Introducing Cinnamon – 502 days old

[ZemaTalon]

Introducing Cinnamon

With Gnome 2 no longer an option we lost one of the most important upstream components our Linux Mint desktop was based on. Our entire focus shifted from innovating on the desktop, to patching existing alternatives such as Gnome Shell. We used MATE and MGSE to provide an easier transition away from Gnome 2, but without being able to truly offer an alternative that was better than Gnome 2. Both MATE and Gnome Shell are promising projects but MATE’s ultimate goal is to replicate Gnome 2 using GTK+ and Gnome Shell doesn’t provide what we need in a desktop and is going in a direction we do not want to follow. So for these reasons we’re designing a new desktop called Cinnamon, which leverages new technology and implements our vision.



If you like Linux Mint you’ll probably like Cinnamon. Both projects share the same philosophy and the same vision of what a desktop should be. In this vision, the computer works for you and makes it easy for you to be productive. Things aren’t hidden away but easy to access. With easy to use interfaces, a familiar layout, advanced technologies and principles you’ve already got to to use in Linux Mint, you’ll quickly find yourself at home. Configuration is also something important in Cinnamon as one of its fundamental goals is to make you feel at home… thus giving you the ability to change the way the desktop works, looks and behave.



Under the hood Cinnamon is forked from Gnome Shell and based on Mutter and Gnome 3. It’s already available for Linux Mint 12, Ubuntu 11.10, Fedora 16, OpenSUSE 12.1 and Arch Linux and will soon make its way (along with MGSE and MATE) to LMDE when Gnome 3.2 enters Debian Testing.

The latest release, Cinnamon 1.1.3, brings stability and improvements to what has already become our favorite desktop. Going forward, Cinnamon will gain themes, extensions and a control center. It will likely replace Gnome Shell / MGSE as the main desktop in Linux Mint, and we will continue to support MATE (which goal and technology are different but which is also getting better and better by the day).

A few cool things already in Cinnamon

One unique bottom panel which you can auto-hide (and which location will be configurable in the future)
Window list, “show desktop” button, systray icons and all the features introduced in MGSE
A menu featuring the same layout as mintMenu, with options to add applications to favorites, to the desktop or to the panel
Custom panel launchers
A sound applet which lets you launch and control your music, and switch your sound from your speakers to your headphones and vice-versa.
Installing Cinnamon

You can install Cinnamon alongside other desktops (including MATE and Gnome Shell/MGSE). Install the package “cinnamon-session“, log out and choose the “Cinnamon” session at the login screen.

More information about Cinnamon

Main website: http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/
Issues and milestones: https://github.com/linuxmint/Cinnamon/issues
Git repository: https://github.com/linuxmint/Cinnamon/

From: the Linux Mint Blog
Looks promising

[SCSport]

I've just spent the better part of this weekend installing and configuring Mint 12 on a new machine...(sort of like learning French)... but I'm a stubborn old Fuck so I WILL persevere!! My DL of Mint was 12/26/11 but the install looks like it includes Cinnamon; perhaps part of the 256 Updates I had to endure?!

(Posted from that machine)

[floppybootstomp]

[floppybootstomp]

This evening..... from Mint 11 d/l Mint 12 ISO, used inbuilt md5sum check in Mint 11 to verify, burnt ISO to DVD (1Gb version with codecs, 64 Bit).

Swapped out 250Gb Mint 11 HDD caddy for fresh 160Gb HDD in caddy and installed Mint 12 from disk, took a fair while.

Installed Nvidia 3D drivers and Nvidia video config software and Scribus. Looked for Cinnamon, it no there.

Updated system, lots of updates, took a fair while. Looked for Cinnamon, it's there, so installed 'Cinnamon_Sessions' as advised on Mint web page.

Can't figure out how to change to Cinnamon but it's late, I've had a few drinks so I'm sure I'll figure it out in the morning. Wondering whether it's cos I have auto login enabled and so am not offered a choice of desktops at start. Probably not.

Have drawn up a list of things to do or try and do with new install:

Local printer enabled?
Networked printer enabled?
Label printing on Avery label sheets
Video editing
Audio editing (Probably Audacity)
Burn multiple video files to one DVD with menu
Make CD & DVD label templates within Scribus
I-Pod management?
Gamepad recognised?
Joystick recognised?
Install Opera browser and bookmarks
Install Download Helper to Firefox to enable capture of online video
Will my scanner work with this?


That should keep me busy

[ZemaTalon]

It prob is because of your auto-login. You can change it temporary to require a password at login by going to "Administration" / "Users and Groups". Then log off. At the login screen you'll see a gear opposite your user name - click on that to get your window manager choices

[Grogan]

Actually, I would say probably so. That would depend on whether the Cinammon interface is something you choose from within Gnome (like selecting an alternate window manager), or if they have set it up to have its own entry in your session management drop lists. I would think so, because this is a replacement for Gnome Session, not normally something that is selectable. If you are using auto login, you will not be presented with that choice. Turn it off, and get to your graphical session manager login prompt and see for yourself if it shows up under Session Types or whatever they call it these days.

[Dark Angel]

I've become quite fond of cinnamon ... on my latte.

[ZemaTalon]

I've become quite fond of cinnamon ... on my latte.

with a hint of mint?

[Troy]

We talking cinnamon?

[Dark Angel]

We talking cinnamon?

Fas-ro-Doh

[Fingerle]

Even after seeing vids all over the place, foolish mortals continue to step up and say..

"Challenge Accepted"

I have YET to see anyone accomplish this. And I'm not gonna even try. (I seen the vids)

[ZemaTalon]

Actually, I would say probably so. That would depend on whether the Cinammon interface is something you choose from within Gnome (like selecting an alternate window manager), or if they have set it up to have its own entry in your session management drop lists. I would think so, because this is a replacement for Gnome Session, not normally something that is selectable. If you are using auto login, you will not be presented with that choice. Turn it off, and get to your graphical session manager login prompt and see for yourself if it shows up under Session Types or whatever they call it these days.

You can install Cinnamon alongside other desktops (including MATE and Gnome Shell/MGSE). Install the package “cinnamon-session“, log out and choose the “Cinnamon” session at the login screen.

I tried it in a virtual machine, and it did add an entry for Cinnamon on the login screen, but in choosing that all I get is a black screen with a mouse pointer, forcing me to ctrl/alt/backspace it back to the login screen. Maybe it's something to do with the VirtualBox video drivers.

[Dark Angel]

I may have to, just for shiz and giggles. I used to chew the stuff constantly as a kid and still love the warm flavour. I shudder to think how those kids would react to one of my chillis!

[floppybootstomp]

Alright, logged out and as pointed out choice of desktops available when logging in again, there's five of 'em. Chose Cinnamon, logged in, the screen was a mush, that sort of thing you get when a video card is on the way out or just plain faulty. Still navigable though so I rebooted and it auto-logged-in to Cinnamon desktop and it looked ok. Then I tried Mate as well, quite a few differences between them all.

I always disable all 'energy savers' and I had done in Mint 12 but still the screen went black after five minutes. Only done it once though then everything stayed on.

Um, after using Gnome default, Mate & Cinnamon I think I actually prefer the standard Gnome desktop. Yep, that one that's app based and not Windows based.

Is there no hope for me?