Gnome?

[TNT1]

I was in software center just now, and I see "The GNOME desktop environment" is not installed... So... what am I using then? How do I find out?

[garvinrick4]

aptitude show (package name)

rick@rick-laptop:~$ aptitude show gdm
Package: gdm
State: installed
Automatically installed: no
Version: 2.30.2.is.2.30.0-0ubuntu4
Priority: optional
Section: gnome
Maintainer: Sebastien Bacher <seb128@ubuntu.com>
Uncompressed Size: 8,032k
Depends: libart-2.0-2 (>= 2.3.18), libatk1.0-0 (>= 1.29.3), libattr1 (>=
2.4.41-1), libbonobo2-0 (>= 2.15.0), libbonoboui2-0 (>= 2.15.1), libc6
(>= 2.4), libcairo2 (>= 1.2.4), libcanberra-gtk0 (>= 0.4), libcanberra0
(>= 0.2), libdbus-1-3 (>= 1.0.2), libdbus-glib-1-2 (>= 0.78),
libdevkit-power-gobject1 (>= 1:0.9.1), libfontconfig1 (>= 2.8.0),
libfreetype6 (>= 2.2.1), libgconf2-4 (>= 2.27.0), libglib2.0-0 (>=
2.23.5), libgnome2-0 (>= 2.17.3), libgnomecanvas2-0 (>= 2.11.1),
libgtk2.0-0 (>= 2.16.0), liborbit2 (>= 1:2.14.10), libpam0g (>=
0.99.7.1), libpanel-applet2-0 (>= 2.26.0), libpango1.0-0 (>= 1.14.0),
libpolkit-gobject-1-0 (>= 0.94), libpopt0 (>= 1.15), libselinux1 (>=
1.32), libwrap0 (>= 7.6-4~), libx11-6 (>= 0), libxau6, libxdmcp6,
libxklavier16 (>= 5.0), libxml2 (>= 2.6.27), zlib1g (>= 1:1.1.4),
debconf (>= 0.5) | debconf-2.0, gconf2 (>= 2.10.1-2), upstart-job,
adduser, libpam-modules (>= 0.72-1), libpam-runtime (>= 0.76-13.1),
gnome-session-bin, kbd | console-tools, udev (>= 149-2)
Recommends: xserver-xorg, metacity | x-window-manager, gnome-settings-daemon |
xfconf
Suggests: locales, uswsusp, libpam-gnome-keyring, gnome-power-manager,
gnome-orca, gok, gnome-mag
Conflicts: fast-user-switch-applet, gdm-snapshot, libxklavier15 (<
4.0-0ubuntu2), xsplash (< 0.8)
Breaks: usplash
Replaces: fast-user-switch-applet, gdm-snapshot
Provides: x-display-manager
Description: GNOME Display Manager
gdm provides the equivalent of a "login:" prompt for X displays- it pops up a
login window and starts an X session.

It provides all the functionality of xdm, including XDMCP support for managing
remote displays.

The greeting window is written using the GNOME libraries and hence looks like a
GNOME application- even to the extent of supporting themes! By default, the
greeter is run as an unprivileged user for security.

rick@rick-laptop:~$

[TNT1]

Ok, I get:

Package: gdm
State: installed
Automatically installed: no
Version: 2.30.2.is.2.30.0-0ubuntu3
Priority: optional
Section: gnome
Maintainer: Sebastien Bacher <seb128@ubuntu.com>
Uncompressed Size: 7,848k
Depends: libart-2.0-2 (>= 2.3.18), libatk1.0-0 (>= 1.29.3), libattr1 (>=
2.4.41-1), libbonobo2-0 (>= 2.15.0), libbonoboui2-0 (>= 2.15.1), libc6
(>= 2.4), libcairo2 (>= 1.2.4), libcanberra-gtk0 (>= 0.4), libcanberra0
(>= 0.2), libdbus-1-3 (>= 1.0.2), libdbus-glib-1-2 (>= 0.78),
libdevkit-power-gobject1 (>= 1:0.9.1), libfontconfig1 (>= 2.8.0),
libfreetype6 (>= 2.2.1), libgconf2-4 (>= 2.27.0), libglib2.0-0 (>=
2.23.5), libgnome2-0 (>= 2.17.3), libgnomecanvas2-0 (>= 2.11.1),
libgtk2.0-0 (>= 2.16.0), liborbit2 (>= 1:2.14.10), libpam0g (>=
0.99.7.1), libpanel-applet2-0 (>= 2.26.0), libpango1.0-0 (>= 1.14.0),
libpolkit-gobject-1-0 (>= 0.94), libpopt0 (>= 1.15), libselinux1 (>=
1.32), libwrap0 (>= 7.6-4~), libx11-6 (>= 0), libxau6, libxdmcp6,
libxklavier16 (>= 5.0), libxml2 (>= 2.6.27), zlib1g (>= 1:1.1.4),
debconf (>= 0.5) | debconf-2.0, gconf2 (>= 2.10.1-2), upstart-job,
adduser, libpam-modules (>= 0.72-1), libpam-runtime (>= 0.76-13.1),
gnome-session-bin, kbd | console-tools, udev (>= 149-2)
Recommends: xserver-xorg, metacity | x-window-manager, gnome-settings-daemon |
xfconf
Suggests: locales, uswsusp, libpam-gnome-keyring, gnome-power-manager,
gnome-orca, gok, gnome-mag
Conflicts: fast-user-switch-applet, gdm-snapshot, libxklavier15 (<
4.0-0ubuntu2), xsplash (< 0.8)
Breaks: usplash
Replaces: fast-user-switch-applet, gdm-snapshot
Provides: x-display-manager
Description: GNOME Display Manager
gdm provides the equivalent of a "login:" prompt for X displays- it pops up a
login window and starts an X session.

