gconf-schemas

gconf-schemas

--help
    Displays a help message and exits.

--version
    Shows the version information and exits.

gconf-schemas is a utility from the GConf configuration system, primarily used in older GNOME 2 environments. Its core function is to compile GConf XML schema definition files (typically with a .schemas extension) into a more efficient binary format (.compiled). These compiled schemas are then used by the GConf daemon (gconfd-2) to understand and validate application preferences. This command is typically invoked automatically during the installation of software packages that provide GConf schemas, ensuring that the system's GConf database is updated with new or modified schema definitions. While essential for GConf-based systems, GConf itself has been largely replaced by DConf in modern GNOME versions, making gconf-schemas less relevant today for new development or typical user interaction.

GConf, and consequently gconf-schemas, is largely deprecated. Modern GNOME environments have transitioned to DConf for configuration management. This command is primarily relevant for maintaining or interacting with legacy systems running older GNOME versions or applications still relying on GConf.

GConf schemas are typically installed in system-wide directories such as /etc/gconf/schemas/ or /usr/share/gconf/schemas/. The gconf-schemas command scans these predefined locations to find and compile schema definitions.

The command transforms human-readable XML schema files (e.g., my-application.schemas) into binary .compiled files. These compiled files are then loaded by the GConf daemon (gconfd-2) to validate and manage configuration keys for applications.

GConf was the standard configuration system for the GNOME 2 desktop environment, designed to provide a centralized, XML-based storage for application preferences. gconf-schemas played a crucial role in compiling these schemas for efficient use by the GConf daemon. With the advent of GNOME 3 and later desktop environments, GConf began to be phased out in favor of DConf, a more performant and simpler configuration system. As such, gconf-schemas's relevance has diminished over time.

gconftool-2(1), gconfd-2(1), dconf(1), dconf-editor(1)