We have had the new version of Ubuntu MATE for a few months but that does not mean that we have the latest version of the famous MATE desktop. Moreover, if we compare versions, ahead of the Ubuntu MATE version there are a few versions that not only offer new features but also fix bugs and problems that the desktop still has.
Martin Vimpress, head of the official Ubuntu MATE flavor has created a repository that allows us to update the desktop of Ubuntu MATE 15.10 without any problem, only with the repository and the apt-get upgrade command. This repository will update MATE to version 1.12.1 which not only fixes bugs but is also compatible with GTK 3.18 libraries and adds some extra functionality such as the dock which was recently checked in and is only in the MATE repository for Debian.
How to update MATE
In any case, to update our desktop to version 1.12.1 it will be enough to open a terminal and write the following:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-mate-dev/wily-mate sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade
Once this is done, the desktop will be fully updated and with the new version. But sometimes this does not mean that it is the best for our system or our team. Sometimes for whatever reason (an incompatible program, different hardware, etc ...) our computer gives problems, in that case there is an option that is uninstall repository and all its software, for this, as before, we open the terminal and write:
sudo apt-get install ppa-purge sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-mate-dev/wily-mate
With this the changes will be reverted and we will have the desktop as before.
I have personally tried this desktop and I still find that it needs to polish a lot of things, if you are like me, I think this repository will come in handy since it stable desktop versions will be added without having to wait for a new version of Ubuntu MATE to be released. Something useful and practical although sometimes it can give a displeasure, do not forget it.
great i was expecting something like this