Lesson 5.3: GNOME Desktop

GNOME is Ubuntu's default desktop environment, known for its clean, modern interface and focus on workflow efficiency. It takes a different approach with a task-oriented design that minimizes distractions.

Why GNOME? GNOME follows the philosophy "Simplicity and elegance." It provides a focused experience that gets out of your way and lets you concentrate on your work.

GNOME on Ubuntu

GNOME comes pre-installed on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, but if you need to install or reinstall it:

$ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop

For a minimal GNOME installation:

$ sudo apt install gnome-shell

GNOME Desktop Components

Let's explore the main components of the GNOME desktop:

Activities Overview

The Activities overview is GNOME's central interface:

Access: Press Super key or click Activities
Application Grid: All installed applications
Workspace Switcher: Virtual desktops
Search: Universal search for apps, files, and settings
Window Management: Arrange and organize windows

Top Bar

The top bar provides system information and controls:

Activities Button: Access to overview
Clock: Current time and date
System Menu: Settings, notifications, and system controls
Status Indicators: Network, battery, and volume

GNOME Shell

GNOME Shell is the core interface component:

Window Management: Dynamic tiling and workspace management
Notifications: System and application notifications
Search Integration: Global search functionality
Extensions: Customizable functionality

Key GNOME Applications

GNOME includes its own set of modern applications:

Nautilus (Files)

GNOME's file manager is clean and intuitive:

Grid View: Visual file browsing
List View: Detailed file information
Search: Integrated file search
Recent Files: Quick access to recent documents
Network Access: Browse network locations

GNOME Text Editor

Modern, clean text editor:

Syntax Highlighting: For various programming languages
Dark Mode: Automatic theme switching
Search and Replace: Advanced text searching
Git Integration: Version control support

GNOME Web (Epiphany)

Lightweight, privacy-focused web browser:

WebKit Engine: Fast and efficient rendering
Privacy Features: Tracking protection and ad blocking
Reading Mode: Clean article viewing
Sync Support: Firefox sync compatibility

GNOME Terminal

Simple but powerful terminal emulator:

Tab Support: Multiple terminal sessions
Profiles: Custom terminal configurations
Search: Find text in terminal output
Shortcuts: Keyboard shortcuts for common tasks

Window Management

GNOME uses dynamic window management:

Window Tiling

Maximize: Drag window to top edge
Left/Right Half: Drag to left/right edge
Quarter Screen: Drag to corners
Manual Tiling: Right-click → "Tile Left/Right"

Workspaces

Dynamic Creation: Workspaces created as needed
Automatic Organization: Windows grouped by workspace
Navigation: Super + Page Up/Down
Overview Access: Press Super key

GNOME Settings

GNOME Settings is organized by category:

Personal

Background: Wallpaper and lock screen
Appearance: Dark/light mode, accent colors
Notifications: Notification preferences
Search: Search settings and applications

Hardware

Displays: Monitor configuration
Power: Battery and power settings
Sound: Audio device management
Mouse & Touchpad: Input device settings

System

Region & Language: Locale and input methods
Date & Time: Time zone and clock settings
Users: User account management
About: System information

GNOME Extensions

Extensions add functionality to GNOME Shell:

Popular Extensions

Ubuntu AppIndicators: System tray support
Desktop Icons: Show icons on desktop
Window List: Traditional taskbar
Clipboard Indicator: Clipboard history
Weather: Weather in top bar

Installing Extensions

# Install GNOME Shell integration: $ sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell gnome-shell-extension-manager # Browse and install extensions: # Visit extensions.gnome.org # Or use Extension Manager application

GNOME Keyboard Shortcuts

Master these shortcuts for efficiency:

System Shortcuts

Super: Open Activities overview
Super + Tab: Switch windows
Super + Arrow: Window snapping
Super + Page Up/Down: Switch workspaces
Super + M: Hide all windows

Application Shortcuts

Super + Enter: Open terminal
Super + E: Open file manager
Super + A: Show applications grid
Print Screen: Take screenshot
Alt + Print Screen: Window screenshot

Search Shortcuts

Super + Space: Open search
Type to search: Find apps, files, settings
Ctrl + Tab: Switch search categories

Customization Options

While GNOME is less customizable than KDE, you can still personalize it:

Appearance Settings

# Settings → Appearance

Options include:

Style: Light or dark mode
Accent Color: System highlight color
Background: Wallpaper and lock screen
Icons: Icon theme selection

Shell Themes

Change the look of GNOME Shell:

# Install GNOME Tweaks: $ sudo apt install gnome-tweaks # Apply shell themes: # GNOME Tweaks → Appearance → Shell

Extensions for Customization

Dash to Dock: Convert dock to traditional panel
Arc Menu: Windows-style start menu
Top Bar Organizer: Customize top bar layout
Dynamic Top Bar: Auto-hide top bar

GNOME vs Other Desktops

How does GNOME compare to other desktop environments?

GNOME vs KDE

Philosophy: GNOME focuses on simplicity, KDE on features
Customization: KDE is more customizable out of the box
Resource Usage: Similar on modern systems
Learning Curve: GNOME is simpler to learn initially

GNOME vs XFCE

Resource Usage: XFCE is lighter
Modern Feel: GNOME feels more modern
Customization: XFCE is more traditional
Workflow: GNOME is task-oriented, XFCE is traditional

When to Choose GNOME

GNOME is ideal for:

Beginners: Clean, simple interface
Focus Workers: Those who want minimal distractions
Modern Hardware: Touch-enabled devices
Ubuntu Users: Default Ubuntu experience
Mobile Users: Familiar mobile-like interface

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Performance Issues

If GNOME feels slow:

Disable animations in Settings → Accessibility
Remove unnecessary extensions
Use light wallpapers and themes
Check for background processes

Extension Problems

If extensions cause issues:

Disable extensions one by one
Update GNOME Shell and extensions
Check extension compatibility
Use Extension Manager for troubleshooting

Wayland Issues

If you encounter problems with Wayland:

Log out and select "Ubuntu on Xorg" at login
X11 has better compatibility with some applications
Wayland is more secure but newer

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Basic GNOME Navigation

Explore the Activities overview
Practice window tiling with keyboard shortcuts
Create and switch between workspaces
Use the search function to find applications
Customize the appearance settings

Click for hints

Press Super key for Activities
Super + Arrow keys for window tiling
Super + Page Up/Down for workspaces
Settings → Appearance for customization

Exercise 2: Extensions and Customization

Install GNOME Tweaks
Install a popular extension
Customize the top bar
Change the shell theme
Set up custom keyboard shortcuts

Click for hints

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks
Visit extensions.gnome.org
GNOME Tweaks → Appearance
Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts

What's Next?

Congratulations! You've now explored the three major desktop environments. Next, we'll learn about package management to install and manage software on your system!

Continue to Module 6: Package Management

Key Takeaways

GNOME focuses on simplicity and workflow efficiency
Activities overview provides central access to everything
Dynamic window management with automatic tiling
Extensions add functionality and customization
Clean, modern interface with minimal distractions
Great for beginners and focus-oriented work