Glimpse to the customisation of Ubuntu.
By: Hrugved Ghait
Tags: Customize Bash, Customization, Extension, Customize Ubuntu, Ubuntu

Let’s be honest, Ubunut is not the best looking Linux distribution available out there. Event though it’s highly hackable and customizable, customizing it is nothing less than a headache. And while customizing it, if something goes wrong, you may end up with broken Ubuntu installation.

If you use Ubuntu on daily basis, you are well aware that the way around it get’s boring within the first two weeks. If you are fan of clean and minimal UI this guide is for you. Here, I am going to customize the clean installation of Ubuntu from start.

NOTE: I am using Ubuntu 18.04.2 but this guide is backward compatible. In fact there is more support for customization to previous Ubuntu builds than this one.

So, let’s get started.

This is the initial look of Ubuntu after clean installation:

Step 1: First-things-first 🤨

I am not big fan of bright colours, so change the wallpaper and probably set to something dark.

Step 2: Little bit of touch 🤸‍♂️

Change the dock position to bottom and set the icon size to minimum. I usually use icon size of 22 with resolution of 1920*1080. If you have different resolution, you may need to lower the icon size.

Step 3: Let’s get into shell 🐚

To customizing the Ubuntu themes, we are going to use OCS-Store. It is an open source tool used for customizing the genome shell. With Ocs store there is no need to download themes separately and install them by extracting in some directory.

To install OCS store, we first need an Image Installer App. This can be downloaded from following link:

Download the proper distribution according to your system architecture.

As I am using Ubuntu x64 18.04.2, I have downloaded appimagelauncher_1.1.1-travis529.git20190312.a3a556a.bionic_amd64.deb

Install it using Debian app installer.

which may look like following:

Next step is to download OCS store:

Once done open it and choose Integrate and run option. This will install the OCS store in your application list. Search for the OCS store in application menu and open it.

Step 4: Themes, themes 🔥

So as you open OCS store, go-to address bar and open gnome-look.org

as you can see here, there are numerous option available. But what we need right now is to apply GTK3 themes. Click on the option in left panel and choose the theme of your choice.

The one I am using is, ANT Themes, dracula. It is clean, dark and minimal.

But you can choose any of your choice.

Apply it using OSC store.

Step 5: ICONS ⚙️

Same as themes, install icon packs and apply it using the OCS store.

The one I use is Tela Icon pack, Black. It will convert your File manager into Dark Icons.

Step 6: Cursor 🖱️

Blinking cursor.

Same as the themes and Icon packs choose the appropriate cursor according to your taste.

I use Night Diamond (Blue).

Step 7: Extensions ⏱️

The best part of using Ubuntu is you get lots and lots of extensions.

To install any extension simply go to:

after visiting you’ll get pop-up for installing the Extension for your browser. Install that extension manager to your existing browser extension. Note: This extension is not supported by all browsers. Sometimes even chrome gives issues. I recommend using built in firefox.

after installing you will need to run this command in your terminal:

$sudo apt-get install chrome-gnome-shell

This will enable bridge between ubuntu shell and Extension manager.

Now browse all the extensions on the website and install all you like.. 😛

Following are the extensions that I prefer to use:

Coverflow Alt-Tab:

This extension is awesome. It will replace your current Alt+Tab with new animated shell and will make it look exotic. I couldn't get screenshot of it, but trust me, its the best.

2. Netspeed:

Netspeed as per name suggests shows the current net speed at the top bar.

3. Removable drive menu

This extension installs quick setting to mount/unmount drive.

4. Drop down terminal X

Want to quickly download a movie using wget? or quickly use some terminal command? Drop down X is the option. It is an integrated terminal into shell which drops down on pressing tilde(~).

5. Dynamic top bar

This extension does nothing. Just when you are on your desktop it becomes transparent giving it a cool look.

6. Youtube-dl

It’s not an Extension but its a cool and strongest tool that I use for downloading videos from the youtube and other sites.

To Download Youtube-dl just run following commands in your terminal:

$sudo install python3-pip $pip3 install youtube-dl

later to download any video enter the following command in terminal:

youtube-dl <Link of the song>

youtube-dl is crazy powerfull. You can download songs in mp3 format or can download an entire channel.

Please read the documentation for whole information. https://ytdl-org.github.io/youtube-dl/index.html

Step 8: The Terminal 💻

This topic I’ll cover in another article.

Thanks!! 😁