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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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What Tweak, Program, ... changes a Desktop Environment from unusable to great for you? (beehaw.org)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I have used Linux on and off for 15 years. I consider myself a casual user and stuck to the mainstream DEs (mostly KDE, XFCE and some Cinnamon). Gnome has been a hurdle for me before and after the big version 40 changes, I couldn't get my head around how they handled the workspaces and workflow. At some point I I tried out an extension hat changed all of it.

Material Shell

It moves the workspaces to a vertical panel and the programs onto a horizontal panel. In a workspace you can view the programs full screen or tile them.

Several Programs inside a Workspace. It's basically they same way Gnome works. However for some reason it just makes sense in my brain. No idea why. (I'm looking at WMs that work in a similar way atm. Maybe I'll take the plunge away from DEs at some point)

Has such a small change ever saved a Desktop Environment for you and is essential if you ever install it?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Material Shell

Back when I was still on Gnome, I gave this a try and it was great - until Gnome got updated and it stopped working. And then they'd fix it, and Gnome got updated and it stopped working again. So I stopped using it because I couldn't deal with the constant breakages. I see that they still haven't updated it for Gnome 45, despite a bug report being opened for it over two months now. It's exactly because of breakages like this, and extension neglect from the authors, that I've stopped using Gnome and switched to KDE.

KDE worked great for me out-of-the-box, so I didn't install any third-party extensions. The only changes I've made is for aesthetics - moved the panel to the top, enabled a global menu and a side dock, for a more Gnome/macOS-style layout.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

While that issue isn’t marked as closed, this PR was marked as merged two weeks ago. I honestly feel like a 6 week turnaround on what, from my quick skimming, was a rather major change in how extensions work in Gnome 45, is pretty reasonable. I understand where you’re coming from, but this comment reeks of entitlement.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

You're thinking of just one extension, one instance. Now repeat this for EVERY single Gnome release, for pretty much all extensions (not just this one), and you can understand my frustration. Which is why I've left the Gnome ecosystem.

Also, it's not like v45 came out of the blue, the beta releases were available for quite a while prior to final release, and even before the final, the Gnome developers did warn that about the upcoming extension changes. So it's not like the Material Shell devs were unaware.

Edit: Also, the PR may have been merged but the updated version hasn't been released yet. Both the versions on Github and the Gnome extensions site are still the old release.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

@d3Xt3r @princessnorah I only use 5 extensions, but I’ve always used those 5 and I’ve never had any break after an update. Maybe I’m just lucky?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Or maybe you're using a distro that updates Gnome late, which may give extension makers enough time to update?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

@d3Xt3r arch btw

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

Then you're lucky I guess. I too was on Arch when I experienced the extensions breakage.