The MATE Desktop Environment is the continuation of GNOME 2. It provides an intuitive and attractive desktop environment using traditional metaphors for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.

MATE is under active development to add support for new technologies while preserving a traditional desktop experience.

This package depends on a very basic set of programs that are necessary to start a MATE desktop environment session. The set of programs includes the MATE window manager (Marco), the MATE file manager (Caja), the MATE control center and a limited set of other obligatory MATE desktop components.