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Unity (user interface)

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Initial releaseJune 9, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-06-09)[1]
Stable release
3.4 / January 31, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-01-31)[1]
Repository
Written inVala, C++[2], QML
Operating systemLinux
PlatformPersonal Computer, Netbook
Available inMultilanguage
TypeDesktop environment/Shell
LicenseGNU GPL v3, GNU LGPL v3
Websiteunity.ubuntu.com

Unity is a shell interface for the GNOME desktop environment developed by Canonical Ltd for its Ubuntu operating system. Unity debuted in the netbook edition of Ubuntu 10.10. It is designed to make more efficient use of space given the limited screen size of netbooks, including, for example, a vertical application switcher.[3]

Development

Ubuntu has traditionally used the full GNOME desktop environment; founder Mark Shuttleworth cited philosophical differences with the GNOME team over the user experience to explain why Ubuntu would use Unity as the default desktop instead of GNOME Shell, beginning April 2011, with Ubuntu Natty Narwhal (11.04).[4]

We were part of the GNOME shell design discussion, we put forward our views and they were not embraced by designers. We took a divergent view from the GNOME shell folks on key design issues, for example how application menus should appear on the system, how one should search to find applications, how one’s favorite applications should be presented.

— Mark Shuttleworth[4]

In November 2010 Ubuntu Community Manager Jono Bacon explained the relationship between Unity and GNOME within Ubuntu, "I want to make something crystal clear: Ubuntu is a GNOME distribution, we ship the GNOME stack, we will continue to ship GNOME apps, and we optimize Ubuntu for GNOME. The only difference is that Unity is a different shell for GNOME, but we continue to support the latest GNOME Shell development work in the Ubuntu archives."[5]

The Unity shell interface is now a plugin of the Compiz window manager,[6] which Canonical states is faster than Mutter, the window manager for which GNOME Shell is a plugin.[7] Canonical announced it had engineered Unity for desktop computers as well and is making Unity the default shell for Ubuntu in version 11.04.[8]

GNOME Shell will not be included in Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal, because work on it is not completed, but will be available from a PPA,[9] and is expected to be in Ubuntu 11.10.[10]

In November 2010, Mark Shuttleworth announced the intention to eventually run Unity on Wayland instead of the currently-used X window system.[11]

In December 2010 some users requested that the Unity launcher (or dock) be movable from the left to other sides of the screen, but Mark Shuttleworth stated in reply, "I'm afraid that won't work with our broader design goals, so we won't implement that. We want the launcher always close to the Ubuntu button."[12]

On 14 January 2011 Canonical also released a technical preview of a “2D” version of Unity based on Qt and written in QML.[13][14]

Licensing

Unity is subject to Canonical's contributor agreement, requiring contributors to assign copyright to Canonical, and potentially allowing Canonical to release it under a different license.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Canonical Ltd (2010). "Publishing history of "unity" package in Ubuntu". Retrieved 9 December 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Jagdish Patel, Neil (2010). "~unity-team/unity/trunk : 573". Retrieved 13 December 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Proffitt, Brian (2010-05-10). "Ubuntu Unity Interface Tailored for Netbook Screens". ITWorld. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  4. ^ a b Jackson, Joab (2010-10-25). "Software / Services Oct 25, 2010 1:20 pm Canonical Ubuntu Splits From GNOME Over Design Issues". PC World Business Center. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  5. ^ Jono Bacon (2010-10-25). "UBUNTU 11.04 TO SHIP UNITY".
  6. ^ fluteflute (2010-11-13). "Is unity just a plugin of compiz". The version of Unity that will be released in 11.04 is definitely implemented as plugin(s) in Compiz.
  7. ^ Owen Taylor (2009-03-23). "Metacity, Mutter, GNOME Shell, GNOME-2.28". gnome-shell is set up as a Mutter plugin that is largely written in Javascript {{cite web}}: line feed character in |quote= at position 69 (help)
  8. ^ Noyes, Katherine (2010-10-26). "Is Unity the Right Interface for Desktop Ubuntu?". PC World. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  9. ^ ""gnome-shell" package in Ubuntu". Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  10. ^ "I am an Ubuntu Unity Developer, AMA". Retrieved 2011-01-12. GNOME Shell requires certain changes to the underlying GNOME system that are slated to land too late in our cycle to integrate into 11.04. GNOME Shell will therefor be installable only from a PPA until 11.10 when the underlying libraries have stabilized.
  11. ^ Mark Shuttleworth (2010-11-04). "Unity on Wayland". The next major transition for Unity will be to deliver it on Wayland....
  12. ^ Mark Shuttleworth (2010-10-30). "Movement of Unity launcher".
  13. ^ http://www.webupd8.org/2011/01/2d-unity-to-be-available-as-option-in.html
  14. ^ http://www.webupd8.org/2011/01/unity-2d-qt-now-available-in-ppa-for.html
  15. ^ "Canonical's contributor agreement". Retrieved 2010-12-31.
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