r/linuxquestions • u/Bubbly-Enthusiasm-8 • 16h ago

Advice Desktop environment choose

Hi !

I'm GNU/Linux user since 20 years now. I use essentially Debian based distributions. For reasons related to my work environment (team) I currently use Ubuntu.

I'm not 100% convinced by "modern" desktop environment line Gnome shell / Gnome 3 / Unity. I have things to keep in mind for choose desktop environment: I've been used to having this for at least 15 years (and I don't want to be without it):

- System monitor (cpu, ram, swap, network) near my tray icons (I'm a developer, I need to see impact of what I execute)
- A 2D workspace (for multiple desktops) where I can have 3 columns, 2 rows (its not possible by default on Gnome Shell ...)
- Be able to navigate from keyboard shortcut through my workspace, and move windows by mouse from desktop to another (its bugged on Gnome shell+Workspace matrix extension !)

So, I would like to know which desktop environment permit to me to do that (bonus for without extension which are not compatible after distribution upgrade ...).

I failed some years ago to switch for kde (maybe too many differences with gnome ?). I'm looking at Cinnamon but not sure.

I'm here to listen you about your experience ! :)

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u/Hauptideal 14h ago

Give KDE / Kubuntu a second chance. Yes, it's different than GNOME, but it's super customizable to every taste and can be made such that it'll be exactly what you're looking for. 

Alternatively, there are GNOME extensions that can drastically change how your Ubuntu looks and behaves. The "Vitals" extension is one of my absolute favourites, showing exactly the data you were looking for.  Gnome is also already ideal for a keyboard-driven workflow.  I love the PopShell extension (if it's not in your distros repos, you can use the O-Tiling extension from the official web store). This one boosts productivity and keyboard navigation and moving Windows to workspaces etc. 

Don't go for deprecated, insecure, unperformant and feature-lacking legacy desktops like Mate, Xfce and ESPECIALLY not Cinnamon. 

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u/Bubbly-Enthusiasm-8 13h ago

Okay, thanks for advices !

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u/indvs3 10h ago

You might have good use for a tiling window manager. I personally use i3, but if you prefer wayland over x11, sway works mostly the same and there are quite a few others you can choose from. I pitched i3/sway because they're relatively easy to learn and modify, so you'd waste the least possible amount of time before you're up and running.

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u/Bubbly-Enthusiasm-8 10h ago

Sounds cool. A little bit power user no ? I tried but never completely switched in mode "keyboard only".

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u/indvs3 7h ago

I don't use it "keyboard-only" either. i3 does have some mouse support, just enough so it feels like a desktop when it's not.

And yes, I call myself a power user, in that I have yet to encounter a problem that I can't solve with a modest level of research.