elementary OS Repair

Elementary OS, stylized as elementary OS, is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. It is advertised as a complete replacement for both macOS and Windows, and serves as a beginner-friendly Linux distribution. By default, elementary OS uses Pantheon as the default user interface and desktop environment.

The Pantheon desktop environment is built upon the GNOME software base, which includes GTK, GDK, Cairo, GLib, GObject and GIO, GVfs, Vala, and Tracker. This desktop environment enables users to organize their workflow by creating multiple workspaces.

• Pantheon Greeter: session manager based on LightDM
• Gala: window manager
• Wingpanel: top panel, similar in function to GNOME Shell's top panel
• Slingshot: application launcher located in WingPanel
• Plank: dock (upon which Docky is based)
• Switchboard: settings application (or control panel)
• Pantheon Mail: e-mail client written in Vala and based on WebKitGTK
• Calendar: desktop calendar
• Music: audio player
• Code: code-focused text editor, comparable to gedit or leafpad
• Terminal: terminal emulator
• Files: file manager (Formerly named Marlin)
• Installer: Installer built in partnership with System76

The Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) for elementary OS emphasize creating a consistent, intuitive, and user-centered design experience. These guidelines advocate for simplicity and usability, ensuring applications integrate seamlessly into the desktop environment. By prioritizing clarity, minimalism, and accessible configuration, developers are encouraged to craft apps that are not only visually harmonious with the operating system but also efficient and enjoyable to use.

The HIG fosters a philosophy of making intelligent design decisions, avoiding unnecessary complexity, and considering user workflows, all to deliver a cohesive and polished experience.

The design philosophy consists of the following...

1. Consistency: Developers should use standard widgets and interface elements to ensure applications have a unified look and predictable behavior across elementary OS. (Page 43: Interactive Widgets)
2. Concision: Focus on building modular apps that prioritize essential features and avoid unnecessary complexity or feature bloat. (Page 7: Concision)
3. Accessibility: Design apps with thoughtful defaults, minimizing the need for user configuration, and present options contextually to keep interfaces simple and accessible. (Page 8: Accessible Configuration)
4. Minimal Documentation: Create intuitive apps that don’t rely on help documents, use plain language, and avoid technical jargon for better user comprehension. (Page 10: Minimal Documentation)
5. Always Provide an Undo: Let users undo potentially destructive actions rather than presenting warnings, promoting faster and more confident workflows. (Page 16: Always Provide an Undo)
6. Always Saved: Automatically save user changes in real-time to eliminate the need for manual saves, ensuring users feel confident about data integrity. (Page 18: Always Saved)​
7. Efficient Workflows: Design for smooth workflows with fast app launches, clear actions on startup, and state restoration between sessions to enhance user productivity. (Pages 12–14: User Workflow, First Launch Experience, Normal Launch)
8. Feedback and Notifications: Use feedback tools like toasts, info bars, and notifications to provide users with relevant information and contextual actions without overwhelming them. (Pages 29–34: Providing Feedback, Notifications)
9. Iconography and Visual Design: Follow detailed guidelines for designing icons with distinct shapes, proper sizes, and vibrant colors that align with the elementary OS style. (Pages 58–64: Iconography)
10. Text and Language: Write clear, concise, and actionable text with consistent capitalization, punctuation, and naming conventions to improve user understanding and experience. (Pages 70–71: Text)

• Developer: elementary, Inc
• Licensing: GNU General Public License
• OS Family: Linux (Unix-like)
• Initial Release Date: March 31, 2011
• Latest Release Date: November 26, 2024

• Languages: Multilingual
• Platforms: AMD64

• Working State: Current
• Source Model: Open Source
• Update Method: Lon-term support
• Package manager:
  • APT (command-line frontend)
  • dpkg (backend)
  • Flatpak
• Default User Interface: Pantheon

• Official Elementary OS webpage
• Official Elementary OS HIG Documentation
• Elementary OS Wikipedia Entery