mate-about

Display information about the MATE desktop environment

TLDR

Display MATE version

$ mate-about --version

PARAMETERS

--help
Displays a help message and exits.

--version
Shows the version information and exits.

The mate-about command is a graphical utility designed to display essential information about the MATE Desktop Environment.

When invoked, it typically opens a small window showcasing details such as the MATE version number, copyright information, and a list of contributors who have worked on the project. This command serves as a quick and user-friendly way for users to verify their installed MATE Desktop version, which is crucial for troubleshooting or simply confirming the environment's specifics.

As MATE is a continuation of the classic GNOME 2 desktop, mate-about offers a similar function to its GNOME 2 predecessor, providing a consistent way to access desktop information.

CAVEATS

This command is a graphical application and requires a running X server or Wayland compositor to function correctly. If executed in a purely text-based terminal without a display environment, it will fail to launch or report an error like "Cannot open display".

ROLE IN BRANDING

Beyond simply displaying version numbers, mate-about plays a subtle but important role in the MATE Desktop branding. It provides a visual identifier for the desktop environment, allowing users to quickly recognize and confirm they are indeed running MATE, complete with its unique logo and aesthetic, reinforcing the desktop's identity and distinguishing it from other environments.

HISTORY

The MATE Desktop Environment emerged as a fork of the classic GNOME 2 desktop in 2011, after GNOME 3 introduced a drastically different user interface. The mate-about command was developed as part of the MATE core utilities, mirroring the functionality of the gnome-about command from GNOME 2.

Its purpose is to provide a consistent and accessible way for users to identify their desktop environment's version and associated details, contributing to the overall branding and user experience of the MATE project by upholding the familiar GNOME 2 style of system information display.