Gnome 50 Ends the X11 Era After Decades
9 days ago
- #X11
- #Wayland
- #GNOME
- GNOME has removed X11 codebase from Mutter and GNOME Shell, making Wayland the sole display system starting with GNOME 50 in 2026.
- XWayland will continue to support X11 applications, ensuring compatibility for traditional apps under Wayland.
- The removal allows GNOME to focus on advancing Wayland features like fractional scaling, HDR, and color management.
- Users relying on Xorg/X11 sessions will need to switch to Wayland, while X11 apps will still work via XWayland.
- Extension authors and tooling developers must test and adapt for Wayland compatibility.
- Critics argue GNOME's decision alienates users still dependent on X11, citing Wayland's incompatibility with certain workflows.
- Some users express dissatisfaction with GNOME's direction, citing bugs in Mutter and loss of market share.
- Despite controversy, GNOME's move signifies a long-term commitment to Wayland as the future display system.