If you are a user of GNOME Shell extensions, you likely rely on Matt Jakeman’s Extension Manager app, which simplifies the process of finding, installing, and managing extensions. Recently, this tool received an update that brings some much-appreciated enhancements.
With the release of GNOME 48, the Extension Manager update stands out, especially since it now requires the GNOME 48 runtime for its Flatpak build. This update is crucial for those who are either installing the app for the first time or upgrading from a previous version.
The recent version, 0.6.2, includes several user interface refinements designed to improve the overall experience. For example, the review pods on listing pages now resize based on the length of each review, as opposed to the previous uniform size based on the longest comment. This allows for more efficient use of space.
Additionally, the display of extension descriptions has been optimized to avoid text spilling over the margins, particularly at narrower widths. In the browse and search views, the ‘install’ button has been replaced with a more concise download icon.
A notable improvement is the Compatibility Checker feature, which helps users identify which installed add-ons are compatible with different versions of GNOME. This feature has received an upgraded initial dialog and uses icons instead of text labels in the compatibility report, making it easier to interpret the results.
Other enhancements include a redesign of the error dialog for crash scenarios and an indicator for extensions that utilize session modes. The update also contains various bug fixes, crash corrections, and translation updates.
Overall, the updates provide a welcome refresh to the Extension Manager, making it more functional and user-friendly.
For those interested in the app, Extension Manager is open-source and available on GitHub. Users can also download it from Flathub.