GNOME3

Getting Comfortable

For medium to power users, GNOME3 is a huge step back from GNOME2 in its default configuration. And unlike GNOME2, there isn't much you can do about it without going hunting for tools and extensions. GNOME3 just doesn't make a good first impression.

Must Read

• Cheat Sheet : https://live.gnome.org/GnomeShell/CheatSheet
• Arch Linux Wiki : https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GNOME_3

Wobbly Windows

Gone. GNOME3 doesn't play nice with compiz, so no way to get them back.

Gnome Tweak Tool

A must-have tool for changing some basic things :

yum install gnome-tweak-tool

• Desktop
  • Have file manager handle the desktop : ON (back to seeing nautilus)
• Shell
  • Show date in clock : ON (extermely useful!)
• Theme
  • Menus Have Icons : ON
  • Buttons Have Icons : ON (less boring look)
• Windows
  • Action on title bar double-click : Toggle Shade (maximize can already be done by dragging the window to the top-middle)

Desktop Config Editor

yum install dconf-editor

With GNOME 3.4+ this is where auto raise for sloppy focus can be set :

org/gnome/desktop/wm/preferences
auto-raise
auto-raise-delay  600
focus-mode        sloppy

Extensions

https://extensions.gnome.org/

• Remove Accesibility icon/menu
• Settings Center (quick launch of Gnome Tweak Tool and others)
• Media Player Indicator (useful with Clementine)
• Axe Menu (go back to an old-style main menu)
• CPU Temperature Indicator
• All-in-one Places (single menu icon for lots of shortcuts)
• Extensions List (in the overview, useful)
• Desktop Scroller (wheel scroll on the right of the screen to switch workspaces)
• Middle Click to Close in Overview (same as firefox tabs)
• Dash Click Fix (open new windows, same as Ctrl+click, but by default)
• Status only icon (removes the name)
• SSH Search Provider
• Lock Screen

Ugly Hacks

• Remove the top panel rounded corners : https://gist.github.com/1950895

Background

To change the background of the GDM login screen as well as the locked gnome-screensaver screen :

sudo gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background picture-uri 'file:///path/to/file.jpg'