gconftool-2

gconftool-2 [OPTIONS] [COMMAND] [KEY]

Example common usage:
gconftool-2 --get /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/font
gconftool-2 --set /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/use_theme_colors --type=bool true
gconftool-2 --unset /desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename
gconftool-2 --list-keys /desktop/gnome/interface
gconftool-2 --monitor /apps/gnome-terminal

--get KEY
    Retrieves and prints the value of a specified GConf key.

--set KEY VALUE
    Sets the value of a GConf key. Requires --type for non-string values.

--unset KEY
    Removes a GConf key and its value.

--type=TYPE
    Specifies the data type (e.g., string, int, bool, list, schema) for --set operations.

--list-dirs [DIR]
    Lists subdirectories within a given GConf directory or the root ('/') if no directory is specified.

--list-keys [DIR]
    Lists keys within a given GConf directory or the root ('/') if no directory is specified.

--recursive-list
    Lists all keys and directories recursively from the root of the GConf system.

--monitor KEY|DIR
    Monitors changes to a specific key or all keys within a directory in real-time.

--schema-install FILE
    Installs a GConf schema definition XML file, making new key definitions available.

--load FILE
    Loads configuration data from an XML file into the GConf database.

--dump FILE
    Dumps all configuration data from the GConf database to an XML file.

--shutdown
    Shuts down the GConf daemon (gconfd-2) and synchronizes settings.

--version
    Displays the gconftool-2 version information.

--help
    Displays a short help message detailing available commands and options.

gconftool-2 is a command-line utility used to manage the GConf configuration system, which served as GNOME's primary configuration database. It enabled applications to store, retrieve, and monitor configuration values, often backed by XML files and a configuration daemon (gconfd-2). gconftool-2 provided the interface for users and scripts to directly manipulate these settings, including reading (--get), writing (--set), unsetting (--unset), listing (--list-dirs, --list-keys), and monitoring (--monitor) keys. It was essential for configuring GNOME desktop environments and applications that relied on GConf prior to its deprecation in favor of DConf and GSettings.

gconftool-2 interacts with the GConf configuration system, which has been largely superseded by DConf and GSettings in modern GNOME desktop environments (GNOME 3.2 and later). While still present in some older systems or specific configurations, its active development and primary usage have declined. Users of recent GNOME versions should typically use gsettings or dconf for configuration management instead. Directly manipulating GConf keys can sometimes lead to unexpected behavior if not done carefully, especially without understanding the associated schemas.

GConf relies on a background daemon, gconfd-2, which handles all configuration changes, notifications, and interactions with underlying storage (typically XML files). gconftool-2 communicates with this daemon to perform its operations, ensuring real-time updates and consistency across applications.

GConf employs a layered system of configuration sources. These sources define the order in which settings are read and applied, often including system-wide defaults, administrator overrides, and individual user preferences. When gconftool-2 retrieves a key's value, it consults this hierarchy to determine the effective setting.

GConf keys are often associated with schemas, which are XML files providing metadata about the keys. Schemas define the data type, default values, human-readable documentation, and sometimes constraints or allowed ranges for a key. gconftool-2 can be used to install new schemas or query existing ones for information about specific keys.

gconftool-2 was developed as part of the GNOME project to manage the GConf configuration system. GConf became the standard for storing application and desktop settings in GNOME 2.x and earlier GNOME 3.x releases, aiming to be a simpler, more robust alternative to other configuration systems. With the shift towards a more efficient and modern configuration backend, GConf was eventually deprecated in favor of DConf and GSettings (introduced around GNOME 3.2). Consequently, gconftool-2 has been largely replaced by gsettings for end-user configuration management in contemporary GNOME environments, though it might still be found in legacy systems or specific non-upgraded installations.

gsettings(1), dconf(1), dconf-editor(1)