With the launch of GNOME 50, codenamed 'Tokyo', significant changes have been made, including the complete removal of the X11 backend, which involved the elimination of approximately 27,540 lines of code. This shift marks a major transition as GNOME fully embraces Wayland, although users of older applications will still find support through XWayland and GDM.
This version introduces enhancements across several applications. The Document Viewer has received a comprehensive upgrade, allowing for easier document annotation. The Files app has also been revamped to improve performance and memory usage, with faster loading times for thumbnails and enhanced search capabilities. Additionally, the Calendar app now provides clearer event invitations and a more refined interface.
GNOME 50 also enhances the Remote Desktop tool by introducing hardware acceleration, resulting in smoother remote sessions with lower lag and reduced power consumption. Users can expect to see GNOME 50 integrated into Fedora 44 and Ubuntu 26.04 LTS in the coming month.