UPDATE 2024: The Focus Indicator is NO Longer available! See the GNOME Discourse page for more about it.

Gnome, the default desktop environment in Ubuntu & Fedora Workstation, is going to replace the app menu with a new window animation, for indicating window focus.

Meaning it will remove the app menu for current window, in the top-bar beside ‘Activities’ button. Because, it’s always confusing users who are new to GNOME.

Gnome to remove app menu, instead using a window animation

Instead, when switching workspaces, closing a window, or pressing Super + Tab, it will perform a short animation on newly focused window. As the GIF below shows you, it’s a window animation that scales up the window and then scales back, indicating that the window is on focus.

The downside so far is that it’s missing the behavior to indicate the process of launching a large or slow application …

How to Install the new Window Animation

The new function is available so far as a Gnome Shell extension called “Focus Indicator“, for testing purpose in GNOME 43. Meaning users of Ubuntu 22.10, Fedora 37, Arch and Manjaro, etc., can try it out by following the steps below.

1. For Ubuntu 22.10, firstly search for and install Extension Manager from Ubuntu Software.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04+

2. Then open the tool, and navigate to ‘Browse’ tab to search and install ‘Focus Indicator’:

For other Linux, just use ON/OFF switch in this web page to install the extension.

Configure the Window Focus animation

After installed the extension, use either Extension Manager or Gnome Extensions app to open the configuration dialog. Then, you can set the scale up/down delay, animation duration, scale factor, and so forth.

Have an important task to do in next few hours, or you have to write something down hurriedly? Here an extension allows to write one thing into the top-bar in Ubuntu, Fedora, and other Linux with GNOME Desktop.

It’s ‘One Thing‘, a gnome shell extension allows to write any word into top panel, to remind you something important!

With it, user can simply click the original text on panel to open the input box, type anything, and hit Enter to make it display in panel. And, it so far works in GNOME 3.36, 3.38, 40, 42, and 43, meaning for Ubuntu 20.04 | 22.04 | 22.10, Fedora 36/37, Debian 11, Rocky Linux 9, Arch and Manjaro Linux with GNOME.

How to Install this extension:

For Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 22.10, first search for and install ‘Extension Manager’ from Ubuntu Software.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04+

The launch and use ‘Extension Manager’ to search and install the ‘One Thing’ extension under Browse tab.

For Ubuntu 20.04 and other Linux, just go to the extension web page and use ON/OFF switch to install it:

Install browser extension and refresh the page if you don’t see the toggle icon! And for Ubuntu 20.04, make sure the agent package is installed by running command in a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) window:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

After installed it, an example text should appear immediately on top-panel. Click it and type your own text and enjoy!

Want to measure your application launch time in Linux? There’s an extension can do the job for GNOME desktop.

Meaning Ubuntu, Fedora workstation, and other Linux with GNOME desktop can easily tell how much time it takes for launching an application, which is useful for benchmark and/or software developing purpose.

With the extension enabled, every time you launching an application, an on-screen display pops up shows the loading time in millisecond. Not only for native .deb/.rpm, but also for Snap and Flatpak applications.

How to Install the App Start Time Measure extension

For Ubuntu 22.04, first search for and install “Extension Manager” from Ubuntu Software.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04+

Then launch “Extension Manager” and use it to search & install ‘application start time measure’:

For Ubuntu 20.04, first press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to install the agent package:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

Then, go to extension page in the link below and use ON/OFF switch to install it:

Install the browser extension if prompted via link in that page and refresh if you don’t see the ON/OFF switch.

After installing the extension, it should be enable automatically (verify via ‘Gnome Extensions’ or ‘Extension Manager’). You can then launch something and see the magic!

Use Gnome Tweak tool and/or Extensions app frequently? You can add them into top-right corner system menu in Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, and Ubuntu 24.04.

Meaning you don’t have to search for and launch it every time from ‘Activities’ overview or ‘Show Applications’ screen. Like the built-in ‘Settings’ (Gnome Control Center), just click on top-right corner menu to launch your desired configuration tool.

This is implemented by an extension called “Tweaks & Extensions in System Menu”, which support GNOME version so far up to v46. Sadly, not updated at the moment for GNOME 43 which is default in Ubuntu 22.10 & Fedora 37.

