Hubbry Logo
GNOME EvolutionGNOME EvolutionMain
Open search
GNOME Evolution
Community hub
GNOME Evolution
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
GNOME Evolution
GNOME Evolution
GNOME Evolution
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia
GNOME Evolution
Original authorXimian
DeveloperGNOME Project
Initial release10 May 2000; 25 years ago (2000-05-10)[1]
Stable release
3.58.0 Edit this on Wikidata / 12 September 2025
Repository
Written inC (GTK)
Operating systemUnix-like
Available in53[2] languages
List of languages
English, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Slovenian, Ukrainian[2]
TypePersonal information manager
LicenseLGPL 2.1 only[a] and others[3]
Websitegitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/evolution/-/wikis/home

GNOME Evolution (formerly Novell Evolution and Ximian Evolution, before Novell acquired Ximian in 2003) is the official personal information manager for GNOME. It has been an official part of GNOME since Evolution 2.0 was included with the GNOME 2.8 release in September 2004.[4] It combines email, address book, calendar, task list, and note-taking features. Its user interface and functions are similar to Microsoft Outlook. Evolution is free software licensed under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL).

Features

[edit]
Evolution
Older version
Calendar function

Evolution delivers the following features:[5]


The Novell GroupWise plug-in is no longer in active development.[9] A Scalix plug-in[10] is also available, but its development stopped in 2009.[11]

Evolution Data Server

[edit]

Evolution Data Server (EDS) is a set of libraries and session services for storing address books and calendars.[12] Other software such as California[13] and GNOME Calendar[14][15] depends on EDS also.

Some documentation about the software architecture is available in the GNOME wiki.[16]

Connecting to Microsoft Exchange Server

[edit]

Depending on which version of Microsoft Exchange Server is used, different packages need to be installed to be able to connect to it. The documentation recommends the evolution-ews package (which uses Exchange Web Services) for Exchange Server 2007, 2010 and newer. If evolution-ews does not work well, it is advised to try the evolution-mapi package. This supports Exchange Server 2010, 2007 and possibly older versions supporting Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI). For Exchange Server 2003, 2000 and possibly earlier versions supporting Outlook Web App the package evolution-exchange is recommended.[17]

History

[edit]

Ximian decided to develop Evolution in 2000. It felt there were no email clients for Linux at the time that could provide the functionality and interoperability necessary for corporate users. Ximian saw an opportunity for Linux to penetrate the corporate environment if the right enterprise software was available for it. It released Evolution 1.0 in December 2001 and offered the paid Ximian Connector plug-in which allowed users to connect with Microsoft Exchange Server. Evolution itself has been free software from the start, but Ximian Connector was sold as proprietary software so that Ximian could generate revenue.[18] This changed after Novell's acquisition of Ximian in August 2003. Novell decided to integrate the Exchange plug-in as free software in Evolution 2.0 in May 2004.[19]

Novell was in turn acquired by The Attachmate Group in 2011. It transferred Novell's former Evolution developers to its subsidiary SUSE. In 2012 SUSE decided to stop its funding of Evolution's development and assigned its developers elsewhere. As a consequence only two full-time developers employed by Red Hat remained.[9] Later in 2013 Red Hat dedicated more developers to the project, reinvigorating its development. The reasons given for the decision were the cessation of active development on Mozilla Thunderbird and the need for an email client with good support for Microsoft Exchange.[20]

Distribution

[edit]

As a part of GNOME, Evolution is released as source code. Linux distributions provide packages of GNOME for end-users. Evolution is used as the default personal information manager on several Linux distributions which use GNOME by default, most notably Debian and Fedora. Ubuntu has replaced Evolution with Mozilla Thunderbird as the default email client since Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot.[21]

Defunct Mac OS X and Windows ports

[edit]

In the past,[when?] Evolution was ported to Apple Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows, but these ports are discontinued.[when?]

