- libxslt
The companion to libxml2, this library implements
the
XSLT specification,
which allows programs to translate and transform XML files into different
formats. yelp, for instance, uses it to change XML
Docbook files into HTML
files that you can read
- scrollkeeper
This is a tool for keeping a database of all the documentation on
your computer. Programs register their documentation with it when they get
installed, so that help software, like yelp, can show you a
list of all the documentation on your computer. (Well, that's not quite true
since notall software takes advantage of scrollkeeper, but all GNOME software
should use it.)
- pkgconfig
Pkgconfig is a developer tool for keeping track of the different
versions of packages that have been installed on your computer. Unless you plan
on compiling your own software, you shouldn't have to worry about it. If you
are compiling your own software, you should be thankful it makes life so easy!
- audiofile
The audiofile library is a low-level library that enables programs
to read a variety of audio file formas, like WAV and RIFF. It is used by
esound to help it play sounds.
- esound
ESound, the Enlightened Sound Daemon, is a background process that
GNOME uses to play sounds. It solves the problem of playing sound over the
network and allowing multiple programs to play sounds at the same time, which
lower-level sound packages usually don't provide.
- gtk-doc
Gtk-doc is a set of tools for developers to use to automatically
generate documentation for their software. It doesn't contain any documentation
itself; it just makes it easier to create documentation. It was originally
developed for use in GTK+, hence the name. Like
pkgconfig, you hopefully shouldn't ever have to worry about
gtk-doc unless you're writing or compiling software.
- glib
GLib is a low-level library of common functions that almost all
software needs. It makes it easy to implement such common programming tools as
hash tables, linked lists, main loops, and lots of other little fiddly bits. It
also makes it easier to write software that's portable to all sorts of
operating systems and platforms. GLib is used by almost every piece of software
in GNOME.
- linc
As you might infer from its name, linc is a library for helping
connect programs. It provides low-level routines for interprocess communication
(IPC) over a variety of channels: TCP/IP, UNIX sockets, and more.
- atk
ATK is the Accessibility ToolKit. It provides a common basis for
GNOME programs to describe their user interfaces, so that software like
gail can help provide accessibility support to any GNOME
program.
- gnome-common
Gnome-common is a package of very small developer utilities that
don't really fit in anywhere else.
- pango
Pango is a system that lets GNOME programs render text in almost
all of the world's varied languages. It can render scripts as simple as the
Latin alphabet to as complicated as Chinese, Arabic, or Indic languages. Pango
is one of the centerpieces of GNOME 2's improved internationalization.
- libIDL
LibIDL is a small library used by <ref>ORBit2</ref> to
load Interface Definition Language files. It's basically a subsystem of
<ref>ORBit2</ref> that happens to be split into a separate package.
- ORBit2
ORBit2 is the GNOME 2 implementation of the
CORBA
specification. CORBA is a formalized way of performing interprocess
communication (IPC) so that programs that know nothing about each other can
talk to each other and share information. CORBA is the basis of technologies
like bonobo-activation and is used in a variety of other places in
GNOME.
- intltool
Intltool is another developer tool. This one helps documenters
extract text that needs to be translated from a variety of files.
- bonobo-activation
Bonobo-activation is a companion to ORBit2 in a
way. While ORBit helps programs talk to each other, it doesn't say how programs
are supposed to find each other. Bonobo-activation is
GNOME's solution to this task - it helps programs locate and start each other.
- GTK+
GTK+ is the graphical toolkit for GNOME. It provides the routines
that let GNOME programs draw all their checkboxes, menus, and icons in a
consistent manner. A lot of programs outside of GNOME 2 also use GTK+ because
it's a powerful, stable toolkit with excellent internationalization and
accessibility support.
- GConf
GConf is a system for storing simple configuration information in a
centralized place. It's a little bit like the Windows Registry, except we only
use it for non-critical preference information.
- libart_lgpl
Libart is a library written by
Raph Levien that
supports super-fast rendering of complex graphics. It is used in the places in
GNOME where high performance is a must.
- libzvt
Zed's Virtual Terminal, written by
Michael "Notzed"
Zucchi , is a library that provides routines for embedding UNIX
terminals in GNOME software. Unsurprisingly, it is mainly used by the GNOME
Terminal software.
- libbonobo
Libbonobo provides the basic functionality of Bonobo, GNOME's
component embedding system. This is the technology that lets a Gnumeric
spreadsheet contain an Abiword document, all inside an email being read in
Evolution. Bonobo uses CORBA to give these applications a standard way to
describe the documents that they can display.
- gnome-mime-data
This package is simply a database of
MIME formats
that all GNOME programs can use to determine how to display a wide variety of
different kinds of documents.
- gnome-vfs
The GNOME Virtual File System lets GNOME programs access files on
your hard disk, webpages, files on Windows machines, FTP sites, and more all in
the same way. This enables software like nautilus to be much
more flexible.
