Yes, after f26 is released and MATE-1.18 is more tested by more people, to avoid issues here.

Using MATE-1.18 means switching to gtk+3 as gtk+2 bits are dropped with 1.18.
I am in doubt that rhel7 MATE users like such a switch.
Most users prefer stability and no general changes during a release cycle.
Rhel7 users who like to use MATE gtk3 can use my fedora corps repo which use packages rebuild from f26.
https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/raveit65/Mate-GTK3/
Thanks for understanding

I'm reopening this request with more information now that we've got RHEL 7.4.

With the rather large GNOME rebase in RHEL (3.14 -> 3.22) and Xorg rebase, I'd like to revisit this request.  Information on the scope of the desktop changes wasn't as available (to me) back in early July.

Within RHEL7.4 a few commands moved out of gtk2 and into the gtk3 package.  Most notably gtk-update-icon-cache is now part of the gtk3 tool kit.

While I appreciate the desire to avoid large changes, MATE 1.6 is basically end of development.  I'd rather not block the packages at 1.6 forever.

Personally, I'd rather lump the desktop changes all together and the GNOME folks are already getting some changes.

I've been using your COPR repo since mid July and haven't hit any major snags.

If you decline a second time, I will not reopen this issue again.

When we talk about updating MATE on RHEL/CENTOS we should keep in mind that these distributions target primarily the conservative enterprise user that value stability. Many of these users use third-party software and switching from GTK2 to GTK3 might break existing work flows. For this reason, I'd suggest to wait with with update until MATE GTK3 has matured. Even if that means to wait until the release of RHEL 8.

Actually, I like the present situation, where we have the choice between the stable MATE GTK2 from EPEL, and the leading-edge version from COPR. And the support with updates and patches for MATE 1.16 is excellent.

Minor glitch: the current copr for MATE 1.18 builds atril against 7.3 packages:

atril-1.18.1-1.el7.centos.src.rpm	2017-Aug-16 17:08:08	

[root@62c866d4afd4 ~]# rpm -q --requires atril | grep webkit
libwebkit2gtk-3.0.so.25()(64bit)


7.4 provides webkitgtk4-2.14.7-2.el7.x86_64 which supersedes libwebkit2gtk-2.4.9-6.el7.x86_64+webkitgtk3-2.4.9-6.el7.x86_64 but without a backward compatible shared library.

To use copr on a 7.4 system, you have to force the installation of the older webkit libraries. Tested on CentOS 7.4.

(In reply to Richard Chan from comment #5)
> Minor glitch: the current copr for MATE 1.18 builds atril against 7.3
> packages:
> 
> atril-1.18.1-1.el7.centos.src.rpm	2017-Aug-16 17:08:08	
> 
> [root@62c866d4afd4 ~]# rpm -q --requires atril | grep webkit
> libwebkit2gtk-3.0.so.25()(64bit)
> 
> 
> 7.4 provides webkitgtk4-2.14.7-2.el7.x86_64 which supersedes
> libwebkit2gtk-2.4.9-6.el7.x86_64+webkitgtk3-2.4.9-6.el7.x86_64 but without a
> backward compatible shared library.
> 
> To use copr on a 7.4 system, you have to force the installation of the older
> webkit libraries. Tested on CentOS 7.4.

Thanks for the reminder.
I just rebuild atril against new webkitgtk4 from rhel7.
Should be fine now for open epubs again.
https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/raveit65/Mate-GTK3/build/660576/

New maintainer is wanted for MATE epel7 repo!

Would the new maintainer be expected also to maintain MATE epel8?

Like a new maintainer want to do.
I don't care.
In other words. I don't have any motivation any more to do this unpaid job for epel7 and epel8.