The Evolution Data Server package provides a unified backend for programs that work with contacts, tasks, calendar information, and notes. It was originally developed for Evolution (hence the name), but is now used by other packages as well.
The Evolution Data Server provides a single database for common, desktop-wide information, such as a user's address book or calendar events.
By using the evolution-data-server, other GNOME applications are integrating with Evolution:
- GNOME shell's calendar that opens when you click the date and time in the top bar.
- GNOME calendar keeps in sync with Evolution
- GNOME contacts keeps in sync with Evolution
- GNOME calls
- GNOME chatty
Other shells and desktop environments also use Evolution Data Server, for example:
- Elementary with Elementary mail and Elementary calendar
- Cinnamon through cinnamon-calendar-server
- Phosh