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Gnome

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Terminal window
sudo paru -S gnome \
               gnome-tweaks \
               gnome-terminal \
               gnome-tweaks \
               xdg-desktop-portal \
               xdg-desktop-portal-gnome \
               gnome-browser-connector

Lock Screen

Since GNOME 3.16, GNOME Shell themes are now stored as binary files which means we need to compile the theme with the image we want.

First you need to extract the existing GNOME Shell theme to a directory. You can use the fallowing script for that:

#!/bin/sh
workdir=${HOME}
gst=/usr/share/gnome-shell/gnome-shell-theme.gresource
output_dir="${workdir}/gst"


mkdir -p "$output_dir/theme"


echo '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>' >"$output_dir/gnome-shell-theme.gresource.xml"
echo '<gresources><gresource>' >>"$output_dir/gnome-shell-theme.gresource.xml"


for r in $(gresource list $gst); do
  new_file_path="${output_dir}/${r#/org/gnome/shell/}"
  mkdir -p "$(dirname "$new_file_path")"
  gresource extract $gst "$r" > "$new_file_path"
  echo "<file>${new_file_path#$output_dir/}</file>" >> "${output_dir}/gnome-shell-theme.gresource.xml"
done


echo "<file>filename</file>" >>"$output_dir/gnome-shell-theme.gresource.xml"
echo '</gresource></gresources>' >>"$output_dir/gnome-shell-theme.gresource.xml"

Now there should be a folder named gst should be created in your home directory. Navigate to the created directory. You should find that the theme files have been extracted under theme folder and a file called gnome-shell-theme.gresource.xml we need to edit this file. Find the line that looks like <file>filename</file>. Replace the filename with the path to your desired image.

We also need to edit two extra files: gnome-shell-dark.css and gnome-shell-light.css. You can find them under theme folder where we extract the theme. In both file change the #lockDialogGroup definition as fallows:

#lockDialogGroup {
  background: url(blobs-l.svg);
  background-size: cover;
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
  background-position: center;
}


.login-dialog {
  background-color: transparent;
}

Next, compile the theme using the fallowing command from the gst folder we have created:

Terminal window
glib-compile-resources gnome-shell-theme.gresource.xml

Then, copy the resulting gnome-shell-theme.gresource file to the /usr/share/gnome-shell directory. It’s highly recommended to copy the old gresource file to somewhere in case if something goes wrong.

Finally, restart gdm.service and you should find that it is using your preferred background image. Note that you need to repeat this process each time gnome-shell package gets updated.

Extensions

To install extensions you need browser extension and gnome-browser-connector(AUR) than you can install extensions from gnome extensions website. Fallowing extensions are recommended:

  • Bluetooth Quick Connect Recommended settings are: Show reconnect button, Show battery value, Show battery icon
  • Blur my Shell
  • Dash to Dock Recommended settings:
  • Position and size: Position on sreen set to Left, Intelligent autohide is on with Dodge all windows setting and animation duration set to 0.150
  • Launchers: Show volumes and devices set to only if mounted
  • Behavior: Click action set to Minimize or show previews
  • Appearance: Customize opacity set to Dynamic
  • Brightness control using ddcutil
  • spotify-tray
  • Tray Icons: Reloaded
  • Tiling Assistant