In 2006, Novell released an installer for Evolution 2.6 on Mac OS X.[22] In January 2005, Novell's Nat Friedman announced in his blog[23] that the company had hired Tor Lillqvist, the programmer who ported GIMP to Microsoft Windows, to do the same with Evolution. Before this announcement, several projects with the same goal had been started but none of them reached alpha status. In 2008, DIP Consultants released a Windows installer for Evolution 2.28.1-1 for Microsoft Windows XP and newer.[24] As of 2025, it is available for download from only the SourceForge project page.[25]

A slightly more recent (2010–2011) experimental installer for Evolution 3.0.2 is provided by openSUSE.[26][27] Users have faced difficulties getting this version working.[28]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

GNOME Evolution

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Evolution is a free and open-source personal information manager (PIM) application designed for the GNOME desktop environment, offering integrated tools for email management, calendaring, contacts, tasks, memos, and weather forecasting in a single interface. Originally developed by Ximian, Inc., which was founded in late 1999 by key contributors including , Evolution emerged as a response to the need for a robust, standards-compliant groupware suite on and systems, with initial development focusing on , calendar, and integration starting around 2000. Ximian, later acquired by in 2003, continued enhancing the software until it became an official part of project with in 2004, aligning its release cycle with GNOME's schedule. Licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2 or later (GPL-2.0-or-later), Evolution emphasizes interoperability with major protocols such as IMAP, POP3, SMTP for , CalDAV/CardDAV for calendars and contacts, and Microsoft Exchange support, making it suitable for both individual and enterprise use. Its user interface follows GNOME's , providing a familiar experience with features like threaded views, recurring event scheduling, and contact grouping, while supporting extensions for customization. As of 2025, Evolution remains the default PIM for many GNOME-based distributions, with the latest stable release 3.58.1 (October 2025) and ongoing development toward version 3.60, distributed via for easy installation across environments and actively maintained by the GNOME community through repositories and mailing lists.

Overview

Description and Purpose

GNOME Evolution is the official personal information manager (PIM) for the GNOME desktop environment, combining , calendaring, contacts, tasks, memos, and into a single, integrated application. Often regarded as the open-source equivalent to , it offers a unified platform for handling diverse personal data types within a cohesive . The primary purpose of Evolution is to provide a user-friendly, integrated tool for personal and group in Linux environments that employ the GNOME desktop. It facilitates seamless organization of communications, schedules, and contacts, enhancing productivity for users in desktop computing scenarios. Evolution relies on the Evolution Data Server (EDS) as its backend for data handling and synchronization across components. Evolution became an official part of the GNOME ecosystem with version 2.0, released alongside GNOME 2.8 in September 2004. As free and open-source software developed under the GNOME project, it is licensed under the LGPL and contributes to the broader goal of accessible computing.

Licensing and Development

GNOME Evolution is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) version 2.1 or later, which permits free use, modification, and distribution of the software while ensuring that derivative works remain open source. The documentation is separately licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) version 1.3 or later and the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License, allowing broad reuse with attribution and share-alike requirements. This licensing framework aligns with the broader GNOME project's commitment to free software principles, enabling widespread adoption in Linux distributions and fostering community contributions. Development of GNOME Evolution began in 2000 under Ximian, a company focused on enhancing desktop usability. In 2003, acquired Ximian, integrating Evolution into its portfolio and renaming it Novell Evolution for a time. Following 's acquisition of SUSE in 2004, the project was maintained by SUSE until 2012, when SUSE discontinued funding and reassigned its Evolution developers. Since 2013, has taken primary stewardship as part of the GNOME project, ensuring continued evolution alongside the desktop environment. Evolution remains actively maintained by the community, with the latest stable release, version 3.58.1, issued in October 2025. This ongoing development includes regular updates for compatibility with modern releases and enhancements to core functionalities. The source code is hosted on GNOME's instance, where volunteers and corporate sponsors, including , collaborate through issue tracking, merge requests, and code reviews.

