Cinnamon (desktop environment)

Cinnamon is a free and open-source desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems, which was originally based on GNOME 3, but follows traditional desktop metaphor conventions.

Developer(s)

Linux Mint team

December 20, 2011 (December 20, 2011)

6.2.1^[1]

/ 18 June 2024

github.com/linuxmint/cinnamon

C (GTK), JavaScript, and Python

Unix-like

Desktop environment

GPL-2.0

projects.linuxmint.com/cinnamon/

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 forked several GNOME 3 components to build an independent desktop environment. This separation from GNOME was finished with the release of Cinnamon 2.0.0 in October 9, 2013. Applets, extensions, actions, and desklets made explicitly for Cinnamon are no longer compatible with GNOME Shell.

As the distinctive factor and preeminent desktop environment for Linux Mint, Cinnamon has generally received favorable coverage by the press, in particular for its ease of use and gentle learning curve. In regard to its conservative design model, Cinnamon is similar to the Xfce, MATE, GNOME 2, and GNOME Flashback desktop environments.

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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

calendar

Volume and brightness adjustment using while pointing at the respective taskbar icon.

scroll wheel

on the screen

Hot corners

Reception[edit]

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."^[30]

In their review of Linux Mint 18, ZDNet said "You can turn the Linux Mint Cinnamon desktop into the desktop of your dreams."^[31]