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= 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

  • Email: pbrady@redhat.com

Current status

  • Targeted release: [Fedora 17]
  • Last updated: Novo 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.

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

Release Notes

  • Better Gnome Shell integration, to cater for new and old users alike

Comments and Discussion