- libglade
Glade is a program for helping developers create complex user
interfaces without having to write a bunch of code. It creates Glade XML files
that programs can load using libglade.
- libgnome
Libgnome provides most of the fundamental glue and utilities that
help GNOME software look and feel consistent. It ties together many of the
previous technologies to give programmers a basic way to fit their individual
software with the desktop as a whole.
- libgnomecanvas
This library provides the GNOME Canvas, which is a specialized
graphical element for creating complex, interactve graphical layouts like those
seen in the program Dia. It uses libart_lgpl for fast
drawing.
- libbonoboui
This library extends libbonobo with routines and
interfaces specifically for applications with graphical user interfaces.
- libgnomeui
Similar to libbonoboui, libgnomeui extends
libgnome with routines that are specialized for graphical
applications.
- libwnck
This library helps GNOME software interact with the X window system
to find information about currently open windows and desktop settings. It is
used by some gnome-panel applets.
- libgnomeprint
This library provides a generic printing interface that can be used
by GNOME software to print to a variety of different devices.
- libgnomeprintui
This library builds on top of libgnomeprint to
provide graphical routines useful to applications that wish to implement
printing support, such as a print preview and a page setup dialog box.
- libgtop
Libgtop provides a generic interface for software to gather
information about the usage of system resources and currently running programs.
It is primarily used by gnome-system-monitor.
- librsvg
RSVG stands for
Raph's Scalable Vector
Graphics, which is an implementation of the
W3
SVG standard.
- gail
GAIL is a toolkit based upon atk. While
atk provides a generic language for describing software
accessibilty capabilites, gail applies that language to GTK+-based software.
- eel
Eel is a set of utility routines mostly used by
nautilus.
- libgtkhtml
This library provides a toolkit for rendering HTML documents. It
doesn't do everything a web browser can do, but it lets programmers embed HTML
content directly in their software.
- gtk-engines
This is a set of small libraries that GTK+ can use
to actually draw graphics on your screen. Different engines can be used to give
your programs a different graphical style, or theme.
- gnome-desktop
This package provides tools for using
freedesktop.org
Desktop format files, which describe how to launch programs, what icon a
program is associated with, what categories it falls into, and more.
- gnome-panel
The GNOME Panel, the taskbar at the edge of your screen, is
provided by this package.
- gnome-session
The gnome-session library provides routines and programs for
managing your X Windows session. This includes tasks such as determining which
programs to start when you log in and letting you switch between different
sessions while you're using your computer.
- gnome-terminal
This package installs the GNOME Terminal emulator, based on
libzvt.
- gnome-utils
Just what it says. A bunch of utilities like a calculator and a
character picker.
- gnome-applets
A bundle of applets that you can put in your panel to liven it up
or show vital information.
- control-center
The Control Center is the main application in which you can edit
your desktop preferences and tweak things to your liking.
- gnome-games
Contains diversions like aisleriot, a solitaire game, and gnomines,
a Minesweeper clone.
- bug-buddy
A tool that enables you to automatically submit useful bug reports
when your GNOME software crashes - so of course you should only have to use it
rarely :-)
- eog
The Eye of GNOME, an image-viewing program.
- nautilus
GNOME's file manager, like Windows Explorer or the Apple Finder.
You can use it to manage the icons on your desktop and your files.
- gnome-system-monitor
A program for viewing the state of your computer's resources like
memory, processor time, and disk space.
- yelp
Yelp is GNOME's help file viewer. It uses
scrollkeeper and libgtkhtml to find and
show you documentation.
- gedit
GEdit is a simple but powerful editing program along the lines of
Windows' Notepad or Apple's SimpleText.
- librep
Librep is a library used by Sawfish for executing
a subset of the Scheme programming language.
- rep-gtk
Rep-gtk is a library that allows programs based on
librep to use the GTK+ graphical toolkit.
Sawfish uses rep-gtk to draw its menus and configuration
dialog boxes.
- Sawfish
Sawfish is the standard GNOME X window manager. It takes care of
placing windows on the screen and drawing their borders. You can configure it
to make certain windows always appear in the same place or have some windows
have a unique appearance.
- gnome-media
This package provides several multimedia programs, like a CD player
and a sound recorder.
- gdm
GDM is the GNOME Display Manager, which takes care of logging in a
user to their X Windows session. It asks you for your username and password and
looks very pretty while doing so.
- at-spi
This package provides a central server for accessibility
information for all the programs that you run. This makes it possible for one
program to provide an accessibility service, like a screen reader or an
onscreen keyboard, to all the programs that you run.
- libgail-gnome
This extends gail to provide accesibility
services for GNOME-based software.
- gconf-editor
This utility allows you to poke around your GConf
database and change values directly. It's not recommended for direct use, but
you may find it useful for changing esoteric settings or proving that you're
too cool for the control-center.
- gnome2-user-docs
Documentation for how to use the GNOME 2 platform and its many
features.
