natanjunges / custom-desktop

The custom Ubuntu desktop system

Custom Desktop

Ler em português do Brasil.

The custom Ubuntu desktop system.
Copyright (C) 2021, 2022 Natan Junges <[e-mail]>

Custom Desktop is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
any later version.

Custom Desktop is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with Custom Desktop. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

It replaces the Ubuntu 22.04 original desktop metapackages (ubuntu-desktop-minimal and ubuntu-desktop). Keep in mind that they are also used to help ensure proper upgrades, so it is recommended that they not be removed. Only do this if you know what you are doing, and proceed at your own risk. To avoid any problems, it is recommended to install them in a fresh Ubuntu 22.04 install.

How to use

Install

Download this project's source from the releases page. Extract it and open the terminal in the installer/ folder. Download the .deb files from the releases page and save them in installer/build/. Run the main script with:

./main

Which edition should be installed depends on which version of Ubuntu was installed. If the minimal Ubuntu install was done, then the minimal edition should be installed. If the normal Ubuntu install was done instead, then the full edition should be installed. For each execution of the script, select the same option.

In the menu, select "Add repositories and install". When the execution is finished, log out and back in, but into the GNOME session (Wayland) instead of the Ubuntu one.

Reopen the terminal in the installer/ folder and rerun the main script. In the menu, select "Change icon and cursor theme and favorite apps". Then, for each user in the system, reopen the terminal in the installer/ folder and rerun the main script. In the menu, select "Apply changes (per user)". Whether or not the favorite apps layout should be preserved depends on the user's preference. In a fresh install, it should not be preserved. When the execution is finished for each user, log out and back into the GNOME session (Wayland) to apply changes.

If you are not doing this in a fresh install, you might want to replace the installed snaps with their equivalent flatpaks: popey/unsnap. Keep in mind that this tool is still in "pre-alpha" stage, and might not work as intended. You can contribute testing it and reporting bugs or missing flatpaks. Only the generated scripts 00-backup and 03-install-flatpaks are required to be run, as the rest is already done here. snap:firefox is already replaced with the native deb package, so you should remove it from the generated 03-install-flatpaks script.

Reopen the terminal in the installer/ folder and rerun the main script. In the menu, select "Purge unused packages". After some execution, a list is shown with the suggested packages to be purged. To decide which packages to keep and which to purge, consult the Details section below. The packages to be kept must be uncommented (removing the # prefix). Save the file with Ctrl+S and quit the editor with Ctrl+X and the commented packages will be purged. When the execution is finished, restart the system to completely unload the removed software.

If you want to install packages that are not in the official repositories without having to resource to flatpaks, you might want to use wimpysworld/deb-get. You can contribute testing it and reporting bugs or missing packages.

Remove

Reinstall ubuntu-desktop-minimal:

sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop-minimal

If you only want the packages in the minimal set, reinstall ubuntu-desktop without the recommends:

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends ubuntu-desktop

If you want all the packages instead, reinstall ubuntu-desktop with the recommends:

sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop

Now it is time to remove the custom metapackages:

sudo apt purge custom-desktop custom-desktop-minimal

Remove the custom profile from dconf/gsettings:

sudo rm /etc/dconf/db/local.d/01-custom-desktop
sudo rm -r /etc/dconf/db/local.d/
sudo rm /etc/dconf/profile/user
sudo dconf update

Log out and back in, but into the Ubuntu session (the default one is Wayland, but you can also use the X one) instead of the GNOME one.

For each user in the system, run:

gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.interface icon-theme
gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.interface cursor-theme

Reinstall snap:snap-store and snap:firefox:

sudo snap install snap-store firefox

For each user in the system, do the following:

• If you want to preserve the customizations made to the favorites, run:

gsettings set org.gnome.shell favorite-apps "$(gsettings get org.gnome.shell favorite-apps | sed "s/firefox/firefox_firefox/; s/org.gnome.Software/snap-store_ubuntu-software/")"

• If instead you want to reset them to the default values, run:

gsettings reset org.gnome.shell favorite-apps

Log out and back into the Ubuntu session to apply changes.

