These are called X-Apps, at least for now

Jan 28, 2016 16:19 GMT  ·  By

The Linux Mint project is about to get a lot more interesting because, with the 18.x branch, the developers are going to introduce the so-called X-Apps, which are designed to work across Cinnamon, MATE and Xfce.

The Linux Mint developers didn't want to make their own apps, and they used different techniques to avoid this method, but the changes brought on by GNOME 3.18 and the Ubuntu base have modified the perspective.

A lot of projects are doing their apps when they don't find what they want. Distros like Manjaro, Solus, or elementary OS have their own applications, and it looks like Linux Mint is also going to join this crowd.

X-Apps for Linux Mint distros

This is an important step for the Linux Mint developers, who are also working on Cinnamon and MATE desktops. They have a lot on their plate, so starting to build apps for the desktop is going to push them further with their work, but it looks like they don't have a choice in the matter anymore.

"X-Apps will be a collection of generic GTK3 applications using traditional interfaces which can be used as default desktop components in Cinnamon, MATE and Xfce. In Mint 18, the 'X apps' will allow us to maintain a native look and a good level of integration because they will be used in replacement of GNOME applications which now look foreign (using headerbars and a distinctive layout)," Clement Lefebvre, the leader or the Linux Mint project explained.

The X-Apps will be desktop-agnostic, in theory, at least for Cinnamon, MATE and Xfce. This will allow the developers to make changes and improvements for the apps that won't require adjustments for each desktop environment, as it happens right now.

The first X-App will debut with Linux Mint 18.x, which will be based on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and it should land a couple of months after the one from Canonical.