The Linux Mint blog already has a new post as usual at the beginning of each month. An entry where Clem has talked about the upcoming news of Linux Mint as well as thanks all the donations received so far. This post is loaded with news where it does not specifically talk about the next version of Linux Mint or Cinnamon, but about the approach that the distribution will follow during the next developments.
Linux Mint is characterized by its simplicity and its focus on novice users. It has been a great success in this regard, striving to be as straightforward as possible. Therefore, several tools and programs will undergo changes that will reduce their functionality, but ensure that the few features they do offer are performed exceptionally well.
In this respect, the backup tool will be the first to undergo these changes . From Linux Mint 18.3 onward, this tool will be simpler, with fewer features, but what it does will be done well. After the modifications, it will only back up the home folder, compressing the data into a tar.gz file . This compressed file can then be used to restore backups. Regarding installed packages, these will no longer be copied; instead, only a list of programs installed by the user will be displayed so they can be reinstalled during the most recent installation.
Progress bars are another new feature coming to upcoming versions of Linux Mint. These bars , whether for installations or for processes like pasting files, will be gradually incorporated into Cinnamon , MATE, and Linux Mint. This is all thanks to the use of the LibXApp library, which already includes this functionality.
According to Clem, these improvements will be included in Linux Mint 18.3 and future versions of the distribution , affecting more programs and even MATE and its applications. This might annoy some users who will lose some features, but newer users will welcome it. But which program will be the next to undergo these changes?