As it is well known already, the interface of GNOME Shell is very
different from the one in most other desktop environments, and even
earlier versions of GNOME itself. With the statement that Ubuntu will
drop support for Unity in favor of GNOME Shell, and further statements
from both main Ubuntu and Ubuntu-GNOME developers that customization
will be intentionally minimal, in order to keep the desktop as the
upstream GNOME developers intended it to be, this means that a major
interface shift is about to come for the standard Ubuntu user.
The problem existed back in 2011, when Ubuntu decided to avoid GNOME
Shell by creating the Unity desktop environment, and it still exists
now: the handling of windows and tasks is different from the one most
other desktop environments offer to the user by default, perhaps with
the exception of tiling windows managers, which are more intended for
power users. In particular, the complete removal of an always-visible
taskbar with the currently open programs, a staple of the vast majority
of desktop environments, being replaced with a mouse gesture to display
a list of windows. Sadly, I am yet to find a single article praising the
decision, and most of the comments on the topic suggest to either
install a plugin, or to switch the desktop environment entirely. This
design decision has apparently proven unpopular with everyone but the
GNOME interface developers, but given the context, all points to Ubuntu
17.10 keeping it intact, effectively removing the taskbar by default for
users that upgrade next October.
This leads to the normal user upgrading from Ubuntu 17.04, rebooting the
computer, hopefully reading the help file that will pop up on boot,
clicking "Applications" to open an app, finding a sole window preview
laying around, clicking on some app and opening it, repeating the
process, and maybe by then the change of paradigm will be evident. But
what happens if this is not the case? Or if the "slam the mouse cursor
to the left corner first" gesture becomes too cumbersome after a certain
amount of time? Are there any plans to directly palliate the change of
interface for these users with tools bundled with the newest Ubuntu
(such as a plugin), or are they expected to relearn the desktop paradigm
upon the first boot and accustom to it?
Hoping this mail is the beginning of a healthy discussion,
- Carlos Solís
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