Architecture

Evolution Data Server

The Evolution Data Server (EDS) is a collection of libraries and daemons that provide a unified backend for managing data, including calendars, contacts, tasks, and memos, serving as a standardized data storage and access layer for applications. It enables consistent handling of this data across multiple programs, abstracting the underlying storage and synchronization mechanisms to ensure . Key components of EDS include the address book backend, handled primarily by libraries such as libedata-book and libebook, which manage contact information in standard format; the calendar server, powered by libecal, which deals with events, tasks, and memos using the format; and supporting utilities like libedataserver for general data operations. These components form a modular system where backends can connect to local files, remote servers, or databases, allowing flexible data sources without altering client applications. EDS operates on a client-server , functioning as a persistent service that runs as a daemon to handle data requests efficiently and share information across processes. Clients, such as applications, connect via interfaces to query, update, or synchronize data, promoting resource efficiency by avoiding redundant connections to external sources. This model ensures that data remains accessible even when specific applications are not running, facilitating seamless integration. Beyond its primary use in GNOME Evolution, EDS is integrated into various other GNOME ecosystem applications for and storage, including GNOME Calendar for event viewing, GNOME Contacts for address management, and GNOME To Do for task handling. These apps leverage EDS's APIs to access shared data stores, enabling a cohesive desktop experience without duplicating backend logic. EDS also supports Microsoft Exchange connectivity through specialized backends like EWS, allowing synchronization of calendars and contacts with Exchange servers. EDS originated from the data management features integrated into the initial release of in December 2001, where personal data handling was embedded within the application itself. By 2004, with the release of 2.0, it had evolved into a standalone, reusable component to promote broader adoption across .

Client Components

The client components of form the front-end application, providing a unified (PIM) interface built atop the Evolution Data Server (EDS) for data handling. These components encompass the core modules responsible for user interactions with , scheduling, contacts, tasks, and notes, all integrated within a single shell to deliver a cohesive experience. The primary modules include the Mailer, which serves as the for composing and managing messages; the for scheduling events and appointments; the Contacts for maintaining address books; the Tasks for organizing to-do lists; and the Memos for note-taking. Each module operates as an independent yet interconnected unit, implementing a common interface that allows the shell to load and manage them dynamically. The features an integrated shell that presents a top-level with a customizable for quick actions such as creating new items or toggling online/offline modes, alongside a search tool enabling cross-component queries across emails, calendars, and contacts. Views are adaptable, exemplified by the Mailer's three-pane layout comprising a folder list, message list, and preview pane, which users can rearrange or collapse for efficiency. The entire UI is constructed using the toolkit, ensuring visual consistency with the broader and its theming capabilities. Integration among components occurs through EDS, facilitating seamless data flow—for instance, linking contacts to events—while the supports plugins to extend functionality, such as adding custom views or integrations without altering core code. This architecture permits independent utilization of modules, like launching the standalone, yet preserves a unified PIM when accessed via the main shell.

Features

Email Management

Evolution provides robust email management capabilities as an integrated personal information manager within the GNOME desktop environment. It supports composing, sending, receiving, and organizing messages through multiple protocols, including IMAP for server-side storage and access, POP3 for downloading messages to local storage, and various local folder formats such as mbox, Maildir, and MH for offline management. Users can set up multiple customizable accounts via the First-Run Assistant or Edit > Preferences > Mail Accounts, allowing configuration of server details, authentication methods (including SSL/TLS), and options like leaving messages on the server for POP3 accounts. As the default client in GNOME, Evolution integrates seamlessly with the desktop for handling mailto: links and notifications. Core email operations are streamlined in the mail composer window, accessible via File > New > Mail Message (or Shift+Ctrl+M), where users enter recipients in the To:, Cc:, or Bcc: fields, compose the body, and send with Ctrl+Enter. Evolution handles both and formats, defaulting to for efficiency but allowing users to enable via Format > in the composer for richer formatting like colors, fonts, and images. Signatures can be customized per account or globally, added automatically to outgoing messages, and managed through Edit > Preferences > Signatures, supporting both text and content. Receiving occurs automatically or on demand via Send/Receive > Send/Receive All (Ctrl+Alt+S), with new message notifications appearing as blinking icons in the interface. Organization tools enable efficient message handling, including threaded views activated by View > Group By Threads (Ctrl+T), which groups related emails by subject for contextual navigation. Full-text search across messages is available via the search bar or Edit > Find, supporting queries by keywords, dates, senders, or advanced criteria, with results displayed in a dedicated view. Junk mail filtering integrates with external tools like SpamAssassin or Bogofilter for Bayesian learning; users enable it in Edit > Preferences > Junk Filtering and manually mark messages as junk (Ctrl+J) to train the filter, which then routes suspected spam to a Junk folder. Messages are organized into folders, with support for labels, flags, and virtual folders (search folders) for dynamic views without moving emails. Data for these features is stored via the Evolution Data Server (EDS), as detailed in the Architecture section. For attachments, Evolution adheres to MIME standards, allowing users to insert files via Insert > File or drag-and-drop, with inline previews for images and automatic encoding for various types during sending. Security features include for certificate-based signing and encryption, configured in Edit > Preferences > Certificates, and PGP/GPG integration for OpenPGP keys, enabling options like S/MIME Encrypt or GPG Sign in the composer toolbar. These protocols ensure secure transmission, with Evolution prompting for key selection and verifying signatures on receipt. Evolution includes a built-in aggregator for RSS and Atom web feeds, treated as email-like entries in dedicated folders under the On This Computer section. Users add feeds via Edit > Preferences > News & Blogs > Add, where entries appear with titles, summaries, and links, supporting automatic updates and threading similar to email conversations. This integration allows unified management of feeds alongside traditional mail without requiring separate applications.

