Patrick Micka

HowTo: Ubuntu Eye Candy

How To, Linux, Ubuntu

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Let’s face it. Not everyone likes orange and brown that much.

This guide will serve as a reference for future posts. Additionally, I hope that it will provide you with the framework and knowledge needed to customize your desktop in a way that reflects your personal preference. However, nothing in this post is set in stone, take as much or as little of it as you’d like. I’m open to criticism about what things you think I left off this list, so feel free to add more in the comments section. Take this as a list of ideas and suggestions to shape the feel of your desktop any way you’d like.

Compiz
Compiz is a compositing window manager for the X Window System that allows you to take advantage of all sorts of desktop effects, such as translucency, dimming, and desaturation. You should find a basic control panel in System > Preferences > Appearance > Visual Effects. Unfortunately, this set of controls does not provide the ability to fine tune individual effects and setting. Another program exists that will allow you to take advantage of a broader range of features, as well as turn off those you don’t want. However, this compiz settings manager is not installed by default. To enable it simply type the following command into the terminal:

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

After that’s finished installing, you should have a new entry in your main menu under System > Preferences > CompizConfig Settings Manager.

Emerald
Emerald is a window decorator for the Compiz compositing window manager. As opposed to the standard GTK+ engine packaged with GNOME this manager, in my opinion, allows for a much prettier overall look. Though not necessary, it’s worth a look. To install it just run the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt-get install emerald

Afterwards, you’ll want to download a theme from one of the many sites dedicated to customization such as www.gnome-look.org or www.beryl-themes.org and install them via the menu located in System > Preferences > Emerald Theme Manager.

Conky
Conky is a highly customizable free software system monitor for the X Window System that has been getting a lot of attention recently by websites likeLifehacker. To get started, install with the following command:

sudo apt-get install conky

Installation is simple, though customization can be tricky if you’re unfamiliar with using a text editor to do these sorts of things. I recommend simply running the program with its default setup by typing “conky” into your terminal as well as familiarizing yourself with the documentation on Conky’s website before proceeding. Once you’re ready to move on, create a .conkyrc file in your home folder or grab one from one of the many places where you might find one.

Avant Window Navigator
Avant Window Navigator, AWN, is a dock-like bar which sits at the bottom your screen and tracks open windows and provides useful applets. It is a bit more abstract than simply managing your windows as buttons or segments in a panel. I recommend changing the shape of the bar. Though it does use icons to minimize screen space and adds visual appeal, I do not recommend this application for users with smaller screens. To install AWN follow this steps:

First, add the AWN personal package archive repository to your sources with the following command:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Then paste the following three lines at the bottom of the text ediror:

#AWN PPA
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ubuntu intrepid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ubuntu intrepid main

Install with the following two commands:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install avant-window-navigator-trunk awn-manager-trunk awn-extras-applets-trunk

You should then find AWN in your Applications menu.

This is by no means and exhaustive set of instructions for customizing your desktop. Though, it should provide you with some basic tools for customizing your experience. If you run into any problems with any of these instructions, let me know.