It provides all the functionality of xdm, including XDMCP support for managing
remote displays.

The greeting window is written using the GNOME libraries and hence looks like a
GNOME application- even to the extent of supporting themes! By default, the
greeter is run as an unprivileged user for security.

So what's the thing in software center then? And why is my gdm smaller than yours, and why is yours for ubuntu4 and I'm only at ubuntu3?

[garvinrick4]

find the true linux name of package and then run it. The package name is. I think I see what your looking at. Is it a Debian testing repository package. The package is not in my selections.

sudo dpkg --get-selections > installedsoftware
this will give you a text file of all your packages in true linux names in Home directory.

[garvinrick4]

rick@rick-laptop:~$ aptitude show ubuntu-desktop
Package: ubuntu-desktop
State: installed
Automatically installed: no
Version: 1.197
Priority: optional
Section: metapackages
Maintainer: Matt Zimmerman <mdz@ubuntu.com>
Uncompressed Size: 61.4k
Depends: alacarte, alsa-base, alsa-utils, anacron, bc, ca-certificates,
checkbox-gtk, cups, cups-bsd, cups-client, dc, desktop-file-utils,
doc-base, eog, evince, file-roller, foomatic-db, foomatic-db-engine,
foomatic-filters, gcalctool, gconf-editor, gdebi, gdm, gedit,
genisoimage, ghostscript-x, gnome-about, gnome-applets,
gnome-control-center, gnome-icon-theme, gnome-media, gnome-menus,
gnome-nettool, gnome-panel, gnome-power-manager, gnome-session,
gnome-session-canberra, gnome-system-monitor, gnome-system-tools,
gnome-terminal, gnome-themes-selected, gnome-themes-ubuntu,
gnome-utils, gstreamer0.10-alsa, gstreamer0.10-plugins-base-apps,
gstreamer0.10-pulseaudio, gtk2-engines, gtk2-engines-pixbuf, gucharmap,
indicator-applet-session, inputattach, language-selector,
launchpad-integration, lftp, libgd2-xpm, libgl1-mesa-glx,
libgnome2-perl, libpam-ck-connector, libsasl2-modules, libsdl1.2debian,
libsdl1.2debian-pulseaudio, libxp6, metacity, nautilus,
nautilus-sendto, notify-osd, openprinting-ppds, pnm2ppa, pulseaudio,
pulseaudio-esound-compat, rarian-compat, screen,
screensaver-default-images, seahorse, smbclient, software-center,
software-properties-gtk, ssh-askpass-gnome, synaptic,
system-config-printer-gnome, ttf-dejavu-core, ttf-freefont,
ubuntu-artwork, ubuntu-sounds, unzip, update-manager, update-notifier,
wireless-tools, wpasupplicant, x-ttcidfont-conf, xdg-user-dirs,
xdg-user-dirs-gtk, xkb-data, xorg, xscreensaver-data, xscreensaver-gl,
xterm, yelp, zenity, zip
Recommends: acpi-support, aisleriot, app-install-data-partner, apport-gtk,
avahi-autoipd, avahi-daemon, bluez, bluez-alsa, bluez-cups,
bluez-gstreamer, bogofilter, branding-ubuntu, brasero, brltty,
brltty-x11, cdparanoia, compiz, computer-janitor-gtk, dvd+rw-tools,
empathy, espeak, evolution, evolution-couchdb, evolution-exchange,
evolution-indicator, evolution-plugins, evolution-webcal,
example-content, f-spot, firefox, firefox-gnome-support, foo2zjs,
gbrainy, gcc, gdm-guest-session, gnome-accessibility-themes,
gnome-bluetooth, gnome-codec-install, gnome-disk-utility, gnome-mag,
gnome-mahjongg, gnome-orca, gnome-screensaver, gnome-sudoku,
gnome-user-guide, gnomine, gvfs-fuse, hplip, ibus, ibus-gtk,
ibus-m17n, ibus-table, im-switch, indicator-messages, jockey-gtk,
kerneloops-daemon, laptop-detect, libgail-gnome-module,
libgl1-mesa-dri, libnss-mdns, libpam-gnome-keyring, libwmf0.2-7-gtk,
linux-headers-generic, make, min12xxw, mousetweaks, nautilus-share,
network-manager-gnome, network-manager-pptp,
network-manager-pptp-gnome, onboard, openoffice.org-calc,
openoffice.org-gnome, openoffice.org-help-en-us,
openoffice.org-impress, openoffice.org-math,
openoffice.org-style-human, openoffice.org-writer, pcmciautils,
pitivi, plymouth-theme-ubuntu-logo, plymouth-x11,
pm-utils-powersave-policy, policykit-desktop-privileges,
pulseaudio-module-bluetooth, pulseaudio-module-gconf,
pulseaudio-module-x11, pxljr, quadrapassel, rhythmbox,
rhythmbox-ubuntuone-music-store, simple-scan, speech-dispatcher,
splix, telepathy-idle, tomboy, totem, totem-mozilla,
transmission-gtk, tsclient, ttf-indic-fonts-core, ttf-kacst-one,
ttf-khmeros-core, ttf-lao, ttf-liberation, ttf-punjabi-fonts,
ttf-takao-pgothic, ttf-thai-tlwg, ttf-unfonts-core,
ttf-wqy-microhei, ubufox, ubuntu-docs, ubuntuone-client-gnome,
usb-creator-gtk, vinagre, vino, wodim, xcursor-themes, xdg-utils
Description: The Ubuntu desktop system
This package depends on all of the packages in the Ubuntu desktop system