Calendar and Tasks

The Calendar component in GNOME Evolution enables users to create and manage personal and shared events efficiently. Event creation involves selecting File → New → Appointment or Meeting, where details such as start and end times, location, description, and attachments can be specified. Recurring appointments support flexible patterns, including daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly intervals, with options to end after a set number of occurrences or on a specific date. Reminders and alarms are configurable for each event via the Options → Reminders menu, allowing popup notifications, audio alerts, or custom program execution at intervals like 5 minutes, 15 minutes, or 1 hour before the event; global settings under Edit → Preferences → Calendar and Tasks → Reminders enable reminders for all appointments, birthdays, and anniversaries across selected . The provides multiple display views—day, work week, week, month, and year—for comprehensive schedule visualization, with options to overlay multiple for a unified perspective. Task management in Evolution focuses on productivity through dedicated to-do lists, accessible via the Tasks view. Users create tasks by selecting File → New → Task, assigning priorities (high, normal, low), due dates, and completion percentages, with progress tracked via checkboxes and visual indicators. Completed tasks can be hidden automatically after a configurable period (e.g., days or hours) to declutter the list, while overdue and due-today tasks are highlighted in user-selected colors under Edit → Preferences → Calendar and Tasks → Tasks. Categorization enhances organization, allowing tasks to be grouped under multiple labels (e.g., "Work" or "Personal") that can be edited for custom colors and icons; filtering by category in the search bar displays only relevant items. Tasks integrate with the by appearing in relevant views based on due dates. Collaboration is facilitated through standard protocols and sharing tools. Evolution supports (.ics) format for importing and exporting events and tasks, enabling seamless data transfer between applications and devices. Meeting invitations are composed by adding attendees during event creation, with the Free/Busy tool querying availability via a schedule grid that displays time slots from groupware servers (e.g., Exchange) or published URLs; this helps identify optimal meeting times without manual coordination. Free/busy information can be published to , FTP, or HTTP servers for others to access, configured under Edit → Preferences → Calendar and Tasks → Publishing Information. Further integration enhances usability, with reminders syncing to desktop notifications for timely alerts on events and tasks, even when Evolution is not the active window. Weather overlays are available as a read-only calendar type, added via File → New → Calendar → Weather, displaying forecasts for selected locations (by city and temperature unit) directly in the main view for context-aware planning. Memos function as simple dated notes, particularly in shared form (File → New → Shared Memo), where a start date schedules the note to appear in recipients' calendars (e.g., for notices); regular memos are undated but support categorization and attachments for quick idea capture. Invitees for events can be pulled from the contacts for streamlined selection.

