14 DAY TRIAL // Work on the upcoming Linux Mint 18.3 operating system continues, and Clement Lefebvre recently published the monthly report to give us a glimpse of more of the new features to be implemented in the final release.
Last month, we reported that development of Linux Mint 18.3 kicked off with HybridSleep support for the Cinnamon desktop environment, HiDPI support and GTK3 porting for the Software Sources tool, as well as the revamp of the Software Manager graphical package manager, which was also ported to latest GTK+ 3 technologies.
And now, the Linux Mint creator reveals the fact that Linux Mint 18.3 will be shipping with a revamped Backup Tool that won't require root anymore, offers a much easier to use interface that no longer requires you to select the type or source of a backup, and it's capable of backing up your entire Home directory. The tool will restore files in their initial location, with the same permissions and timestamps.
"You won’t need to enter your password to run the Backup Tool, because it no longer runs as root. When backing up data you no longer need to go through options or to select a source and a type of backup," explains Clement Lefebvre. "This tool is now dedicated to making a backup of your home directory, nothing less and nothing more. It saves all your files into a tar archive."
However, users will be able to choose which files and folders they want to exclude from the backup. Also, you should know that the Backup Tool won't backup hidden folders that usually contain configuration files for certain apps, but you have the possibility to choose to backup these type of folders too if you want. And, you can also backup the apps you've installed via Software Manager.
Animated window progress is coming to Linux Mint 18.3 and Cinnamon 3.6
Another cool new feature that's coming to Linux Mint 18.3 is animated window progress, like many modern operating systems already have when you transfer files or a similar operation. Progress bars on Nemo, Backup Tool, Software Manager, Driver Manager, USB Stick formatter, and USB image writer windows will benefit from a new mechanism implemented through the LibXapp library in the upcoming Cinnamon 3.6 desktop environment.
The MATE desktop environment, Caja file manager and Synaptic Package Manager should also get support for window progress in the future. Clement Lefebvre also revealed the fact that the Cinnamon edition of Linux Mint 18.3 will be shipping with an updated network applet that can now rescan for wireless networks, and that both the Upload Manager and Domain Blocker tools will no longer be installed by default, which means that users can install them from the repositories if they need them.