Remove the flatpaks that might have been installed:

sudo flatpak remove --all

Remove the packages that remained. If you want to keep any of those packages, remove them from the first command and add them to the second:

sudo apt purge firefox flatpak gnome-session gnome-software linuxmint-keyring qbittorrent ubuntu-restricted-extras
sudo apt-mark manual <packages to keep> # It can be ommited if you do not want to keep any package
sudo apt autoremove --purge

Remove the Linux Mint repositories:

sudo rm /etc/apt/preferences.d/pin-chromium-firefox
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mint-victoria.list
sudo apt update

Suggested GNOME Shell extenstions

• Caffeine: Disable the screensaver and auto suspend;
• Dash to Dock: This extension moves the dash out of the overview transforming it in a dock for an easier launching of applications and a faster switching between windows and desktops;
• GSConnect: GSConnect is a complete implementation of KDE Connect especially for GNOME Shell with Nautilus, Chrome and Firefox integration;
  • To integrate with Nautilus, you need to install python3-nautilus and gir1.2-nautilus-3.0:

sudo apt install python3-nautilus gir1.2-nautilus-3.0

• Night Theme Switcher: Make your desktop easy on the eye, day and night;
• Sound Input & Output Device Chooser: Shows a list of sound output and input devices in the status menu below the volume slider.

To install the extensions you might need the GNOME Shell integration Firefox extension.

Suggested Firefox extensions

• Bitwarden - Free Password Manager: A secure and free password manager for all of your devices;
• Dark Reader: Take care of your eyes, use dark theme for night and daily browsing;
• GNOME Shell integration: This extension provides integration with GNOME Shell and the corresponding extensions repository;
  • First you need to install chrome-gnome-shell:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

• GSConnect: Share links with GSConnect, direct to the browser or by SMS;
  • First you need to install the GSConnect GNOME Shell extension.
• uBlock Origin: Finally, an efficient wide-spectrum content blocker.

Details

custom-desktop-minimal

These are the packages that are added to, removed from or replaced in the custom-desktop-minimal metapackage:

ubuntu-desktop-minimal	custom-desktop-minimal	Description
dmz-cursor-theme		Style neutral, scalable cursor theme. This should not be in the minimal metapackage, much less as a depend, as it is not used by most people. The Yaru theme is used instead.
gnome-accessibility-themes		High Contrast GTK+ 2 theme and icons. GTK+ 2 is not supported.
gnome-disk-utility		Manage and configure disk drives and media. Moved to custom-desktop, as it is not considered minimal.
gnome-session-canberra		GNOME session log in and log out sound events. This should not be in the minimal metapackage, much less as a depend, as most people do not care about sounds.
gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng		Desktop icon support for GNOME Shell. Active desktop is not supported.
gnome-shell-extension-ubuntu-dock		Ubuntu Dock for GNOME Shell. The vanilla dock or the full blown dash-to-dock is preferred.
gstreamer1.0-pulseaudio		GStreamer plugin for PulseAudio (transitional package). Transitional packages are not needed.
ibus-gtk		Intelligent Input Bus - GTK2 support. GTK+ 2 is not supported.
libu2f-udev		Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) - transitional package. Transitional packages are not needed.
snap:firefox	firefox	Safe and easy web browser from Mozilla. Snap is not supported.
snap:snap-store	gnome-software	Software Center for GNOME. Snap is not supported and GNOME Software supports native deb packages, snap and flatpak, while Snap Store only supports snap.
snapd	flatpak	Application deployment framework for desktop apps. Snap is not supported. Flatpak is used instead.
ubuntu-session	gnome-session	GNOME Session Manager - GNOME 3 session. The custom Ubuntu session is not supported. The vanilla GNOME session is used instead.
xcursor-themes		Base X cursor themes. X is not supported and this should not be in the minimal metapackage, as it is not used by most people. The Yaru theme is used instead.
xorg		X.Org X Window System. X is not supported. Wayland is used instead.
yaru-theme-gnome-shell		Yaru GNOME Shell desktop theme from the Ubuntu Community. The vanilla Adwaita theme is preferred.
yaru-theme-gtk		Yaru GTK theme from the Ubuntu Community. The vanilla Adwaita theme is preferred.
yaru-theme-sound		Yaru sound theme from the Ubuntu Community. This should not be in the minimal metapackage, as most people do not care about sounds.

There are groups of packages that originally belonged to the ubuntu-desktop-minimal metapackage but are just suggested by custom-desktop-minimal. Their removal is optional, depending on whether or not they are necessary.