Contacts and Address Book

The contacts and address book component of GNOME Evolution provides a robust system for storing and managing personal and professional contact information, serving as a central hub for address data within the application. It enables users to create detailed profiles encompassing full names, multiple addresses, phone numbers, physical addresses, profile photos, and customizable fields for additional details such as notes or organizational roles. All contact data is stored in the standardized format (version 3.0 or later), which ensures compatibility with other applications and facilitates easy . Organization of contacts is streamlined through categories for tagging and grouping, contact lists for quick access to groups like team members or family, and powerful search capabilities that query across all fields. Users can sort and filter contacts by attributes such as name, email, or category, with autocomplete functionality aiding in email composition by suggesting matches as text is entered. This autocomplete draws from the to populate recipient fields efficiently, integrating seamlessly with Evolution's features. Import and export options support a variety of formats to accommodate diverse data sources, including LDAP directories for enterprise address books, CSV files for spreadsheet imports, and files for individual or bulk transfers. Evolution also integrates with desktop-wide address books, allowing contacts to be shared across applications without duplication. For instance, users can add remote LDAP sources by specifying server details, enabling real-time querying of corporate directories. Key features enhance usability, such as automatic duplicate detection that prompts users to merge overlapping entries based on matching fields like or name, preventing redundant data. Birthday reminders are automatically generated from contact and fields, linking to the for notifications without manual event creation. As a core component, the leverages the Evolution Data Server (EDS) as a shared backend, providing contact data access to other applications like GNOME Contacts for consistent management across the .

Microsoft Exchange Integration

GNOME Evolution provides robust integration with Microsoft Exchange servers through specialized connectors that enable seamless access to enterprise and groupware features. Initially developed as the paid Ximian Connector in 2001 to allow Evolution users to connect to Exchange 2000 servers, this functionality was made freely available in 2004 with the release of Evolution 2.0. Evolution supports multiple connectors tailored to different Exchange versions. The primary method, evolution-ews, utilizes the Exchange Web Services (EWS) protocol and is recommended for Exchange 2007 and later versions, including 2010, 2013, 2016, and newer on-premises or cloud-based deployments like Exchange Online. For older setups or as an alternative when EWS encounters issues, evolution-mapi employs Microsoft's Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) and was introduced in 2010, supporting Exchange 2003 through 2010 but requiring installation of OpenChange and 4 libraries. Additionally, the legacy evolution-exchange connector handles Exchange 2000 and 2003 servers by leveraging Outlook Web Access (OWA) functionality. These connectors facilitate full synchronization of email, calendars, contacts, and tasks between Evolution and Exchange servers, including bidirectional updates and offline access. Users can also access public folders for shared resources and retrieve free/busy information for scheduling, enhancing collaborative workflows. The underlying data handling is managed by the Evolution Data Server (EDS), which abstracts storage and synchronization across components. Configuration occurs via Evolution's account setup wizard, where users enter server details such as the Exchange URL, username, and , selecting the appropriate connector type. Authentication options include for basic compatibility and Kerberos for secure, ticket-based access in domain environments. Proxy support is available through Evolution's network preferences, allowing connections via HTTP/ proxies, though EWS may require additional tweaks for corporate firewalls. Despite its capabilities, the integration has limitations depending on the connector and package version. Older Evolution packages may lack support for Exchange 2016 and later without updates, as EWS compatibility evolves with server protocols. Microsoft has announced the deprecation of EWS for third-party applications in Exchange Online starting October 2026. In response to the EWS deprecation, as of 2025, Evolution has begun implementing support for the Microsoft Graph API, providing partial compatibility for Exchange Online features, though full feature parity with EWS is still under development. The evolution-mapi connector, while versatile, is less performant than EWS and often necessitates compiling OpenChange from source if pre-built packages are unavailable on certain distributions. The legacy evolution-exchange is deprecated and unsuitable for modern deployments due to security and protocol obsolescence.

History

Origins and Early Development

GNOME Evolution was initiated by the software company Ximian in May 2000, aiming to provide a comprehensive personal information manager (PIM) for users as an open-source alternative to . The project was developed to integrate , , contacts, and within the desktop environment, addressing the lack of robust groupware solutions on systems at the time. The name "Evolution" was selected to symbolize its advancement over earlier, simpler GNOME tools such as the Balsa and GnomeCal application. From its inception, the software was released under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL), enabling broad adoption and integration. The initial alpha release, version 0.0 codenamed "," was announced on May 10, 2000, marking the start of public development and inviting community feedback on its core architecture. Subsequent alphas and betas followed throughout 2000 and 2001, refining the and backend components. 1.0 arrived in December 2001, introducing basic PIM functionality including handling with support for multiple protocols, a for scheduling, an , and . This stable release was positioned as a mature Outlook competitor, emphasizing seamless integration with GNOME's component framework. A key challenge in early development was attracting enterprise users accustomed to proprietary systems, leading Ximian to prioritize compatibility with Exchange servers. Alongside Evolution 1.0, the company launched the proprietary Ximian Connector for Exchange 2000 as a paid add-on, available starting January 2002, to enable full groupware features like shared calendars and contacts—features unavailable in open-source alternatives at the time. This focus helped position for corporate adoption despite the Linux desktop's nascent ecosystem. In 2003, Ximian was acquired by on August 4, shifting Evolution's stewardship to a larger organization while maintaining its open-source roots. Post-acquisition, development emphasized deeper integration with the desktop, enhancing usability and consistency across distributions to solidify its role as the default PIM for users.