Install the Extension to add system menu options

For Ubuntu 22.04 and higher, first search for and install ‘Extension Manager’ from Ubuntu Software or App Center.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04+

Then launch “Extension Manager” and use it to install the ‘Tweaks in system menu’ extension under ‘Browse’ tab.

Finally, switch back to ‘Installed’ tab, and click on gear button for that extension to open the configuration dialog. Where you can TURN ON/OFF either option and set its position.

For Ubuntu 20.04 and old Ubuntu 18.04 (not tested), first open terminal by press Ctrl+Alt+T shortcut key on keyboard. And, run command:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

Then, use the ON/OFF switch to install it via the link page below:

Of course, you must have Gnome Tweak tool and Extensions app installed from Ubuntu Software, to make them visible in the system menu.

For Ubuntu 24.04 and Fedora Workstation with default GNOME 43 ~ 46, there’s now an extension to add user’s icon or figure (aka avatar) to the top-right corner system tray menu, which is also known as quick settings.

With it, the ‘Quick Settings’ menu will look like the screenshot below shows you. The avatar can be either in left or right. By clicking on it, will launch System Settings (Gnome Control Center) and automatically navigate to user settings page.

Continue Reading…

UPDATE: This Extension has NOT been updated for almost 1 year! Support ends at GNOME 43. Meaning you can still try it in Debian 12 GNOME.

Want to display digital clock, system memory and CPU load in your Desktop? There’s new circular widget for Ubuntu 22.10, Fedora 37, and other Linux with GNOME 43.

There are quite a few tools to display system load widget in desktop. Here I’m going to introduce the one that has a Conky look alike circular widget for GNOME desktop.

It displays local time, RAM usage and CPU load in 3 separated circular widget. Meaning you can drag moving any one of them to anywhere in your screen. And, it allows to resize the circle, change its color, line width, as well as text color and background, etc to get different look and feel.

Cool, isn’t it? Let me show you how to install it.

Step 1: Install Extension Manager

First, search for and install the “Extension Manager” app from Ubuntu Software, for installing Gnome extensions.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04+

Once installed, search for and launch the tool from ‘Activities’ overview screen.

Step 2: Install the Circular Widgets via Extension Manager

When Extension Manager opens, navigate to ‘Browse’ tab, then search for and install the Circular Widgets extension.

For Fedora 37 user, simply go to this web page and use ON/OFF switch to install it.

Step 3: Configure the widget

After installed the extension, go back to ‘Installed‘ tab in Extension Manager, or install and open ‘Gnome Extensions’ app from GNOME Software for Fedora. There you can open the configuration dialog for each circle widget.

NOTE: For Ubuntu & other Linux using “Desktop Icons NG (DING)” extension, you have to disable it temporarily until being able to drag moving the system load widget.

As you may know, icons on Ubuntu desktop is handled by an extension called “Desktop Icons NG”. While GNOME has been moving to GTK4, the extension so far still uses GTK3 toolkit to implement all the functions.

A GTK4 port of this extension now is in development, with all previous functions, bug-fixes, as well new features.

The new version works as another extension as it’s not been merged upstream. It comes with GSconnect integration, and features drag and drop app icons from Ubuntu Dock (Dash-to-Dock) to the desktop.

• Drag and drop from left dock panel to desktop will REMOVE app icon from favorites.
• Hold Ctrl + drag and drop will REMOVE from favorites, and ADD onto desktop.
• Hold Shift + drag and drop will ADD icon to desktop without removing it from favorites.

Also, it adds more functions to drag and drop files from file manager (Nautilus) to the desktop. By default, drag and drop between desktop and Nautilus will MOVE the files from one to another directory. With the new extension, you can also:

• Press and hold Ctrl + drag’n’drop to COPY files.
• Press and hold Alt + drag and drop to select between ‘MOVE’, ‘COPY’, ‘LINK’ actions.

