< Features
Feature Name
Gnome Shell Configurability
Summary
There is a lot of low hanging fruit that Fedora could provide over the upstream Gnome Shell, which would help new users and entice disillusioned ones (from unity).
Owner
- Name: Pádraig Brady
- Email: pbrady@redhat.com
Current status
- Targeted release: [Fedora 17]
- Last updated: Nov 10 2011
- Percentage of completion: 0%
Detailed Description
With a few well chosen options and extensions to Gnome Shell, Fedora could be much more accessible to new and old users alike. I realise that providing options is often a cop out, and a sign of misdesigned or incomplete software. However it's a bit different with direct user interaction software like this, where the options reflect the diverse preferences and experiences of the user base.
Perhaps we might change a couple of upstream defaults too to help transitioning users, and I could mention my personal set of changes that I need to make, but the main thing is to provide the options to the users.
As a very concrete example of this see the Linux Mint Gnome3 transition strategy. They note there, some extensions they've developed and options presented to the user. They also note the large uptake of their Gnome2 based distro from annoyed unity users.
Benefit to Fedora
Low hanging fruit to get more users
Scope
This will basically be a collation of existing components already available. gnome-tweak-tool covers most settings. Perhaps we could make available some of the Linux Mint extensions and settings linked to above. Other extensions that overlap with the linux mint ones are: http://intgat.tigress.co.uk/rmy/extensions/index.html
Personally I would only change a couple of window management options, but to cover all bases we would need to select which of the above extensions and options to make available and ideally integrate into the gnome-shell config settings proper.
Note also that we might change a couple of the defaults from upstream gnome shell too. For example there weren't complaints when nautilus switched back from spatial mode by default (I know that was an upstream change, but Fedora could have done the sensible thing anyway).
How To Test
This change will apply to all hardware now, given Features/Gnome_shell_software_rendering, and apply to the default desktop build. It will require users to interactively select all the new options and verify that they work correctly. Given the disparate set of options used by each person, and the direct user iteraction changes of the feature, it's hoped that testing of various combinations will happen "for free" as the system is being developed.
User Experience
Most users should have their pet gnome-shell peeve addressed by this feature. Ideally the options and extensions would be grouped into additional setting panel items
Dependencies
gnome-tweak-tool and external gnome-shell extensions
Contingency Plan
At least install gnome-tweak-tool by default and make it easily started with an "extra settings" config setting panel item
Documentation
I see minimal documentation required, as we can rely on the names and tips provided by each setting, and experimentation by the user. This approach is used by the existing gnome shell settings. Actually I notice that the existing gnome-shell settings are documented independently in help, but there is no link between the settings dialog and the help. That's a separate issue that could be fixed upstream. In light of that we might augment the help with any options/extensions we provide.
Release Notes
- Better Gnome Shell integration, to cater for new and old users alike