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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] 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (4 children)

On Gnome,

Workspace Matrix: provides a customizable n x m workspace grid, and a customizable pop-up that shows live preview of all workspaces and their windows (incl. e.g. video playing).
Forge: windows tiling

(screenshot from Workspace Matrix extension site, not mine)

In combination, these two features allow me very quick overview of everything I have open, presented in an ordered fashion, allowing quick, keyboard-driven application change.

I'm not aware that the exact features of Workspace Matrix are reproduced by anything in any other DE.

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

KDE plasma has it natively.

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

I don't think it does. It didn't when I checked a year ago, at least. You couldn't get live previews on the workspace pop-up.

Can you point me to the feature you refer to? If it really does this, it would be a major game changer for me.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Oh, true, you don't get previews of the windows inside. However, that shouldn't be very hard to implement, so you might have luck if you ask for it to be in Plasma 6.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Thanks for the suggestion! It could sound like the timing might be a bit unfortunate, though: https://planet.kde.org/nate-graham-2023-11-25-this-week-in-kde-the-plasma-6-feature-freeze-approaches/

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