The new version of Linux Mint’s default desktop will feature improved support for multiple monitors and other enhancements.
The developers of Linux Mint have announced a new version of the default Cinnamon desktop environment, version 5.4. The release comes ahead of the pending release of Linux Mint 21, dubbed “Vanessa.”
What’s New in Cinnamon 5.4?
The biggest change in Cinnamon 5.4 is a new version of the Mutter window manager, according to 9To5Linux. The JavaScript engine is also being overhauled.
Despite the improvements, there are some major changes to the system that have also introduced some bugs, which the developers attributed to the complexity of the overhaul. “This is a huge task and it requires many code changes in Cinnamon itself and causes a significant number of regressions,” Linux Mint lead developer Clement Lefevbre told 9To5Linux.
While anyone can download the source code from GitHub, most users will likely want to wait until Linux Mint 21 launches later in the summer of 2022, coming after Linux Mint 20.3.
Cinnamon 5.4’s Under-The-Hood Improvements
Another change is to make the Cinnamon Dekstop work better with multiple monitor setups. Cinnamon 5.4 now works with “logical monitors,” where the primary monitor is a number other than 0.
There are other changes to the user interface, including new keyboard navigation, and a new terminal resize widget. There’s also a revamped Show Desktop applet. The Sound app will also hide the “mute microphone” option while the computer’s microphone is not being used.
Cinnamon 5.4 Shows the Diversity of Linux Desktops
One thing that Linux advocates frequently tout is how many desktop environments and window managers are available for the system. While Linux distributions will often come with one or more default environments, users can swap them out at any time.
Cinnamon itself was a spin-off of the GNOME desktop when GNOME 3, which was very different from the previous GNOME versions, was released.
The proliferation of Linux desktops has caused some frustration in the Linux community. The dizzying array of desktops appears to put off potential users compared to more standardized options from Microsoft and Apple.
Cinnamon 5.4: An Overhauled Desktop for Linux Mint
Cinnamon 5.4 will be the likely default desktop for the Ubuntu-based Linux Mint distribution. There are some features that distinguish Mint from Ubuntu, such as improved multimedia support. Those still on the fence may be wondering which distro to pick, but both options have their points.
