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Cinnamon (desktop environment)
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<p>Cinnamon is a <a href="/facts/Free_and_open-source/1cHtjLCB">free and open-source</a> <a href="/facts/Desktop_environment/VXBpMWnG">desktop environment</a> for <a href="/facts/Linux/9FvCKSTq">Linux</a> and other <a href="/facts/Unix-like/YAKrAxzd">Unix-like</a> <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating systems</a>, which was originally based on <a href="/facts/GNOME/EFMNBmpR">GNOME 3</a>, but follows traditional <a href="/facts/Desktop_metaphor/kWQQNlxu">desktop metaphor</a> conventions. </p><p>The development of Cinnamon began by the <a href="/facts/Linux_Mint/PDwNIUfT">Linux Mint</a> team as the result of the April 2011 release of GNOME 3, in which the conventional desktop metaphor of <a href="/facts/GNOME_2/EFMNBmpR">GNOME 2</a> was discarded in favor of <a href="/facts/GNOME_Shell/NfkRU7yS">GNOME Shell</a>. Following several attempts to extend <a href="/facts/GNOME_3/EFMNBmpR">GNOME 3</a> so that it would suit the Linux Mint design goals through "Mint GNOME Shell Extensions", the Linux Mint team eventually <a href="/facts/Fork_(software_development)/D6khxhpr">forked</a> several GNOME 3 components to build an independent desktop environment. This separation from GNOME was finished with the release of Cinnamon 2.0.0 on October 9, 2013. <a href="/facts/Applet/XDSonw6C">Applets</a>, <a href="/facts/Software_extension/351Du3Wu">extensions</a>, actions, and desklets made explicitly for Cinnamon are no longer compatible with GNOME Shell. </p><p>As the distinctive factor and preeminent desktop environment for Linux Mint, Cinnamon has generally received favorable coverage by the press, in particular for its ease of use and gentle <a href="/facts/Learning_curve/EQvMC9lK">learning curve</a>. In regard to its conservative design model, Cinnamon is similar to the <a href="/facts/Xfce/dsDLWxx1">Xfce</a>, <a href="/facts/MATE_(desktop_environment)/pqGMfA3B">MATE</a>, GNOME 2, and <a href="/facts/GNOME_Flashback/EFMNBmpR">GNOME Flashback</a> desktop environments. </p>