It is also used to help ensure proper upgrades, so it is recommended that it
not be removed.

rick@rick-laptop:~$ aptitude show gnome
Package: gnome
State: not installed
Version: 1:2.28+1ubuntu3
Priority: optional
Section: universe/gnome
Maintainer: Ubuntu Developers <ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com>
Uncompressed Size: 57.3k
Depends: gnome-desktop-environment (>= 1:2.28+1ubuntu3), gdm-themes | gdm (>=
2.26), gnome-themes-extras, gnome-games (>= 1:2.28),
libpam-gnome-keyring (>= 2.28), gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly (>=
0.10.12), gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg (>= 0.10.9), rhythmbox (>= 0.12.5) |
banshee (>= 1.5), synaptic (>= 0.62), system-config-printer-gnome (>=
1.0.0), totem-mozilla, swfdec-mozilla, epiphany-extensions,
gedit-plugins, evolution-plugins (>= 2.28), evolution-exchange (>=
2.28) | evolution-mapi (>= 0.28), evolution-webcal (>= 2.28),
software-center | gnome-app-install, transmission-gtk, arj,
avahi-daemon, tomboy (>= 1.0) | gnote
Recommends: gnome-games-extra-data (>= 2.28), network-manager-gnome (>= 0.7),
gnome-office (= 1:2.28+1ubuntu3), update-notifier, gparted, grdc,
gthumb, liferea | evolution-rss | blam, menu-xdg, gdebi, hardinfo
Suggests: gnome-dbg, openoffice.org-gnome, openoffice.org-evolution
Conflicts: gnome-cups-manager
Description: The GNOME Desktop Environment, with extra components
This is the GNOME Desktop environment, an intuitive and attractive desktop,
with extra components.

This package depends on the standard distribution of the GNOME desktop
environment, plus a complete range of plugins and other applications
integrating with GNOME and Debian, providing the best possible environment to
date.

rick@rick-laptop:~$

[mcduck]

I was in software center just now, and I see "The GNOME desktop environment" is not installed... So... what am I using then? How do I find out?

That actually makes sense, as Ubuntu isn't really using the default setup of Gnome.

Most likely that package would give you everything that's included on default Gnome desktop, as opposed to what the default Ubuntu desktop includes.

For example Gnome uses Epiphany as it's browser instead of Firefox that's included on Ubuntu desktop, and Abiword & Gnumeric as opposed to OpenOffice.

[TNT1]

That actually makes sense, as Ubuntu isn't really using the default setup of Gnome.

Most likely that package would give you everything that's included on default Gnome desktop, as opposed to what the default Ubuntu desktop includes.

For example Gnome uses Epiphany as it's browser instead of Firefox that's included on Ubuntu desktop, and Abiword & Gnumeric as opposed to OpenOffice.

Ah, right. I am new to Gnome, and didn't realise this. Thanks.

[TNT1]

So is there any reason/benefit to install this enhanced version of Gnome from SC?

[3Miro]

There are a number of packages that are considered "meta" packages. They don't install anything on their own, but rather they pull a whole bunch of dependencies. For many of those, you can just remove them afterwards. If you try to install the package, it will probably have no effect on your system or whatsoever.