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title: Configuring Ubuntu 17.10 to behave like Unity | |
date: "2018-04-02 14:16 UTC" | |
tags: Ubuntu | |
published: true | |
--- | |
I've recently upgraded from Ubuntu 16.04 to Ubuntu 17.10. The new Ubuntu uses | |
Gnome desktop by default instead of Unity. Gnome is quite different but luckily | |
can be customized to match Unity's behaviour very closely. Here is how. | |
<a href="<%= image_path '2018-04-02-configuring-ubuntu-17-10-to-behave-like-unity/ubuntu17-like-unity.png' %>"> | |
<%= article_image_tag 'ubuntu17-like-unity.png', class: 'img-fluid' %> | |
</a> | |
READMORE | |
## Goals | |
1. Show the current time in the top bar on the right. | |
2. Show legacy app indicators (tray icons) on the right. | |
3. Merge the window title bar with the top bar when maximized. | |
4. Hide the top-left *Activities* button. | |
5. Allow quick device selection via the top bar Sound button. | |
6. Place window buttons on the left. | |
## Setup guide | |
1. First, install *Tweaks*, a GNOME configuration UI that has options that are not | |
yet available in the default Settings app: | |
~~~ bash | |
sudo apt install gnome-tweak-tool | |
~~~ | |
Then install `x11-utils`, a package often required by Gnome extensions: | |
~~~ bash | |
sudo apt install x11-utils | |
~~~ | |
You can install Gnome extensions from <https://extensions.gnome.org> and | |
manage and configure the installed extensions in *Tweaks -> Extensions*. | |
2. Install the [Unite extension][Unite] for goals 1-4. | |
Alternatively, e.g. if Unite doesn't work for you or you'd like more | |
customization, install the following plugins: [No title bar], [Hide | |
activities button], and [Frippery Move Clock]. | |
3. Install the [Sound Input & Output Device Chooser] extension to add sound | |
device selection to the top bar sound menu. | |
4. To place window buttons on the left, adjust *Tweaks -> Windows -> Titlebar | |
Buttons -> Placement*. | |
## Other tips | |
If you use Google Chrome, enable "Use system title bar and borders" in | |
`chrome://settings` for consistency with other apps. | |
You can disable animations from *Tweaks -> Appearance -> Animations*. | |
You can change the default monospace font from *Tweaks -> Fonts*. I prefer *Hack | |
Regular* at 11pt: | |
~~~ bash | |
sudo apt install fonts-hack-ttf | |
~~~ | |
To have your multi-monitor setup work on the login screen, run: | |
~~~ bash | |
sudo cp ~/.config/monitors.xml /var/lib/gdm3/.config/ | |
~~~ | |
Keyboard shortcuts can be configured in *Settings -> Devices -> Keyboard*. I | |
find it useful to remove *Maximise window* and instead set *Toggle maximisation | |
state* to <kbd>Super + Up</kbd>. | |
[unite]: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1287 | |
[no title bar]: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1267 | |
[hide activities button]: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/744 | |
[frippery move clock]: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/2 | |
[sound input & output device chooser]: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/906 |