gconftool-2

gconftool-2 [OPTION]... [KEY] [VALUE]

--dump[=FILE]
    Dump entire database (or subtree) to XML FILE; stdout if omitted.

--load=FILE
    Load configuration from XML FILE into database.

--get KEY
    Retrieve and print value of KEY.

--set KEY --type TYPE VALUE
    Set KEY to VALUE of specified TYPE (bool, int, string, etc.).

--unset KEY
    Remove KEY and its value.

--list DIR
    List all keys in directory DIR.

--list-dirs DIR
    List subdirectories in DIR.

--makefile KEY
    Create mandatory configuration source file for KEY.

--shutdown
    Shut down GConf daemon.

--single-dbus
    Use single D-Bus process (debugging).

--config-source SOURCE
    Use specific configuration source.

--type TYPE
    Specify value type for --set (e.g., string, int, bool, float, list).

-h, --help
    Show help.

--manual
    Show manual page.

--version
    Print version.

gconftool-2 is a command-line utility for manipulating the GConf configuration database, a key-value storage system used primarily in GNOME 2.x for application settings. It allows users and scripts to read, write, list, dump, and load configuration values hierarchically organized in a tree structure, similar to a filesystem.

GConf stores data in XML files or a binary database, managed by a daemon (gconfd-2). Common tasks include setting preferences like window sizes, theme choices, or plugin states. For example, retrieve a value with --get, set one with --set, or export the database with --dump.

Though powerful for its era, GConf is deprecated since GNOME 3. Use gsettings or dconf for modern equivalents, as GConf lacks schema validation and is less performant. Still found in legacy systems or for migration scripts.

Deprecated in modern GNOME; may not work without GConf packages. Requires running daemon; changes propagate via notifications. No schema enforcement by default. Use gsettings or dconf instead.

Keys use '/' paths like /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/font; root is /.

Supported: bool, int, string, float, list (of above), pair.

Developed for GNOME 2.x (2000s) as part of GConf framework by Havoc Pennington. Peaked in usage ~2002-2010. Deprecated in GNOME 3 (2011+) favoring GSettings/dconf for better performance and validation.

gsettings(1), dconf(1), gconf-editor(1), gconfd-2(8)