUSE.org |archive-date=30 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830093923/https://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Cinnamon |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|[[Pardus (operating system)|Pardus]]
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|[[Sabayon Linux|Sabayon]] 
|8 <ref>{{cite web |last=Noyes |first=Katherine |date=13 February 2012 |title=Sabayon Linux 8 Debuts with a Dash of Cinnamon |url=https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/sabayon-linux-8-debuts-with-a-dash-of-cinnamon/45948 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716144412/https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/sabayon-linux-8-debuts-with-a-dash-of-cinnamon/45948 |archive-date=16 July 2014 |work=IT World Canada}}</ref>
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|[[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]]<ref>{{cite web |date=17 July 2018 |title=How to install Cinnamon desktop on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux |url=https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-cinnamon-desktop-on-ubuntu-18-04-bionic-beaver-linux |work=LinuxConfig.org |access-date=29 March 2020 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329223450/https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-cinnamon-desktop-on-ubuntu-18-04-bionic-beaver-linux |url-status=live }}</ref>
|23.04<ref name=":0" />
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|[[Ubuntu Cinnamon]] is an official Ubuntu derivative that utilizes the Cinnamon desktop environment.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 December 2019 |title=Meet The New Linux Desktop That Offers A Unique Twist On Ubuntu 19.10 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2019/12/10/meet-the-new-way-to-experience-ubuntu-linux-1910/#4047abbb24ab |work=forbes.org |access-date=10 June 2020 |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610134745/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2019/12/10/meet-the-new-way-to-experience-ubuntu-linux-1910/#4047abbb24ab |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-20 |title=Ubuntu Cinnamon 23.04 "Lunar Lobster" Released! |url=https://ubuntucinnamon.org/ubuntu-cinnamon-23-04-lunar-lobster-released/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[Void Linux]]
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|}

==Reception==
In their review of Linux Mint 17, ''[[Ars Technica]]'' described Cinnamon 2.2 as "being perhaps the most user-friendly and all-around useful desktop available on any platform."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/06/mint-17-the-perfect-place-for-linux-ers-to-wait-out-ubuntu-uncertainty/|title=Mint 17 is the perfect place for Linux-ers to wait out Ubuntu uncertainty|last=Gilbertson|first=Scott|date=24 June 2014|work=[[Ars Technica]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829010306/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/06/mint-17-the-perfect-place-for-linux-ers-to-wait-out-ubuntu-uncertainty/|archive-date=29 August 2014|url-status=live|access-date=28 August 2014}}</ref>

In their review of Linux Mint 18, [[ZDNet]] said "You can turn the Linux Mint Cinnamon desktop into the desktop of your dreams."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-mint-18-the-best-desktop-period/|title=Linux Mint 18: The best desktop -- period|last=Vaughan-Nichols|first=Steven J.|date=27 July 2016|work=[[ZDNet]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927193400/https://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-mint-18-the-best-desktop-period/|archive-date=27 September 2016|url-status=live|access-date=9 November 2016}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Linux Mint 19.1 "Tessa" (Cinnamon).png|Cinnamon 4.0 Menu showing on [[List of Linux Mint releases#Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa|Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa]].
File:Cinnamon 1.6 Alt-Tab Window Previews.png|Cinnamon 1.6 showing an [[Alt-Tab]] thumbnails and window previews.
File:Cinnamon 1.6 Notifications Applet.png|Cinnamon 1.6 showing a [[Notification area|Notification]] Applet.
File:Cinnamon 1.6 Workspace OSD.png|Cinnamon 1.6 showing a [[Workspace#Technology and software|Workspace]] [[On-screen display|OSD]].
File:Cinnamon System Settings 4.0.10 screenshot.png|Cinnamon Control Center in Cinnamon 4.0.10
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[GNOME Shell]]
* [[MATE desktop environment]] - fork of GNOME 2

{{Portal bar|Linux|Free and open-source software}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category multi|Cinnamon (desktop environment)|X-Apps}}
* {{Official website|https://projects.linuxmint.com/cinnamon}}


{{X desktop environments and window managers}}
{{GTK}}

[[Category:2011 software]]
[[Category:Desktop environments based on GTK]]
[[Category:Free desktop environments]]
[[Category:GNOME]]
[[Category:Graphical shells that use GTK]]
[[Category:Software forks]]
[[Category:X Window System]]