Why many Gnome Platform Versions Installed on my Zorin 16?

[bukakurung]

Dear All,

I just updated my Zorin 16, and after that, there are several gnome application platform versions installed on my laptop, do I need all of them? where can I see which platforms are not being used?

I also have two versions of the Mesa 3D graphics library installed, do I need both?

[StarTreker]

If you click on the Zorin logo at the bottom left of your screen, and you then click on SETTINGS. Scrol down and click on ABOUT. You will find your gnome shell version that your system is using there.

If you are on Zorin OS 16, it should say Gnome Shell 3.38

Additionally, you can also get information about your system by entering a terminal via these commands. CTRL ALT T

Type: sudo apt install screenfetch

When asked hit the Y key.

Once installation is completed, simply type screenfetch

You will discover solid good info there. And don't forget uname -a in terminal to just see what version of kernal that you are using.

And lastly, if you would detailed information about your entire system, I recommend installed HARDINFO, which can be found in the software center. Once installed, it will show up as System Profiler in your APPS list.

[bukakurung]

Dear StarTreker,

Thank you for your help. It's ok if I remove Gnome app platforms 40 and 41? I use proprietary driver Nvidia GT 250m, If I remove the 3D mesa graphic library, will it give an effect on my laptop? I newbie in Linux.

[StarTreker]

I could be wrong, but removing Gnome versions will probably remove dependency files as well, which in the end could break your system. I don't think it will hurt leaving those on there.

If you look at your own screenshot, you will see the words shared libraries. This is the main thing that makes me think that you will break your system if you remove them. They share library files.

And believe me, when it comes to my own experience with missing library files, its a super pain in the butt fixing those kind of issues. So if your system is not broke, don't fix it is the expression.

[Kedric]

What are the files? Are they flatpak?

flatpak remove --unused
apt autoremove

[bukakurung]

Dear Kedric, yes I have some applications from flatpak installed in my zorin.

this is my flatpak application

Name Application ID Version Branch Origin Installation
Mendeley …sevier.MendeleyDesktop 1.19.8 stable flathub system
Motrix net.agalwood.Motrix 1.6.11 stable flathub system
Freedesktop… …g.freedesktop.Platform 20.08.15 20.08 flathub system
Mesa …op.Platform.GL.default 21.1.7 20.08 flathub system
Mesa …op.Platform.GL.default 21.2.1 21.08 flathub system
nvidia-390-… …form.GL.nvidia-390-144 1.4 flathub system
openh264 …ktop.Platform.openh264 2.1.0 2.0 flathub system
GNOME Appli… org.gnome.Platform 3.38 flathub system
GNOME Appli… org.gnome.Platform 40 flathub system
GNOME Appli… org.gnome.Platform 41 flathub system
ZorinBlue-D… …k3theme.ZorinBlue-Dark 3.22 zorinos system
ZorinBlue-L… …3theme.ZorinBlue-Light 3.22 zorinos system
ZorinGreen-… …3theme.ZorinGreen-Dark 3.22 zorinos system
ZorinGreen-… …theme.ZorinGreen-Light 3.22 zorinos system
ZorinGrey-D… …k3theme.ZorinGrey-Dark 3.22 zorinos system
ZorinGrey-L… …3theme.ZorinGrey-Light 3.22 zorinos system
ZorinOrange… …theme.ZorinOrange-Dark 3.22 zorinos system
ZorinOrange… …heme.ZorinOrange-Light 3.22 zorinos system
ZorinPurple… …theme.ZorinPurple-Dark 3.22 zorinos system
ZorinPurple… …heme.ZorinPurple-Light 3.22 zorinos system
ZorinRed-Da… …tk3theme.ZorinRed-Dark 3.22 zorinos system
ZorinRed-Li… …k3theme.ZorinRed-Light 3.22 zorinos system
kde platfor… org.kde.Platform.Locale 5.15 flathub system
QGnomePlatf… …rmTheme.QGnomePlatform 5.15 flathub system
QtSNI …de.PlatformTheme.QtSNI 5.15 flathub system
QGnomePlatf… …omePlatform-decoration 5.15 flathub system
SoundConver… …nverter.SoundConverter 4.0.0 stable flathub system
Tangram re.sonny.Tangram 1.3.1 stable flathub system
Zoom us.zoom.Zoom 5.7.31792.0820 stable flathub system

[Kedric]

Paste the command in your terminal to remove any unused dependencies:

flatpak remove --unused

[bukakurung]

Dear Kedric. Thank you for your help, with those command I can remove unused dependency. I also use Orphaner to remove unused and orphan package.