Use GNOME applications

Install each GNOME application with your distribution's package manager. Its package should bring the libraries it needs. On a minimal system, install the optional gnoblin-gnome-integration package for shared desktop services.

• Fedora with the Gnoblin COPR enabled: sudo dnf install gnoblin-gnome-integration
• Arch: download the package from the Gnoblin release, then run sudo pacman -U ./gnoblin-gnome-integration-*.pkg.tar.zst in the download directory.
• openSUSE Tumbleweed: download the package from the Gnoblin release, then run sudo zypper install --allow-unsigned-rpm ./opensuse-gnoblin-gnome-integration-*.rpm in the download directory.

For example, with the Gnoblin COPR enabled on a Fedora installation without GNOME, install the shared services and the Files app with:

sudo dnf --setopt=install_weak_deps=False install gnoblin-gnome-integration nautilus

The package installs GNOME Keyring for stored secrets, GVfs for GIO file access, and XDG user-directory setup.

It does not install a file manager, calendar, browser, GNOME Settings, or the full GNOME desktop. Install the apps you want separately.

If you want prompts to rename standard folders when your display language changes, install xdg-user-dirs-gtk separately. The integration package does not start that updater at login.

GNOME Keyring starts when an app requests its secret service. Some features need an app-specific service. Online accounts need an account manager and the relevant GVfs backend.

Gnoblin does not start GNOME Shell's removable-media automount and autorun components. Open removable media through your file manager when needed.

Install GVfs through the integration package if your file manager uses GIO mounts.

Portal selection affects the Gnoblin session only. Other sessions keep their own backend selection.

Gnoblin's optional backend handles file selection, Settings, screen sharing, remote desktop, and inhibition. Its file chooser uses GTK4. Install gnoblin-portal to use it. The core session package already routes Gnoblin to this backend when installed, with another installed backend as fallback.

Choose another backend or mix backends in your normal Lua config; see gnoblin.configure.portals.

Email requests open your configured email app; install one separately if you need it. Nautilus is optional; install it only if you want a file manager.

In the lean login, portal apps can inhibit idle and suspend. Logout and user-switch inhibition return an unsupported response. The optional GNOME Session login uses GNOME SessionManager for all four types. The standalone login continues to use Gnoblin's idle service if a GNOME SessionManager process remains on the user's D-Bus session bus.

For a source build, install these services with your distribution's package manager if you need them. ./build.sh never installs host packages.