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=== Running MATE automatically at boot time ===

TBD [Haven't figured this out yet.]

== Using MATE ==

The [[http://library.gnome.org/users/user-guide/2.32/user-guide.html|Gnome 2.32 User Guide]] provides basic documentation for the features of GNOME 2 and MATE. However, you'll need to note the name changes in MATE related to Gnome 2 features below.

== MATE Applications ==

It is important to note that many Gnome 2 core applications are rebranded for MATE, as per the licensing terms. Here is a list of common Gnome 2 applications under MATE:

 * Nautilus is renamed caja
 * Metacity is renamed marco
 * Gconf is renamed mate-conf

Other applications and core components prefixed with Gnome (such as Gnome Panel, Gnome Menus etc) have simply had the prefix renamed "MATE" and become MATE Panel and MATE Menus.

Not all of the Gnome 2 extra applications (built for GTK2) have been forked yet. The following extra applications are available in MATE:

 * Totem (mate-video-player)
 * Eye of GNOME (mate-image-viewer)
 * Gedit (mate-text-editor)
 * File Roller (mate-file-archiver)
 * GNOME Panel applets (mate-applets)
 * GNOME Terminal (mate-terminal)

== Optimizing Performance ==

The default configuration for MATE consumes a lot of RAM (about 175MB just booting) and is fairly slow. However, with some configuration changes, it may be possible to have MATE function decently on the Raspberry Pi. Some links that may help getting MATE to run better on the Raspberry Pi are included below:

 * [[http://penguininside.blogspot.com/2009/08/top-10-gnome-performance-tweaks.html|Best Gnome Performance Tweaks]]
 * [[http://pclosmag.com/html/Issues/201205/page08.html|Gnome 2.32: Tips, Tricks & Tweaks]]

== Additional Information ==

I found the information on [[https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/MATE|using MATE on Arch Linux]] useful.

MATE on Raspberry Pi

Gnome 2 was the most popular Linux desktop, but it’s no longer available. MATE is a fork of Gnome 2 and provides an intuitive and attractive desktop to Linux users using traditional metaphors.

Mate Desktop

About MATE

The best source of information about MATE is the MATE website. At the website is an explanation as to why MATE exists, information on installing MATE and forums where you can get help with using MATE.

Installing MATE

For Raspbian, add the following repository to your "/etc/apt/sources.list":

deb http://archive.raspbian.org/mate wheezy main

Perform the following commands:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mate-core
sudo apt-get install mate-desktop-environment
sudo apt-get install mate-file-manager

Starting MATE

Running MATE manually with startx

In order to start MATE manually, you must add

exec mate-session

to your ~/.xinitrc file and then run

startx

Running MATE automatically at boot time

TBD [Haven't figured this out yet.]

Using MATE

The Gnome 2.32 User Guide provides basic documentation for the features of GNOME 2 and MATE. However, you'll need to note the name changes in MATE related to Gnome 2 features below.

MATE Applications

It is important to note that many Gnome 2 core applications are rebranded for MATE, as per the licensing terms. Here is a list of common Gnome 2 applications under MATE:

  • Nautilus is renamed caja
  • Metacity is renamed marco
  • Gconf is renamed mate-conf

Other applications and core components prefixed with Gnome (such as Gnome Panel, Gnome Menus etc) have simply had the prefix renamed "MATE" and become MATE Panel and MATE Menus.

Not all of the Gnome 2 extra applications (built for GTK2) have been forked yet. The following extra applications are available in MATE:

  • Totem (mate-video-player)
  • Eye of GNOME (mate-image-viewer)
  • Gedit (mate-text-editor)
  • File Roller (mate-file-archiver)
  • GNOME Panel applets (mate-applets)
  • GNOME Terminal (mate-terminal)

Optimizing Performance

The default configuration for MATE consumes a lot of RAM (about 175MB just booting) and is fairly slow. However, with some configuration changes, it may be possible to have MATE function decently on the Raspberry Pi. Some links that may help getting MATE to run better on the Raspberry Pi are included below:

Additional Information

I found the information on using MATE on Arch Linux useful.