# Introduction

GNOME is a powerful but simple desktop environment with a strong focus on usability, accessibility, and internationalization. GNOME is designed to be usable by everybody, regardless of technical expertise, disabilitites, or native language. GNOME makes it easy for people to use their computers.

GNOME provides a comprehensive developer platform that allow developers to create professional software that is easy to use and aesthetically pleasing. This document provides a high-level overview of the GNOME platform along with links to detailed documentation on each part of the platform.

## Who Should Read This Document

You should read this document if you want to create software using the GNOME platform. Developing with the GNOME platform will help you create consistent applications that integrate well into the user's desktop. This guide will introduce you to the various components of the platform, so you know which libraries can accomplish which tasks. This guide links to additional detailed documentation, so you can explore each component of the platform in more depth.

This guide will also be useful if you are picking a development platform for your software project. It will provide an overview how you can use the GNOME platform to build useful software.

This guide also describes ways of extending the GNOME desktop with plugins, panel applets, and other useful tools. If you want to develop additional functionality to plug into the GNOME desktop, you should read this guide, particularly .

If you have existing software that you want to port to the GNOME platform, you should see the online Guide For ISVs in addition to this guide.

## The GNOME Family

GNOME is a global effort, with many contributors all over the world. GNOME is a success because of its contributors and users. This section lists the web sites and conferences where you can learn more about GNOME, as well as other organizations that work with GNOME.

### Web Sites

www.gnome.org

  The primary web site for GNOME users. It contains release information, downloads, and documentation.

developer.gnome.org

  The primary web site for people developing using the GNOME platform, as well as core GNOME developers. It contains all the developer documentation, as well as further information on the usability, documentation, and translations teams.

foundation.gnome.org

  The web site for the GNOME Foundation, the not-for-profit foundation that oversees the development of GNOME.

bugzilla.gnome.org

  The GNOME bug trackers. Use this site to submit a bug report or feature request, or to track the status of a report.

live.gnome.org

  The GNOME wiki. Many projects within GNOME now use the wiki as their primary web space. In additional, the wiki is often used to sketch out future development.

mail.gnome.org

  Information on GNOME mailing lists. This site contains full archives of all GNOME mailing lists.

cvs.gnome.org

  The GNOME CVS repository, tracking all GNOME source code back to the inception of the project.

### Mailing Lists

gnome-list

  The primary mailing list for GNOME users.

gnome-devel-list

  Information and questions about development using the GNOME platform.

gnome-love

  The first place to go to get involved with GNOME.

gnome-accessibility-list

  Information on accessibility in GNOME applications.

gnome-doc-list

  Information on writing documentation for GNOME applications.

gnome-i18n

  Information about internationalization and localization of GNOME applications.

usability

  Information on usability for GNOME applications.

### Conferences

GUADEC

  The primary conference for GNOME users and developers. GUADEC is hosted annually in May or June. Each year, it is hosted in a different European city, making it an excellent excuse to see more of Europe. GUADEC features talks aimed at users, developers, and vendors.

The GNOME Summit

  The hacker get-together. The Summit is geared primarily at existing GNOME developers, although there is often useful information for new developers. The Summit is hosted annually in Boston.

GNOME.conf.au

  A casual get-together hosted annually at linux.conf.au.

### Other Organizations

freedesktop.org

  The collaborative effort for interoperability and shared technology among desktop environments. Through freedesktop.org, GNOME works with projects such as KDE and XFCE to make it easier for application developers to provide better experiences for their users.

Mozilla

  The free web engine, and a whole lot more. GNOME maintains close ties to the Mozilla development team to provide an overall better user interface.

OpenOffice.org

  The free office suite. GNOME works with the OpenOffice.org development team to help provide a more unified interface when using the free office suite on GNOME.

Free Software Foundation

  Freedom. Established in 1985, the Free Software Foundation has worked to create a complete free operating systems, giving its users the freedom to use, modify, and redistribute their software. As part of the GNU project, GNOME aims to provide a fully free desktop environment.