Directed to general since not allowed to post to dev: I still use Gtk2, and if it isn't a burden and isn't failing to build, I would like to see it kept. I use hexchat, nitrogen and parcellite along with xdialog. Yes we can always to to AUR, but an official package is always preferrable. (just a reqsponse to the request for opinions) -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Remove GTK2 from the official repositories Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:12:39 +0200 From: Balló György <bgyorgy@archlinux.org> To: arch-dev-public@lists.archlinux.org Hi all, I think we've reached the point when we can remove the very old GTK2 package from the official repositories. I recently dropped the GTK2 version of LXDE, and there are only a few applications left that still depend on GTK2: - alltray - amsynth - bless - calf - eq10q - gimp-nufraw - gkrellm - gpsim - gtk2fontsel - gtk-chtheme - hexchat - hexter - leafpad - mono-tools - nitrogen - nspluginwrapper - osdlyrics - parcellite - pidgin - sbxkb - trayer - xboard - xdialog - xlockmore Most of these have no active development a long time ago. If no one has objections, I'll drop these packages to AUR in the next days if it's not possible to build them without GTK2. Any opinion? -- György Balló Package Maintainer -- David C. Rankin, J.D.,P.E.
On Fri, 2025-10-24 at 03:46 -0500, David C Rankin wrote:
I still use Gtk2, and if it isn't a burden and isn't failing to build, I would like to see it kept. I use [...] parcellite
Hi, if it should be possible, please keep gtk2. I rely on parcellite and a combination of fbpanel and lxpanel. Unfortunately fbpanel depends on gtk 2, too. FWIW Clipit is a gtk 3 fork of Parcellite, but discontinuned https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/clipit-git . I never tested Clipit. Asking for a parcellite and fbpanel replacement is probably like asking for a spacefm (although gtk3, not 2, over and done) replacement, hence I don't ask for it. Unfortunately, the for my taste good applications are gradually disappearing. Regards, Ralf
On Fri, Oct 24, 2025 at 11:21:31 +0200, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
On Fri, 2025-10-24 at 03:46 -0500, David C Rankin wrote:
I still use Gtk2, and if it isn't a burden and isn't failing to build, I would like to see it kept. I use [...] parcellite
Hi,
if it should be possible, please keep gtk2.
I rely on parcellite and a combination of fbpanel and lxpanel. Unfortunately fbpanel depends on gtk 2, too.
I still use it for wireshark-gtk2, to avoid the whole Qt dependency chain. I'd be happy to hear about alternatives (besides wireshark-qt or -cli). Geert
On 10/24/25 11:21 AM, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
On Fri, 2025-10-24 at 03:46 -0500, David C Rankin wrote:
I still use Gtk2, and if it isn't a burden and isn't failing to build, I would like to see it kept. I use [...] parcellite
Hi,
if it should be possible, please keep gtk2.
I rely on parcellite and a combination of fbpanel and lxpanel. Unfortunately fbpanel depends on gtk 2, too.
FWIW Clipit is a gtk 3 fork of Parcellite, but discontinuned https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/clipit-git . I never tested Clipit.
Asking for a parcellite and fbpanel replacement is probably like asking for a spacefm (although gtk3, not 2, over and done) replacement, hence I don't ask for it.
Unfortunately, the for my taste good applications are gradually disappearing.
Regards, Ralf
Hi, While we understand your concerns regarding your personal use cases, Arch is (and shall remain) a modern distribution. We have design principles [1] and general technical guidelines in that regards that we'd like to respect here. For what it's worth, working toward removing gtk2 is something we have been looking for for 5 years at that point [2]. I don't think we're willing to delay things even more now that we are finally close from reaching that goal. If anything, gtk2 and related packages can still be maintained in the AUR, but the point is we are not willing to put efforts into officially maintaining such deprecated packages anymore. Please bear with us and thank you for your understanding :) [1] https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_Linux [2] https://archlinux.org/todo/gtk-2-eol/ -- Regards, Robin Candau / Antiz
On 10/24/25 5:32 AM, Robin Candau wrote:
On 10/24/25 11:21 AM, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
On Fri, 2025-10-24 at 03:46 -0500, David C Rankin wrote:
I still use Gtk2, and if it isn't a burden and isn't failing to build, I would like to see it kept. I use [...] parcellite
Hi,
if it should be possible, please keep gtk2.
I rely on parcellite and a combination of fbpanel and lxpanel. Unfortunately fbpanel depends on gtk 2, too.
FWIW Clipit is a gtk 3 fork of Parcellite, but discontinuned https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/clipit-git . I never tested Clipit.
Asking for a parcellite and fbpanel replacement is probably like asking for a spacefm (although gtk3, not 2, over and done) replacement, hence I don't ask for it.
Unfortunately, the for my taste good applications are gradually disappearing.
Regards, Ralf
Hi,
While we understand your concerns regarding your personal use cases, Arch is (and shall remain) a modern distribution. We have design principles [1] and general technical guidelines in that regards that we'd like to respect here.
