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?

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, (edited )

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.

OddFed,
@OddFed@feddit.de avatar

I don’t use a dock at all. My workflow is super+app-name and alt+tab.

But this is the same for me on Plasma or any other DE. I just don’t need or use a dock.

OddFed,
@OddFed@feddit.de avatar

What I’m saying is that my Plasma also doesn’t have a dock at all.

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.

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.

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.

nik282000, (edited )
@nik282000@lemmy.ca avatar

I used GNOME with no extensions for about 5 years. Recently I started using a window tiling extension but that’s only for for convenience, I wouldn’t say it’s fixing anything that is broken.

MonkCanatella,

I don’t really see any benefit to using pure gnome. Extensions aren’t a negative if they improve your workflow.

vox,
@vox@sopuli.xyz avatar

i onky use minor stuff, like a tray and rounded corners on legacy applications.

selokichtli, (edited )

I do. I miss the system tray, to be honest. My way to deal with it is to just push applications I need running all the time to the last workspace and leave this alone. Sometimes I close them unintendedly, oh well…

gerryflap,
@gerryflap@feddit.nl avatar

I use mostly pure GNOME on my PC. The missing system tray is very annoying, though I really don’t care about the missing dock or desktop icons. I start programs by searching for them, not by clicking on a desktop icon or in a dock. That’s my preferred method. And the alt+tab menu of GNOME is nice enough to find anything when I need it, together with having workspaces to organize everything.

I tried KDE, but it just felt more messy to me. For instance, I tried to move the bottom bar to the side of my screen, accidentally moved something on the bar itself, and then everything looked off and I couldn’t figure out how to get it back. It all felt a bit janky and unrefined. On some systems I also use i3, but that’s only for productivity. For daily use I prefer GNOME, where everything just seems to work.

kzhe,

I use the pure GNOME workflow with the exception of pop shell and scroll panel. Few aesthetics here and there.

serratur,

The only extension I really need is hot edge, I never liked the hot corner and I will never like it, especially since I have a super ultra wide.

KISSmyOS, (edited )

I do. Gnome is a special case because it doesn’t give you a lot of options. It’s take it or leave it, and it doesn’t follow the traditional mouse-centric desktop workflow.
But in my opinion it’s absolutely perfect for a laptop where you use the keyboard and touchpad. With a few key combos and swipe gestures you can fly through the UI and it only ever shows you what’s relevant at the moment.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • linux@lemmy.ml
  • localhost
  • All magazines
    •
    Loading…
    Loading the web debug toolbar…
    Attempt #