Today is THE DAY: you get GNOME3.6 on your openSUSE 12.2 installation.

The times of waiting is finally over.

First of all, GNOME 3.6? What’s so cool and special that you want it?
The highlights of the GNOME 3.6 release are:

  • Big improvements to notifications, including a redesigned Message Tray, smarter notifications, and other tweaks and refinements.
  • An enhanced Activities Overview with an improved layout.
  • A greatly enhanced Files application, with functional file search, a new Recent location, redesigned interface and lots of bug fixes and handy new features.
  • Integrated Input Sources, which makes inputting different character sets (eg. Japanese or Chinese) fast and easy.
  • Accessibility on demand, meaning that universal access features like the Orca screen reader can be enabled with the push of a button.
  • A new Lock Screen. This provides an attractive view when the device is locked, plus handy functionality like media controls and notifications.

And what does it look like?

The all new GDM Login screen:

GNOME 3.6 login screen

GNOME 3.6 / GDM

And a GNOME 3.6 session:

GNOME 3.6 Session

Running GNOME 3.6 session

Now, you are all eager to get this on your system too… but HOW?

Before starting, make sure to have your openSUSE 12.2 installation fully updated, easiest by using
zypper patch

If needed, repeat the above until there is nothing left to be done… and NOW we’re ready for the FUN

zypper ar obs://GNOME:STABLE:3.6/openSUSE_12.2 GS36
zypper mr -r GS36
zypper dup --from GS36(Should you see issues with obs://GNOME:STABLE:3.6/openSUSE_12.2, you can also use http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/GNOME:/STABLE:/3.6/openSUSE_12.2)

The steps explained:

adds a new repository, called by GS36, to your system
zypper ar obs://GNOME:STABLE:3.6/openSUSE_12.2 GS36 enables the repository to auto-refresh as needed. After all, you will want to get any updates we’re eventually to publish there as well
zypper mr -r GS36 Actually do perform the upgrade, preferring packages in GS36, allowing others to be pulled in as needed.
zypper dup --from GS36

NOTE: This has all been tested on pristine openSUSE 12.2 installations and is considered to work reasonably well. There are for sure small things to be cleaned out here and there (work is still in progress). NO tests have been done with any 3rd – party Repositories enabled!

Found an issue?

Any issue you think is worth to be mentioned is easiest brought forward to us on the #opensuse-gnome IRC Channel (freenode network) or by email (opensuse-gnome [ at ] opensuse.org). We will try to help resolve issues as much as we can.