For what it's worth, working toward removing gtk2 is something we have been looking for for 5 years at that point [2]. I don't think we're willing to delay things even more now that we are finally close from reaching that goal.
If anything, gtk2 and related packages can still be maintained in the AUR, but the point is we are not willing to put efforts into officially maintaining such deprecated packages anymore.
Please bear with us and thank you for your understanding :)
[1] https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_Linux [2] https://archlinux.org/todo/gtk-2-eol/
Robin, You guys always make good decisions, so I defer to the devs, but like Ralf, I use fluxbox, fbpanel, parcellite and a number of other apps that depend on gtk2. My only question is does it really take much maintenance? Other than a few compiler flag tweaks when compiler defaults change, the gtk2 source isn't changing. Arch has done a good job maintaining gtk2 for as long as it has, and that is much appreciated, bit if it drops to AUR is there one of the devs willing to help out with any questions moving it and the dependent packages to AUR? I ask because toolkits are, well toolkits, fundamental to many packages and if gtk2 drops to AUR and there are no replacements for the dependent packages, that's a significant loss of functionality. Ralf, if it does drop to AUR, I'm willing to put in some time to make sure it builds, along with making sure the packages we both depend on get migrated there. -- David C. Rankin, J.D.,P.E.
On 10/25/25 4:22 AM, David C Rankin wrote:
On 10/24/25 5:32 AM, Robin Candau wrote:
On 10/24/25 11:21 AM, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
On Fri, 2025-10-24 at 03:46 -0500, David C Rankin wrote:
I still use Gtk2, and if it isn't a burden and isn't failing to build, I would like to see it kept. I use [...] parcellite
Hi,
if it should be possible, please keep gtk2.
I rely on parcellite and a combination of fbpanel and lxpanel. Unfortunately fbpanel depends on gtk 2, too.
FWIW Clipit is a gtk 3 fork of Parcellite, but discontinuned https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/clipit-git . I never tested Clipit.
Asking for a parcellite and fbpanel replacement is probably like asking for a spacefm (although gtk3, not 2, over and done) replacement, hence I don't ask for it.
Unfortunately, the for my taste good applications are gradually disappearing.
Regards, Ralf
Hi,
While we understand your concerns regarding your personal use cases, Arch is (and shall remain) a modern distribution. We have design principles [1] and general technical guidelines in that regards that we'd like to respect here.
For what it's worth, working toward removing gtk2 is something we have been looking for for 5 years at that point [2]. I don't think we're willing to delay things even more now that we are finally close from reaching that goal.
If anything, gtk2 and related packages can still be maintained in the AUR, but the point is we are not willing to put efforts into officially maintaining such deprecated packages anymore.
Please bear with us and thank you for your understanding :)
[1] https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_Linux [2] https://archlinux.org/todo/gtk-2-eol/
Robin,
You guys always make good decisions, so I defer to the devs, but like Ralf, I use fluxbox, fbpanel, parcellite and a number of other apps that depend on gtk2. My only question is does it really take much maintenance? Other than a few compiler flag tweaks when compiler defaults change, the gtk2 source isn't changing.
Arch has done a good job maintaining gtk2 for as long as it has, and that is much appreciated, bit if it drops to AUR is there one of the devs willing to help out with any questions moving it and the dependent packages to AUR? I ask because toolkits are, well toolkits, fundamental to many packages and if gtk2 drops to AUR and there are no replacements for the dependent packages, that's a significant loss of functionality.
Ralf, if it does drop to AUR, I'm willing to put in some time to make sure it builds, along with making sure the packages we both depend on get migrated there.
David, As I mentioned in my previous mail, this isn't only about the amount of maintenance effort required, but also about staying aligned with our design principles and general technical guidelines as a project. Regardless, Arch is a 100% volunteer-driven distribution. In such context, where contributors' time is very limited, even seemingly small maintenance tasks have a cost. Any amount of work-time (as little as it may be) we currently put in maintaining the gtk2 stack & all reverse dependency packages is work-time we can't dedicate to other (eventually more modern / futureproof) stuff . That said, if gtk2 turns out to be truly as low-maintenance as you suggest, then it should be feasible for interested community members to maintain it in the AUR without much difficulty I guess! Thanks for stepping up and offering to help with that by the way 🤗 -- Regards, Robin Candau / Antiz
On Sat, 25 Oct 2025 at 08:07, Robin Candau <antiz@archlinux.org> wrote:
That said, if gtk2 turns out to be truly as low-maintenance as you suggest, then it should be feasible for interested community members to maintain it in the AUR without much difficulty I guess!
Considering the amount of emails about this, I am sure someone will pick it up. As I also require it for a few old gems in the AUR I’d also be happy to (help) maintain it. Kind regards, Edmund Lodewijks
Hey there :) I have just adopted hexchat as I use it every once in a while. If anyone wants to co-maintain it just give me a shout!
participants (6)
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David C Rankin
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Edmund Lodewijks
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Fermín Olaiz
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Geert Hendrickx
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Ralf Mardorf
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Robin Candau