FreeBSD

Quite possibly the most functional GNOME release ever is now available for FreeBSD. GNOME 2.16 features HAL support for FreeBSD which allows FreeBSD users to take advantage of automatic volume mounting, advanced power management, and more. In addition, many performance improvments have gone into GNOME, and the eye candy has definitely been improved.

Due to the fact that GNOME 2.16 will be the first GNOME release for FreeBSD to live in LOCALBASE, and because we are so close to the release of FreeBSD 6.2, GNOME 2.16 will not be committed to the ports tree until sometime in November most likely. In the meantime, ports and packages are available from MarcusCom.

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news.com has a story about FreeBSD and their effort to improve their position as a desktop operating system by improving their interoperability and support for GNOME. The effort is lead by Joe Clarke who have done a wonderful job for a long time now making sure GNOME and related technologies worked nicely under FreeBSD. They are now upping the ante with working on HAL support and more for FreeBSD. Maybe its time to take a look at installing FreeBSD again?

A new package building server for FreeBSD GNOME packages is online, and serving out GNOME 2 desktop packages for both 2.4 and 2.5. Packages are available for all supported versions of FreeBSD. The server is still in its infancy, and a bit slow, but it's working constantly to provide the most up-to-date GNOME packages possible. As time goes on, other GNOME meta-ports will be added to the build.

The GNOME 2.6 Beta 1 desktop is now available for FreeBSD. If you have been looking for a good time to switch away from GNOME 2.4, now is that time. Please test extra hard so we can work out all the bugs before the end of the month release date. All the details on upgrading to GNOME 2.6 Beta 1 can be found here. Note: the release identifies itself as 2.5.90, but it is, in fact, GNOME 2.6 Beta 1.

FreeBSD GNOME News

The GNOME 2.4.1 desktop, the "Better late than never" release, is now available for FreeBSD. Due to the 5.2 ports freeze, GNOME 2.4.1 will not officially enter the FreeBSD ports tree until after 5.2 is released. However, it can be obtained from the MarcusCom CVS repository with the help of the "marcusmerge'' script.

The GNOME 2.5.0 desktop, the "Obviously you're not a golfer" release, is also now available for FreeBSD. FreeBSD GNOME junkies can check out this release from the MarcusCom CVS repository. Stay up to date with all the latest FreeBSD GNOME news at www.freebsd.org/gnome/newsflash.html.

Joe Marcus Clarke wrote:
I am pleased to announce I have just completed the port of GNOME 2.4.0
to FreeBSD. While it will not make our 4.9-RELEASE (we're in code
freeze now), it will make into the tree in time for our 5.2-RELEASE. In
the meantime, it is available, as all the GNOME 2.3 snaps were, in my
CVS repo at http://www.marcuscom.com:8080/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi under the
``ports'' module.

The GNOME 1.4 Desktop has been removed from FreeBSD. Users are encouraged to upgrade to GNOME 2.2 which offers many improvements over the older desktop.

The GNOME 2.2.2 desktop has been released and ported to FreeBSD. GNOME 2.2.x is available in the main FreeBSD ports tree. Simply cvsup your ports, and upgrade. Packages may take a while, however.

The GNOME 2.3.3, "The Four Hounds", has been released and ported to FreeBSD. Hearty adventurers should checkout the "ports'' module per the instructions here, and download the "marcusmerge'' script to aid in the upgrade.

As always, keep up to date on the latest FreeBSD GNOME happenings here.

2.2.1:
Now that 4.8-RELEASE is out the door, the ports freeze has lifted, and GNOME 2.2.1 has been committed. See the GNOME FreeBSD homepage more details and instructions.

2.3.0:

Calling all testers! The first of the
GNOME 2.3 development releases is now available. Code named
"Mighty Atom," this release includes quite a few
new proposed modules. The GNOME 2.3 snapshots will become
the GNOME 2.4 desktop on or around September 8.
Those wanting to test this release should checkout the
"ports'' module per the instructions here.
Be sure to download the "marcusmerge'' script from the
same page. This script will help you merge the GNOME
development ports tree into your main ports tree. Send all
questions to freebsd-gnome-at-FreeBSD.org.

The GNOME 2.2 Desktop has been released, and ports are available for FreeBSD. A GNOME 2.2 FAQ and installation instructions can be found on the FreeBSD GNOME website. A list of known issues with the FreeBSD port can be found here.

FreeBSD GNOME Website

Joe Marcus Clarke wrote:
The GNOME 2.1.2 desktop, "Life Preserver" release, is available, and ports have been made for most of it. There are still some FreeBSD issues with the new GStreamer stuff, and some of the newer modules (such as system-tray) haven't yet been ported. For those wanting to test this latest development snapshot, ports are available via anonymous CVS from MarcusCom. Checkout the "ports'' module per the instructions at http://www.marcuscom.com:8080/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi.

FreeBSD GNOME Project

GNOME 2 packages for i386 FreeBSD-stable
have been posted here.
Both .tgz and .tbz packages have been posted. This includes
everything needed to install GNOME 2 except for XFree86.
These packages were built using XFree86 4.2.0 which is
available in package format from a variety of locations.
Please send email to freebsd-gnome-at-FreeBSD.org
if you have any problems.

The FreeBSD GNOME team is proud to announce that GNOME 2.0 Release has been ported to FreeBSD. This comes four days after the GNOME Project made their press release. Look for documentation updates soon to cover the new GNOME 2.0 desktop.
FreeBSD GNOME Website

All GNOME 2 components have been upgraded to "Stay on target!" release snapshot. This brings a whole new round of bug fixes and GUI improvements to GNOME 2 on FreeBSD.

FreeBSD GNOME Project website

The FreeBSD GNOME Team has finished porting of GNOME2 beta 5 release to FreeBSD. All existing ports were updated and many missed were added. The FreeBSD Ports Collection now contains all bits and pieces of the GNOME2 platform, both desktop and development ones.The team now works on improving quility of the port, by tracking down FreeBSD-specific problems and fixing them. Another goal is to provide set of pre-built GNOME2 binary packages on the official FreeBSD 4.6 release media along with GNOME 1.4 bits and pieces.We would encourage any help from our users in the form of problem reports, patches, suggestions etc.

FreeBSD GNOME project website

All components of GNOME2 Development Platform already ported to FreeBSD have been updated to the latest versions found in the official GNOME2 beta3 distribution.

Joe Marcus Clarke has been granted a FreeBSD commit bit (direct access to the cvs repository). His main focus as a committer will be FreeBSD GNOME, so that expect much faster problem resolution than ever. It is also expected that he would revive somewhat stalled GNOME2 porting effort. Welcome aboard, Joe!!!
FreeBSD GNOME Project website

As with most GNU programs, GNOME has been designed to run on all modern Unix-like operating systems. Through the efforts of the FreeBSD GNOME Project and countless volunteers, those operating systems include FreeBSD.

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