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

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)

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, (edited )

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! :)

bitwolf,

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

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.

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

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