Key Releases and Milestones

Evolution 2.0, released in September 2004, marked a significant milestone with the introduction of a free Exchange connector plug-in, enabling native support for Microsoft Exchange servers without proprietary costs, alongside tighter integration with 2.8 and the separation of the Evolution Data Server (EDS) as a modular backend for and . In 2011, Evolution 3.0 facilitated the migration to GTK3, aligning the application with the redesigned desktop environment and improving rendering performance for its components. Version 3.10, released in 2013, enhanced mobile synchronization capabilities through better integration with SyncEvolution for PIM data like contacts and calendars across devices. More recent developments include Evolution 3.50 in 2023, which introduced enhanced features such as improved controls for remote content loading and data encryption options to mitigate tracking risks in email handling. The latest stable release, 3.58.0 on September 12, 2025, focused on refined IMAP protocol support for more reliable folder synchronization and subtle UI improvements for better accessibility in modern environments. Key organizational milestones include Novell's acquisition of Ximian in 2003. Following Novell's own acquisition by Attachmate in 2011, Evolution's development continued under the GNOME project, with ongoing contributions from and other organizations, aligning releases with GNOME's biannual cycle for consistent stability updates. Since its initial 1.0 release in 2001, Evolution has seen over 50 stable versions, prioritizing compliance with email standards like RFC 5321 for SMTP and RFC 3501 for IMAP to ensure interoperability.

Ongoing Maintenance

The ongoing maintenance of GNOME Evolution is primarily led by a dedicated team at Red Hat, including long-term contributor Milan Crha, under the oversight of the GNOME Foundation as part of the broader GNOME ecosystem. This structure ensures alignment with GNOME's development goals, with Evolution's releases synchronized to the project's biannual cycle, typically in March and September, to maintain compatibility with evolving GNOME platforms such as GTK and Wayland. Community involvement centers on the official repository, where developers submit merge requests for code changes, translations, and documentation updates, fostering collaborative improvements across a global contributor base. Bug tracking and feature requests transitioned to issues following GNOME's 2018 infrastructure migration from , with phased out by 2020, streamlining triage and resolution processes. Current priorities include enhancing accessibility through ongoing refinements to components like GalA11yETableColumnHeader, bolstering Wayland compatibility to align with GNOME's full transition away from X11 in version 50, and delivering regular security updates via dependency patches for libraries such as WebKitGTK. The 3.58.0 release in September 2025 introduced targeted enhancements, including fixes for partial quoting in emails to preserve embedded images (I#2972), improved iTIP formatter display of attendee emails based on user preferences (I#2982), and corrections to EWebView's "unicode-bidi" styling in iframes for better right-to-left language support (I#3127), alongside updates to WebKitGTK testing for version 2.49.4. The subsequent 3.58.1 point release addressed minor stability issues, with translation updates for languages including Hungarian, Czech, Catalan, , and Occitan. OAuth2 authentication, established in earlier versions for providers like and Exchange (via evolution-ews since 3.27.91), continues to receive maintenance for compatibility with evolving standards. Looking ahead, maintenance emphasizes incremental stability and integration with 's core technologies, with no major architectural overhauls anticipated; the project advances through the 3.59 development series toward alignment with GNOME 50's Wayland-exclusive environment. Red Hat's involvement, active since the mid-2000s, sustains performance optimizations, though no Rust-based components have been integrated into as of late 2025.

