See Linux Mint and overview of Linux Mint the free, open source, powerful, reliable, safe, focused on elegance and ease of use and is currently the 4th most popular desktop OS in the World.
What is Linux Mint?
Linux Mint is a 32- and 64-bit Linux distribution for desktop computers, based on either Ubuntu and Debian. Linux Mint stated to be a “modern, elegant and comfortable operating system which is both powerful and easy to use.”
With its motto “from freedom came elegance” means that Linux Mint provides a more complete out-of-the-box experience by including browser plugins, media codecs, support for DVD playback, Java and other components. It also adds a custom desktop and menus, several unique configuration tools, and a web-based package installation interface. Linux Mint is compatible with Ubuntu software repositories.
Linux Mint Overview
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Linux Mint Overview Table
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Developer
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Clement Lefebvre, Jamie Boo Birse, Kendall Weaver, and community |
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OS family
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Unix-like |
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Working state
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Current |
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Source model
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Open source |
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Initial release
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27 August 2006 |
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Latest release
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Linux Mint 17.1 (“Rebecca”) |
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Available in
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Multilingual |
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Update method
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APT (+ mintUpdate, Synaptic) |
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Package manager
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dpkg |
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Platforms
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IA-32, x86-64 |
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Kernel type
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Monolithic (Linux) |
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User land
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GNU |
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Default user interface
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1.0: KDE 2.0-9: GNOME 2 / LXDE 12: GNOME 3 with MGSE 13-17: Cinnamon/MATE/KDE/Xfce |
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License
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Mainly GPL and other free software licenses, minor additions of proprietary |
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Official website
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www.linuxmint.com |
Linux Mint Support and Release
Support for older releases of Mint usually ends shortly after the next version is released, but there have been releases with long-term support. Linux Mint released approximately every 6 months. The first release started in 2006 with a beta release of version 1.0, and codenamed as “Ada”, based on Kubuntu. The codemae given alphabetically, you can see Linux Mint release from this table below (will be updated when new Mint released)
Linux Mint Release and Codename
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Version
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Codename
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Release
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End Of Life
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Desktop Used
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Processor Architecture
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Journaled File Systems
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Multi Langual
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17.1
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Rebecca
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2014-11-29
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2019-04
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Cinnamon, MATE
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i386, x86_64
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Btrfs, ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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16
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Petra
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2013-11-30
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2014-07
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Cinnamon, MATE
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i386, x86_64
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Btrfs, ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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15
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Olivia
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2013-05-29
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2014-01
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Cinnamon, MATE
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i386, x86_64
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Btrfs, ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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14
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Nadia
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2012-11-20
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2014-05
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Cinnamon, MATE
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i386, x86_64
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Btrfs, ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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13
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Maya
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2012-05-23
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2017-04
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Cinnamon, MATE
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i386, x86_64
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Btrfs, ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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12
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Lisa
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2011-11-26
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2013-04
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GNOME
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i386, x86_64
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Btrfs, ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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11
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Katya
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2011-05-26
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2012-10
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GNOME
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i386, x86_64
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Btrfs, ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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10
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Julia
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2010-11-12
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2012-04
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GNOME
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i386, x86_64
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Btrfs, ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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9
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Isadora
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2010-05-18
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2013-04
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GNOME
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i386, x86_64
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ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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8
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Helena
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2009-11-28
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2011-04
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GNOME
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i386, x86_64
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ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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7
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Gloria
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2009-05-26
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2010-10
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GNOME
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i386, x86_64
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ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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6
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Felicia
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2008-12-15
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2010-04
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GNOME
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i386, x86_64
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ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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5
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Elyssa
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2008-06-08
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2011-04
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GNOME
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i386, x86_64
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ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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Yes
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4
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Daryna
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2007-11-15
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2009-04
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GNOME
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i386
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ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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en, es, fr, gr, se, tr
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3.1
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Celena
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2007-09-24
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2008-10
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GNOME
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i386
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ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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en, es, fr, gr, se, tr
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3
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Cassandra
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2007-05-30
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2008-10
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GNOME
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i386
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ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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en, es, fr, gr, se, tr
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2.2
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Bianca
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2007-02-21
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2008-04
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GNOME
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i386
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ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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en, es, fr, gr, se, tr
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2.1
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Bea
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2006-12-20
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2008-04
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GNOME
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i386
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ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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en, es, fr, gr, se, tr
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2
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Barbara
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2006-11-14
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2008-04
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GNOME
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i386
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ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
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en, es, fr, gr, se, tr
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Linux Mint Logo
Software Developed by Linux Mint
1. The Linux Mint Update Manager.
The Linux Mint Software Manager allows users to view and install programs from the Software Portal directly from their desktop.
