GNOME 3 and Ubuntu GNOME

Starting with Ubuntu 4.10, the default desktop for Ubuntu has been based on GNOME. Until a couple years ago, it was close to a standard GNOME desktop with only a few customizations. After development began on GNOME 3, the desktop took a turn that did not suit the needs or desires of Ubuntu quite as well. This was when development began on Unity, as described in Chapter 3, “Working with Unity.”

GNOME 3 is available in Ubuntu for those who prefer it over Unity. As development and support are ending for the classic GNOME 2 environment, it is no longer recommended.

GNOME 3 is somewhat similar to Unity in that both are trying to push the Linux desktop into new territory. They both discard older metaphors and require a bit ...

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