Born, growing up.

How I tamed Unity on Ubuntu 13.04

9 years ago

I like Unity.
I mean, I like the new menu system and window manager. And. It. Stops. Right. There.

So here's how I managed to retain some mental sanity and reach a good balance between my needs as a human being with a computer and the crazy interface designers working hard at Ubuntu to make us all go bonkers.

My desktop

Keep on reading for how to obtain it.

unity tamed — My Ubuntu 13.04 desktop. Now with less Unity.

Phase 1 - Unity Launcher GTFO

sudo apt-get install unity-tweak-tool
Open Unity Tweak Tool and use it to:

Shrink the Launcher width
Make it automatically hide till summoned (lol, seriously, dude. You're not going to be summoned EVER AGAIN.)

Phase 2 - Unity Dash sucks, Gnome Do rocks

sudo apt-get install gnome-do
ALT + F2 → gnome-do
Edit the preferences and give it a new shortcut like <Super>space

Phase 3 - Unity Launcher, I told you to GTFO

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
ALT + F2 → ccsm
Filter → Unity → choose Ubuntu Unity Plugin
Go to the Launcher panel → Key to show the Dash, Launcher, and Help Overlay → <Control><Super>

So it is <Super>space to summon the crazy powerful gnome-do and <Control><Super> to summon Dash the sucker.

Phase 4 - I am a human being. I need a taskbar and panel.

sudo apt-get install tint2
<Super>space → tint2
- Optionally change the default appearance
Beer

I used to be very happy with Docky, but with Ubuntu 13.04 it was super crashy. On the other hand, Cairo Dock was just too much for me.
All in all, tint2 was the perfect fit.
Kudos to Andrea Dessì @NKjoep for pointing it to me!

Bonus - My tint2rc

To make tint2 feel a bit more Docky and a bit less taskbar (as you can see in the screenshot at the beginning of the post).

# Tint2 config file
# Generated by tintwizard (http://code.google.com/p/tintwizard/)
# For information on manually configuring tint2 see http://code.google.com/p/tint2/wiki/Configure

# Background definitions
# ID 1
rounded = 0
border_width = 1
background_color = #000000 60
border_color = #FFFFFF 16

# ID 2
rounded = 2
border_width = 0
background_color = #FFFFFF 16
border_color = #FFFFFF 48

# ID 3
rounded = 2
border_width = 0
background_color = #FFFFFF 4
border_color = #FFFFFF 68

# Panel
panel_monitor = all
panel_position = bottom center horizontal
panel_size = 0 30
panel_margin = 0 0
panel_padding = 7 0 7
panel_dock = 0
wm_menu = 0
panel_layer = top
panel_background_id = 1

# Panel Autohide
autohide = 0
autohide_show_timeout = 0.3
autohide_hide_timeout = 2
autohide_height = 2
strut_policy = follow_size

# Taskbar
taskbar_mode = single_desktop
taskbar_padding = 2 3 2
taskbar_background_id = 0
taskbar_active_background_id = 0

# Tasks
urgent_nb_of_blink = 8
task_icon = 1
task_text = 0
task_centered = 1
task_maximum_size = 35 35
task_padding = 6 2
task_background_id = 3
task_active_background_id = 2
task_urgent_background_id = 2
task_iconified_background_id = 3
task_tooltip = 0

# Task Icons
task_icon_asb = 70 0 0
task_active_icon_asb = 100 0 0
task_urgent_icon_asb = 100 0 0
task_iconified_icon_asb = 70 0 0

# Fonts
task_font = sans 7
task_font_color = #FFFFFF 68
task_active_font_color = #FFFFFF 83
task_urgent_font_color = #FFFFFF 83
task_iconified_font_color = #FFFFFF 68
font_shadow = 0

# System Tray
systray = 1
systray_padding = 0 4 5
systray_sort = ascending
systray_background_id = 0
systray_icon_size = 16
systray_icon_asb = 70 0 0

# Clock
time1_format = %H:%M
time1_font = sans 8
time2_format = %A %d %B
time2_font = sans 6
clock_font_color = #FFFFFF 74
clock_padding = 1 0
clock_background_id = 0
clock_rclick_command = orage

# Tooltips
tooltip_padding = 2 2
tooltip_show_timeout = 0.7
tooltip_hide_timeout = 0.3
tooltip_background_id = 1
tooltip_font = sans 10
tooltip_font_color = #000000 80

# Mouse
mouse_middle = none
mouse_right = close
mouse_scroll_up = toggle
mouse_scroll_down = iconify

# Battery
battery = 0
battery_low_status = 10
battery_low_cmd = notify-send "battery low"
battery_hide = 98
bat1_font = sans 8
bat2_font = sans 6
battery_font_color = #FFFFFF 74
battery_padding = 1 0
battery_background_id = 0

# End of config

Discuss on Hacker News

If you have any questions, follow and ping me on Twitter - I'm @trumbitta.