Accessibility

Function	ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
	at-spi2-core	Assistive Technology Service Provider Interface (dbus core).
	libatk-adaptor	AT-SPI 2 toolkit bridge.
Braille	brltty	Access software for a blind person using a braille display.
Mouse	mousetweaks	Mouse accessibility enhancements for the GNOME desktop.
Screen Reader	orca	Scriptable screen reader.
Screen Reader	speech-dispatcher	Common interface to speech synthesizers.

Avahi/NSS

ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
avahi-autoipd	Avahi IPv4LL network address configuration daemon.
avahi-daemon	Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD daemon.
libnss-mdns	NSS module for Multicast DNS name resolution.

Bluetooth

Function	ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
	bluez	Bluetooth tools and daemons.
	gnome-bluetooth	GNOME Bluetooth tools.
	pulseaudio-module-bluetooth	Bluetooth module for PulseAudio sound server.
	rfkill	Tool for enabling and disabling wireless devices. This package is also used by Wi-Fi devices. It should only be removed if both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are not used.
Printing	bluez-cups	Bluetooth printer driver for CUPS.

bluez-cups is repeated in Printing to make visualization easier.

rfkill is repeated in Wi-Fi to make visualization easier.

Fingerprint

ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
libpam-fprintd	PAM module for fingerprint authentication through fprintd.

Gaming

ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
gamemode	Optimise Linux system performance on demand.

GNOME extras

ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
gnome-characters	Character map application.
gnome-font-viewer	Font viewer for GNOME.
gnome-logs	Viewer for the systemd journal.

Language fonts

Function	ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
Arabic	fonts-kacst-one	TrueType font designed for Arabic language.
Burmese	fonts-sil-padauk	Burmese Unicode TrueType font with OpenType and Graphite support.
CJK	fonts-noto-cjk	"No Tofu" font families with large Unicode coverage (CJK regular and bold).
Ethiopic	fonts-sil-abyssinica	Unicode font for the Ethiopic script.
Indian	fonts-indic	Meta package to install all Indian language fonts.
Khmer	fonts-khmeros-core	KhmerOS Unicode fonts for the Khmer language of Cambodia.
Lao	fonts-lao	TrueType font for Lao language.
Sinhala	fonts-lklug-sinhala	Unicode Sinhala font by Lanka Linux User Group.
Thai	fonts-thai-tlwg	Thai fonts maintained by TLWG (metapackage).
Tibetan	fonts-tibetan-machine	Font for Tibetan, Dzongkha and Ladakhi (OpenType Unicode).

Legacy hardware

ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
pcmciautils	PCMCIA utilities for Linux 2.6.
inputattach	Utility to connect serial-attached peripherals to the input subsystem.

LibreOffice support

ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
fonts-opensymbol	OpenSymbol TrueType font.
libwmf0.2-7-gtk	Windows metafile conversion library.

fonts-opensymbol and libwmf0.2-7-gtk are moved to custom-desktop, as they are used by LibreOffice.

Miscellaneous

ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
bc	GNU bc arbitrary precision calculator language.
ghostscript-x	Interpreter for the PostScript language and for PDF - X11 support.
gvfs-fuse	Userspace virtual filesystem - fuse server.
ibus-table	Table engine for IBus.
memtest86+	Thorough real-mode memory tester.
nautilus-sendto	Easily send files via email from within Nautilus.
nautilus-share	Nautilus extension to share folder using Samba.

Printing

Function	ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
	cups	Common UNIX Printing System(tm) - PPD/driver support, web interface.
	cups-bsd	Common UNIX Printing System(tm) - BSD commands.
	cups-client	Common UNIX Printing System(tm) - client programs (SysV).
	cups-filters	OpenPrinting CUPS Filters - Main Package.
Bluetooth	bluez-cups	Bluetooth printer driver for CUPS.
Brother/Lenovo	printer-driver-brlaser	Printer driver for (some) Brother laser printers.
Brother	printer-driver-ptouch	Printer driver Brother P-touch label printers.
Foomatic	foomatic-db-compressed-ppds	OpenPrinting printer support - Compressed PPDs derived from the database.
HP	hplip	HP Linux Printing and Imaging System (HPLIP).
HP	printer-driver-pnm2ppa	Printer driver for HP-GDI printers.
HP	printer-driver-pxljr	Printer driver for HP Color LaserJet 35xx/36xx.
Kodak	printer-driver-c2esp	Printer driver for Kodak ESP AiO color inkjet Series.
Konica Minolta	printer-driver-m2300w	Printer driver for Minolta magicolor 2300W/2400W color laser printers.
Konica Minolta	printer-driver-min12xxw	Printer driver for KonicaMinolta PagePro 1[234]xxW.
PostScript	openprinting-ppds	OpenPrinting printer support - PostScript PPD files.
Ricoh Aficio	printer-driver-sag-gdi	Printer driver for Ricoh Aficio SP 1000s/SP 1100s.
Samsung/Xerox	printer-driver-splix	Driver for Samsung and Xerox SPL2 and SPLc laser printers.
Zenographics ZjStream	printer-driver-foo2zjs	Printer driver for ZjStream-based printers.

