Linux fans in general and Ubuntu users in particular are already well-acquainted with the many desktop environments that are available for distributions of the free and open source operating system.
Now, it looks like fans of GNOME may soon get a community flavor of their very own.
“At the Ubuntu Developer Summit in May, several of us that work with GNOME in Ubuntu discussed the need for a Ubuntu community derivative similar to Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and others but which will try to ship a relatively pure GNOME experience,” explained Ubuntu developer Jeremy Bicha in a recent post on the GNOME mailing list.
“We’d Like to Use GNObuntu’
The naming of this new Ubuntu flavor is what’s been drawing discussion over the past few days.
“We’d like to instead use GNObuntu,” he added.
Other naming possibilities proposed since Bicha’s Aug. 13 post include Ubuntu GNOME, Ubuntu GSR (for “GNOME Shell Remix”), GNUntu, UbuGNOME, and uGuntu.
Coming in Ubuntu 12.10?
Though GNOME 2 is the longstanding favorite of many Linux fans, the GNOME 3 desktop series–like Unity–has been highly controversial.
The GNOME Project, meanwhile, recently revealed plans to create a GNOME OS.
When will we see the arrival of this GNOME-based Ubuntu? Bicha’s message doesn’t specify, but a Muktware report suggests it will be part of the forthcoming Ubuntu 12.10 “Quantal Quetzal,” which is due in October.
In related news, support for Unity 2D is reportedly being dropped from that upcoming release as well. I’ll post an update as soon as I learn more.