2. Cinnamon
A fork of GNOME Shell based on the innovations made in Mint Gnome Shell Extensions (MGSE). Released as an add-on for Linux Mint 12 and available as a default desktop environment since Linux Mint 13.
3. MintTools
Software Manager (mintInstall): Runs .mint files, which are files containing instructions to install packages. From Linux Mint 6 this tool can download information on all the applications on the Mint Software Portal for offline viewing. Also enables installation of any of the programs listed directly from the desktop, instead of going to the site. The option to use the old mintInstall program is available; from the Ubuntu Repositories or the GetDeb.net website may be searched.
4. Update Manager (mintUpdate)
Designed to prevent inexperienced users from installing updates that are unnecessary or require a certain level of knowledge to configure properly. It assigns updates a safety level (from 1 to 5), based on the stability and necessity of the update. Updates can be set to notify users (as is normal), be listed but not notify, or be hidden by default. In addition to including updates specifically for the Linux Mint distribution, the development team tests all package-wide updates.
5. Main Menu (mintMenu)
A menu of options including filtering, installation and removal of software, system and places links, favorites, session management, editable items, custom places and many configuration options. Also ported to MATE in Linux Mint 12 (Lisa).
6. Backup tool (mintBackup)
This tool Enable the user to back up and restore data. Data can be backed up before a fresh install of a newer release, then restored.
7. Upload Manager (mintUpload)
Defines upload services for FTP, SFTP and SCP servers. Services are then available in the system tray and provide zones where they may be automatically uploaded to their corresponding destinations.
8. Domain Blocker (mintNanny)
A basic domain blocking parental control tool introduced with v6. Enables the user to manually add domains to be blocked system-wide.
9. Desktop Settings
A tool for configuration of the desktop.
10. Welcome screen (mintWelcome)
Introduced in Linux Mint 7, an application that starts on the first login of any new account. It provides links to the Linux Mint website, user guide and community website.
11. Remastering tool (mintConstructor)
A tool for remastering Linux Mint. It is not installed by default in any Linux Mint edition, but is included in the repositories and used by the developers for creating ISO files. Users can use this tool to create their own distribution based on Linux Mint.
12. Mint Gnome Shell Extensions (MGSE)
A desktop layer on top of GNOME 3 to make it feel like GNOME 2, still popular within the Linux community when GNOME 3 was introduced. Includes a bottom panel, an application menu, the window list, task-centric desktop (i.e. switches between windows, not applications) and system tray icons. This was included in Linux Mint in version 12 (Lisa).
Linux Mint Editions
Linux Mint has multiple editions that are based on Ubuntu and Debian
Ubuntu-based editions
As of Linux Mint 17 there are two main editions of Linux Mint, developed by the core development team and using Ubuntu as a base. One includes Mint’s own Cinnamon as the desktop environment while the other uses MATE. Linux Mint also develops editions that feature the KDE and Xfce desktop environments by default, but these have secondary priority and are generally released somewhat later than the two main editions.
Linux Mint Debian Edition
Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) is based directly on Debian Testing, instead of Ubuntu, but is designed to provide the same functionality and look and feel as the Ubuntu-based edition. LMDE is available with the MATE and Cinnamon desktop environments. LMDE advantages and disadvantages over the Ubuntu-based distribution:
- Installing Update Packs keeps LMDE current, without the need to reinstall the system every six months as with Ubuntu-based distros.
- LMDE is faster and more responsive than Ubuntu-based editions.
- LMDE requires a deeper knowledge and experience with Linux, dpkg and APT.
- Debian is less user-friendly and desktop-ready than Ubuntu, with some rough edges.