Distribution

Linux Distributions

GNOME Evolution is widely packaged and available across major distributions that utilize the GNOME desktop environment, serving as a key (PIM) tool for , , and contacts. In distributions like , it is included as part of the standard GNOME desktop installation via the task-gnome-desktop metapackage, making it readily accessible for users seeking integrated groupware functionality. Similarly, openSUSE provides Evolution through its official repositories, where it is documented as a core component for handling , contacts, and calendaring within the GNOME ecosystem. In Workstation, while the full Evolution client is not pre-installed to align with the distribution's policy against default clients, the essential Evolution Data Server (EDS) is included by default to support and online account features in other GNOME applications. Packaging methods vary by distribution but emphasize ease of integration with system repositories. Users on Debian-based systems, such as Debian itself, can install Evolution using the apt package manager from the main repositories, ensuring compatibility with the latest stable release. In Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) environments, it is available via the dnf package manager, with additional plugins like evolution-ews for enhanced Microsoft Exchange support. openSUSE users install it through zypper from the default software repositories, supporting both Leap and Tumbleweed rolling releases. For custom setups, source code builds are possible directly from the GNOME project, allowing compilation of the latest versions on any compatible Linux system. A notable variation occurred in Ubuntu, where Evolution was replaced as the default email client with Mozilla Thunderbird starting in version 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) to provide a more streamlined and widely compatible alternative. Despite this change, Evolution remains optionally available in Ubuntu's repositories for users preferring its integrated PIM features. In enterprise Linux environments, particularly those based on RHEL, Evolution is favored for its robust Microsoft Exchange integration via packages like evolution-ews for Exchange Server 2007 and later using Exchange Web Services (EWS), and the deprecated evolution-exchange (or current evolution-mapi) for earlier versions including 2003. This compatibility has made it a staple in corporate settings requiring cross-platform groupware without proprietary software. As of 2025, Evolution is packaged in numerous major distributions, including Arch Linux, Linux Mint, and others beyond the GNOME-focused ones, often as a recommended PIM solution. For broader accessibility, Evolution supports universal packaging formats like , available directly from Flathub for installation across distributions without repository dependencies, ensuring sandboxed execution and up-to-date features. Snap packaging is also feasible, though less commonly used for Evolution, with community efforts providing options for Ubuntu-based systems. These formats facilitate easier installation on non-standard or minimal setups.

Defunct Ports

Efforts to port to non- platforms were undertaken primarily during the mid-2000s under Novell's sponsorship, aiming to expand its reach beyond desktops. The Mac OS X port was released in 2006 as an experimental binary installer for 2.6, compatible with OS X 10.3 and 10.4, but it relied on the X11 rather than native Cocoa integration, limiting its and on Apple's ecosystem. Similarly, the Windows port began as a beta in 2005, with successfully compiling Evolution to run on the Win32 platform using the GTK+ toolkit, positioning it as an open-source alternative to . This port achieved stability up to version 2.32 in 2011, which required additional dependencies like and GConf for full functionality on Windows. However, both ports saw minimal user adoption compared to the versions, hampered by the complexities of porting GTK+-based applications to proprietary platforms and insufficient community or corporate investment. The discontinuation of these ports occurred around 2010 for Mac OS X and by 2011 for Windows, driven by resource constraints following Novell's acquisition by Attachmate in 2011, which shifted priorities away from cross-platform expansions. Maintenance challenges intensified as platforms evolved; for instance, Apple's removal of built-in X11 support in (10.8) in 2012 rendered the Mac port incompatible without significant rework to third-party solutions like . On Windows, ongoing issues with GTK+ portability and low demand further eroded support. No official updates have been provided since 2012, with development focus returning to the core and environment. Today, the source code for these ports remains archived in community repositories, allowing enthusiasts to compile older versions, but without official backing or updates, they are not recommended for production use. These initiatives, originating from Ximian's early work, highlighted the difficulties of achieving true cross-platform parity for applications outside systems.

