mate-about: Quick Insights for the MATE Desktop

Overview

The mate-about command displays information about the MATE desktop environment. It’s a lightweight utility you can run to quickly confirm the MATE version and related details.

Tip: If you don’t run a MATE session, this command may not produce meaningful output.

Quick start

  • Display the MATE version:
mate-about --version
  • Show general information (default behavior):
mate-about
  • Get help and available options:
mate-about --help

What you’ll typically see

When you run mate-about without options on a MATE session, you’ll typically see information such as:

  • MATE desktop version
  • Build or release details
  • Possibly the components included in your session

The exact output can vary by distribution and MATE release.

Practical examples

  • Quick verify your MATE version in scripts:
if mate-about --version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
  echo "MATE is installed"
else
  echo "MATE not detected"
fi
  • Check help for options when writing a wrapper script:
mate-about --help | head -n 20

Common pitfalls

  • Not installed or not in PATH:

    • If mate-about is not found, install the MATE desktop environment or ensure the package providing mate-about is installed (package names vary by distro).
    • On minimal or non-MATE systems, this command may not be available.

  • Running from a non-MATE session:

    • The output may be limited or unrelated if you’re not in a MATE session (for example, you’re in a bare X session or another WM).
    • In such cases, you may still get version information if the command exists, but it won’t reflect a live session.

  • Distribution differences:

    • Different distros package MATE differently; flags or output formatting may vary slightly.

Troubleshooting tips

  • Locate the binary:
which mate-about

  • If which returns nothing, enroll the MATE session or install the mate-desktop package family.

  • Check related components:

dpkg -L mate-core | grep mate-about  # Debian/Ubuntu
rpm -ql mate-desktop  # Fedora/Red Hat
  • Other perspective tools for MATE environment information may exist; mate-about is the focused option for MATE specifics.
  • If you’re scripting, you can combine mate-about with parsing tools like grep or awk, but keep in mind localization and output format can vary with versions.

Summary

mate-about is a focused, simple way to confirm MATE desktop details. Start with —version or run it plain to get a quick snapshot of your MATE setup, then consult —help for any additional flags. Being aware of environment scope (live session vs. installed packages) helps avoid common confusion.

See Also