GNOME System Monitor to Be Replaced by "Resources" App in GNOME 51
The long-standing "GNOME System Monitor" in the GNOME desktop environment is set to be replaced by the more advanced "Resources" app. This change is expected to be introduced in GNOME 51.
A New Generation of GNOME System Tools
The “GNOME System Monitor,” which has been a fixture of the GNOME desktop environment for many years, is set to be replaced by the more modern “Resources” app. This change is expected to occur in the next major version, GNOME 51, which is tentatively scheduled for release in September 2026.
Why “Resources” Was Chosen
One of the key differences between the current “GNOME System Monitor” and “Resources” is the pace of feature development. While the former has seen stagnation in its functionality, “Resources” has been actively expanded with new features. These include monitoring capabilities for Neural Processing Units (NPUs) and power consumption tracking for GPUs, aligning with the latest hardware trends. Additionally, “Resources” is compatible with a wider range of devices and has received positive feedback for its user interface.
Major Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, have already started adopting “Resources” as the default system monitoring tool, establishing its credibility and demonstrating its utility.
Progress Toward GNOME 51 Integration
The plan to replace the current system monitor with “Resources” is being carried out through GNOME’s official incubation program. Work on this transition began three months ago and has recently gained momentum. Last week, the project’s GitHub repository was archived and officially migrated to GNOME.org’s GitLab. This move signifies that the project is now on a formal path toward becoming a core part of GNOME.
In addition, a merge request was recently submitted to replace “org.gnome.SystemMonitor” with “org.gnome.Resources” in GNOME Shell, marking significant progress in the technical transition.
Future Timeline
If the current development pace continues, the integration of “Resources” is expected to be completed in time for GNOME 51, slated for release in September 2026. Should this timeline not be met, the next target would likely be the subsequent major release, GNOME 52, anticipated in spring 2027. In any case, this update is set to bring significant advancements to the system management experience for Linux desktop users in the near future.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is "GNOME System Monitor" being replaced by "Resources"?
- The existing "GNOME System Monitor" has stagnated in terms of feature development and struggles to fully support modern hardware, such as NPUs and advanced GPUs with power monitoring capabilities. "Resources" addresses these shortcomings by supporting these features and a broader range of devices, making it a more suitable choice for current needs.
- When will GNOME 51 be released?
- GNOME 51 is scheduled for release in September 2026. It is during this release that "Resources" is expected to become the default system monitoring tool.
- Will distributions other than Ubuntu adopt "Resources"?
- Since the GNOME project is moving toward adopting "Resources" as a core application, other distributions that use GNOME as their desktop environment, such as Fedora and Debian, are also likely to transition to "Resources" as their standard tool in the future. However, the decision and timeline will ultimately depend on each distribution's individual policies.
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