Overview

GNOME is a streamlined, modern desktop environment focused on simplicity and usability. Its clean design emphasises a workflow-based approach with activities overview, workspaces, and a minimal desktop that stays out of the user’s way. GNOME is the default desktop for Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and many other major distributions.

Key Features

• Activities Overview: Press the Super key to access an overview of open windows, workspaces, applications, and a search bar — all in one unified view.
• Workspace Workflow: Rather than minimising windows, GNOME encourages spreading work across multiple workspaces for better organisation.
• Built-in Applications: Comes with a comprehensive suite of integrated apps including Files (Nautilus), Web (Epiphany), Calendar, Weather, Maps, and more.
• GNOME Extensions: Extend functionality via a curated extension system hosted at extensions.gnome.org, allowing users to customise behaviour without forking the desktop.

Platforms

Linux, BSD, other Unix-like systems

Latest Stable Version

50.1 (April 15, 2026)

Licence

GPL-2.0+ (library components under LGPL)

Website

gnome.org

Parent Organisation

GNOME Project / GNOME Foundation