Who uses pure GNOME (no extensions)

I really like gnome and how it looks. However every time I try it I find myself in need of more functionality and so I install a bunch of extensions. For example I can’t live without a dock and some sort of system tray that shows which apps are running in background.

Sometimes the extensions have small UI inconsistencies or use more memory than usual. That’s why I totally ditched gnome and switch to KDE.

Also I tend to think it’s been designed for people who are more comfortable using a keyboard. I’m mostly a mouse person.

Do any of you run pure gnome with no extensions? How do you cope with the lack of a dock and system tray?

Secret300,

I use dash to dock but I keep it hidden and make it the same size. It’s just nice to be able to go down to click open apps sometimes. I still rarely use it but it’s nice to have

deadcatbounce,
@deadcatbounce@reddthat.com avatar

I don’t but i note increasing difficulty in upgrading/keeping prior extensions to the new version of gnome.

For example, “recent files” extensions for the top bar used to number in the threes I think. With the last gnome version there was only one which wasn’t the most useful of the lot. I use it because it makes it easier beginning again the following day, rather than the extra step of opening the file mangler. I’ll probably go with the majority and drop it once I upgrade to Fedora 39.

Looks like gnome is becoming more useful to people in basic guise, incorporating many of the extension functions within the main GUI, and so the once popular extensions are becoming unmaintained.

bitwolf,

Pretty.much pure gnome. The only thing I use is the auto night mode extension to make it go dark at sunset.

Tranus,

Not having a dock is one of my favorite things about gnome. I actually use an extension to hide the top bar too. There’s just something so satisfying about having 100% usable space on screen. I get all the info back in the win-key overlay, so I don’t really need that stuff on screen at all times.

Neon,

win-key overlay

explain please

Tranus,

When you hit the windows key (aka meta-key or super-key) it brings up the app launcher. You get a dock at the bottom with pinned or running apps (like a taskbar), and all of your open windows are presented in a sort of mini-version that lets you switch between them or move them between workspaces. There is a search bar that you can immediately type into to open any app with a .desktop file. There is also a button to bring up the app grid which shows your apps kind of like a mobile device’s home screen.

Neon,

That’s what you meant with overlay!

I was confused because an Overlay is something like a Tooltip.

I personally would call this an Overview

Anyways, thanks for your answer! :)

joojmachine,

The only extensions I use are for things that will likely get added as native in the future: Light Style for the light shell theme and Caffeine (gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell/-/…/2507)

snowfalldreamland,

The system tray is the one thing i need to see that/if email/steam/chat is running and if there’s new messages. Otherwise gnome works great for me

conrad82,

I use Debian + Gnome without custom extensions and like it.

I don’t use too many programs, so in the overview I have Firefox in position 1, signal in position 2 and steam in 3. Then I use Win+1,2,3 to launch them.

For other programs, I hit Win and then start typing the name and hit enter.

For switching between windows, i use alt-tab or alt-(key above tab). If I have many windows or playing game in full screen, I hit Win-key once and choose the window i want.

I don’t use workspaces, never found a good flow. And I rarely miss a taskbar.

anothermember,

I do, I don’t even have Tweaks installed.

I used to be an avid customiser of software, but one day I realised that I spent a lot of time tweaking things and didn’t get a great workflow anyway.

The thing about GNOME is it has a great in-built workflow and I work more efficiently now I just let it make the decisions for me.

I also kind of think that if you’re the type to install a lot of extensions you’d probably be happier with KDE anyway.

shapis,
@shapis@lemmy.ml avatar

I tried really hard for about a year to use gnome without extensions.

I’d say at best in the end it wasn’t annoying me too much.

Recently tried dash to panel again and yeah. I’m not going back.

I do not understand how people manage multiple programs open without a tray. Do they just memorize in what workspace everything is at all times ?

shinnoodles,
@shinnoodles@lemmy.world avatar

I found it preferable when I started exclusively using the keyboard and keybinds. Tho I ended up using a TWM so I’m definitely not the target audience lol.

danielquinn,
@danielquinn@lemmy.ca avatar

I don’t use the dock or a system tray really.

  • Each app is opened on its own workspace and it’s always the same workspace. Slack on 1, Thunderbird on 2, Tilix on 3, IDE on 4, Firefox on 5, etc.
  • Each workspace gets its own key mapping: Ctrl+F1 for 1, Ctrl+F5 for 5, etc. so switching is quick and easy with no mouse needed.
  • To open a new program I just hit Win followed by the first 2 or 3 letters of the name and Enter.

I use the following extensions:

  • Burn My Windows
  • Pure Perfection
  • Clipboard indicator (for clip history)
  • System Monitor (to keep an eye on resource use)
makingStuffForFun,
@makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml avatar

I might try this workspace malarkey. Sounds like a nice flow

tekeous,

To answer your question about lack of dock and system tray, I use the top left hot corner to snap windows in Activities often, and I launch mostly from the built in Applications menu. Don’t use the dock much. As for system tray, it’s a fairly minimal work computer so I boot it every day, run slack, browser, etc. and I know there’s nothing really on the background. Don’t need an icon for slack, it’s always on my screen. In my GNOME-based work environment it’s either running and I can see it or it’s closed.

Euphoma, (edited )

I only use an extension for tray icons. I use it kind of like how I would use a tiling window manager with a keyboard based workflow and non tiling windows. I just hit the super key and type app names to launch stuff and drag windows around with the super key. Instead of alt-tabbing I hit the super key to see the overview and click on the window I want.

In the newest gnome versions, there’s a menu that shows you what apps are in the background, so if you know what apps are already open. I’m not a huge fan of that but I wouldn’t really care if my tray icons didn’t work because its close enough.

AlijahTheMediocre,

The Windows style systray is redundant, I dont understand how you guys think you need it. Android style systray (system notifications) would be far better.

mfat,

I have many apps that still display tray icons and offer useful functions in the right-click menu.

AlijahTheMediocre,

I’ve always found that the right click menu is the same for taskbar, systray, and app drawer. Main reason I say its redundant, at least with an Android like system the apps can display information and options in the notifications.

tekeous,

I’m using pure GNOME with the exception of a single extension which tiles windows on my screen on a grid(gTile) because I have a massive screen and five windows. I also have an icon pack if you’re counting that. Rest of it is stock and I quite like it. It gets out of my way when I’m trying to work and the alt+tab and other features are always fast. Top left hot corner is a godsend.

lauha,

What do you mean a lack of dock? Gnome indeed has a dock by default where has you need an extension on kde to have a dock.

bingbong,

I don’t think I installed any extensions to get a dock on kde, unless debian came with the extension preinstalled

lauha,

Are you talking about a panel or a dock?

bingbong,

It was a panel that mimics a dock. I can’t remember if it was the existing task bar with modified settings or another panel that can be chosen. However, it’s so customizable that I got it to mimic the macOS dock almost perfectly without downloading anything else IIRC.

mfat,

The dock is hidden by default, only visible in the overview mode.

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