References

  1. https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evolution
  2. https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GNOME/Evolution
  3. https://en.opensuse.org/Evolution
  4. https://turingmachine.org/files/papers/dmg_wosse2002add.pdf
  5. https://www.riseup.net/en/evolution
  6. https://packages.fedoraproject.org/pkgs/evolution/evolution/
  7. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/
  8. https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/evolution
  9. https://flathub.org/apps/details/org.gnome.Evolution
  10. https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/evolution/-/releases
  11. https://www.zdnet.com/article/5-best-open-source-email-clients-for-linux-and-why-geary-is-my-go-to/
  12. https://help.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/2.8/
  13. https://www.osnews.com/story/8278/gnome-28-released/
  14. https://mail.gnome.org/archives/evolution-list/2012-September/msg00046.html
  15. https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/evolution-data-server
  16. https://www.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs/view/svn/gnome/evolution-data-server.html
  17. https://valadoc.org/libedataserver-1.2/index.htm
  18. https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evolution/EDS_Architecture.html
  19. https://gjs.guide/guides/gio/dbus.html
  20. https://developer.gnome.org/documentation/introduction/overview/services.html
  21. https://packages.gentoo.org/packages/gnome-extra/evolution-data-server/reverse-dependencies
  22. https://thegnomejournal.wordpress.com/2004/09/15/evolution-2-0/
  23. https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evolution/Evolution_Architecture
  24. https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/evolution/-/wikis/home
  25. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/intro-first-run.html.en
  26. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/mail-composer-write-new-message.html.en
  27. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/mail-composer-html.html.en
  28. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/mail-composer-mail-signatures.html.en
  29. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/mail-send-and-receive.html.en
  30. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/mail-sorting-message-list.html.en
  31. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/mail-searching.html.en
  32. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/mail-spam.html.en
  33. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/mail-encryption.html.en
  34. https://discourse.gnome.org/t/evolution-and-rss-feeds-how-do-you-add-new-feeds/12185
  35. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/contacts-usage.html.en
  36. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/contacts-usage-add-contact.html.en
  37. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/import-supported-file-formats.html.en
  38. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/contacts-organizing.html.en
  39. https://www.theregister.com/2001/12/03/ximian_evolution_1_0_links/
  40. https://lwn.net/Articles/84494/
  41. https://help.gnome.org/users/evolution/stable/exchange-connectors-overview.html.en
  42. https://mail.gnome.org/archives/ftp-release-list/2010-September/msg00044.html
  43. https://software.opensuse.org/package/evolution-exchange
  44. https://hdkb.clemson.edu/phpkb/article.php?id=2668
  45. https://mail.gnome.org/archives/evolution-list/2014-October/msg00090.html
  46. https://superuser.com/questions/15889/make-evolution-go-through-a-socks-proxy
  47. https://discourse.gnome.org/t/microsoft-ews-is-deprecated-in-2026/25589
  48. https://community.linuxmint.com/software/view/evolution-exchange
  49. https://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-announce-list/2000-May/date.html
  50. https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/ximian-releases-outlook-clone-for-linux/
  51. https://www.eweek.com/servers/novell-acquires-ximian/
  52. https://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-announce-list/2004-September/msg00046.html
  53. https://mygeekopinions.blogspot.com/2011/05/evolution-3-arrives-for-gnome-shell.html
  54. https://syncevolution.org/
  55. https://download.gnome.org/sources/evolution-ews/3.58/
  56. https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/evolution/-/blob/master/NEWS
  57. https://discourse.gnome.org/t/milan-mcrha-and-evolution-team-thank-you/16315
  58. https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evolution/ReleaseHOWTO
  59. https://release.gnome.org/calendar/
  60. https://mail.gnome.org/archives/desktop-devel-list/2018-May/msg00051.html
  61. https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/evolution/-/issues
  62. https://linuxiac.com/gnome-50-ends-the-x11-era-after-decades/
  63. https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evolution/EWS/OAuth2
  64. https://packages.debian.org/task-gnome-desktop
  65. https://discussion.fedoraproject.org/t/suggestion-include-evolution-ews-in-base-installation-package/132250
  66. https://packages.debian.org/sid/evolution
  67. https://software.opensuse.org/package/evolution
  68. https://www.extremetech.com/internet/89334-mozilla-thunderbird-unseats-evolution-in-ubuntu-11-10
  69. https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.gnome.Evolution
  70. https://forum.snapcraft.io/t/evolution/25032
  71. https://www.osnews.com/story/14184/novell-evolution-26-released-for-os-x/
  72. https://www.zdnet.com/article/novell-ports-evolution-to-windows/
  73. https://github.com/asctime/Ev2W
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.