bluez-cups is repeated in Bluetooth to make visualization easier.

Remote desktop

ubuntu-desktop	Description
gnome-remote-desktop	Remote desktop daemon for GNOME using PipeWire.

VM

ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
spice-vdagent	Spice agent for Linux.

Wi-Fi

ubuntu-desktop-minimal	Description
rfkill	Tool for enabling and disabling wireless devices. This package is also used by Bluetooth devices. It should only be removed if both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are not used.
wireless-tools	Tools for manipulating Linux Wireless Extensions.
wpasupplicant	Client support for WPA and WPA2 (IEEE 802.11i).

rfkill is repeated in Bluetooth to make visualization easier.

custom-desktop

These are the packages that are added to, removed from or replaced in the custom-desktop metapackage:

ubuntu-desktop	custom-desktop	Description
fonts-opensymbol	fonts-opensymbol	OpenSymbol TrueType font. Moved from custom-desktop-minimal, as it is used by LibreOffice.
gnome-disk-utility	gnome-disk-utility	Manage and configure disk drives and media. Moved from custom-desktop-minimal, as it is not considered minimal.
libreoffice-ogltrans		Transitional package for libreoffice-ogltrans. Transitional packages are not needed.
libreoffice-pdfimport		Transitional package for PDF Import component for LibreOffice. Transitional packages are not needed.
libreoffice-style-breeze		Office productivity suite -- Breeze symbol style. KDE is not supported, so it is not used by most people.
libwmf0.2-7-gtk	libwmf0.2-7-gtk	Windows metafile conversion library. Moved from custom-desktop-minimal, as it is used by LibreOffice.
transmission-gtk	qbittorrent	Bittorrent client based on libtorrent-rasterbar with a Qt5 GUI. Transmission is not supported, as it is buggy and lacks several features. qBittorrent is used instead, as it is one of the best torrent clients ever.
	ubuntu-restricted-extras	Commonly used media codecs and fonts for Ubuntu. Adds proprietary codecs so that Totem and Rhythmbox can play most formats. The extra fonts and unrar are not installed.

There are groups of packages that originally belonged to the ubuntu-desktop metapackage but are just suggested by custom-desktop. Their removal is optional, depending on whether or not they are necessary.

Gaming

ubuntu-desktop	Description
aisleriot	GNOME solitaire card game collection.
gnome-mahjongg	Classic Eastern tile game for GNOME.
gnome-mines	Popular minesweeper puzzle game for GNOME.
gnome-sudoku	Sudoku puzzle game for GNOME.

GNOME extras

ubuntu-desktop	Description
cheese	Tool to take pictures and videos from your webcam.
eog	Eye of GNOME graphics viewer program. Removed as Shotwell does what it does and more.
simple-scan	Simple Scanning Utility.

Email

ubuntu-desktop	Description
thunderbird	Email, RSS and newsgroup client with integrated spam filter.
thunderbird-gnome-support	Email, RSS and newsgroup client - GNOME support.

Miscellaneous

ubuntu-desktop	Description
branding-ubuntu	Replacement artwork with Ubuntu branding.
usb-creator-gtk	Create a startup disk using a CD or disc image (for GNOME).

Remote desktop

ubuntu-desktop	Description
remmina	GTK+ Remote Desktop Client.

Building

To build the metapackages from their control files, you need to install equivs:

sudo apt install equivs

Build all the packages with:

make all

Or build a specific package with one of:

make custom-desktop-minimal
make custom-desktop
make ubuntu-system-adjustments

Developing

To customize the metapackages, read the README in the builder/ folder.