As well, it has a GNOME 43 style file context menu when you right-clicking on desktop. When looks more native in Ubuntu 22.04, except for the arrow …

Install GTK4 port of Desktop Icons NG:

1. Ubuntu 22.04+ users can first search for and install ‘Extension Manager’ app from Ubuntu Software.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04+

2. Then press Super (‘Windows’ logo) key on keyboard to open overview, search and open the tool.

3. Finally, search ‘DING’ and install the new extension under ‘Browse’ tab.

4. To use the extension, user has to disable the system built-in ‘Desktop Icons NG’ extension, and enable the new GTK4 version.

To restore, just re-enable ‘Desktop Icons NG’, disable or remove the GTK4 version via Extension Manager.

There are quite a few weather applications for Linux desktop. GNOME, the default desktop environment for Ubuntu, Fedora, and some other Linux, also has a core weather application.

With the core weather app, user can either open the app window to get current weather condition, hourly and daily forecast, or open the clock menu to see the weather forecast for next hours.

Gnome Weather and Clock menu integration

To make life easier, there’s also an extension which add current weather condition and temperature in center of top panel. So, user can get a glimpse of it and date time by looking up.

Step 1: Install & Setup Gnome Weather

First, you need to install “Gnome Weather”, the core GNOME app. It’s available to install in Ubuntu through either App Center (for 24.04) or Ubuntu Software (for 22.04 and earlier).

NOTE: App Center in Ubuntu 24.04 by default shows Snap package! For better integration, it’s better use “Filter by: Debian package” for classic Deb package.

For choice, user can open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run the command below instead to install it:

sudo apt install gnome-weather

Then, launch the app. Set your location, and choose your favorite temperature unit. After that, you can click the clock on top-bar and see the weather info in drop-down menu.

Step 2: Install the Weather O’Clock extension

To also display the weather on top-bar besides clock, then you may install the Weather O’Clock extension mentioned above. It works on GNOME from version 42 to 46, meaning Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 24.04 supported.

For Ubuntu and Arch, first search for and install ‘Extension Manager’ from Ubuntu Software (or App Center).

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu Software/App Center

Then, search for and launch the tool from ‘Activities’ overview screen.

Finally, search for and install the Weather O’Clock extension under Browse tab. For Ubuntu 22.04, you may switch filter in case it does not show your the correct search result.

And other Linux can get the extension at this web page.

Want to hide or re-arrange the toggle buttons in top-right system menu (aka Quick Settings)? Here’s an extension to do the job in Ubuntu 24.04 and higher with GNOME 43 ~ 48.

It’s ‘Quick Settings Tweaks‘, an extension for the new GNOME desktop. With it, you can hide toggle buttons (e.g., Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, etc) that you rarely use.

Continue Reading…

For Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 22.10, Fedora 36/37 & other Linux with GNOME 42/43, there’s a new extension to enable more useful gadgets into top panel.

It’s “Aylur’s Widgets” extension that adds Dash, Workspace dots, Media playback control, Battery bar, Power menu in top-bar. All of them have ON/OFF switches, position option (left, center, right) as well as other settings.

Dash is a trigger to quickly access frequently used system settings, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Settings, Shutdown Menu, Favorite Apps, Playback Control, Social Media websites, and have a glance at time & date, battery status, CPU usage, core temperature.

The button has configurable text and icon, and allows to replace the “Activities” button. With it enabled, user may also press Super + D on keyboard to trigger the menu. In case you use the shortcut key to show/hide desktop, you may assign another shortcut via Dconf Editor.

It also displays round dots on panel indicates all available desktop workspaces, and allows to quickly switch between them by clicking a single click. As well, there are music playback control, customizable date time format, battery bar and power button for choice.

How to Install Aylur’s Widget Extension

NOTE: the extension so far supports GNOME 42/43, which means you need Ubuntu 22.04|22.10, Fedora 36/37, Manjaro or Arch Linux with GNOME.

For Ubuntu, first search for and install “Extension Manager” from Ubuntu Software.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04

Then, search for and open the tool from ‘Activities’ Overview:

When it opens, navigate to ‘Browse’ tab, search for and install the ‘Aylur’s Widget’ extension:

After installation, go back ‘Installed’ tab, and click on gear button to configure the extension:

For other Linux, go to the extension page below and use the ON/OFF switch to install it:

And configure it using “Gnome Extensions” app which is available to install via GNOME Software or your system software manager.