Linux trackpad gestures and themes

[Claryn]

Hi.

 

I recently installed Ubuntu on my Macbook, and now I want some multitouch gestures on my trackpad. It would blow my mind if there isnt an elegant solution for this.

 

Also, I checked a guide on how to install themes (drop the folder into ~/.themes and then use ubuntu-tweak to install it. However, I am just linked to a GitHub folder. There are several programs were I have just downloaded a folder with no obvious file to run to set it up. How do I install programs like that? Thank you, sincerely first-timer in Ubuntu

 

[ChuckMaurice]

I know Fedora has built-in multitouch support on my Macbook, and the gestures I use are pretty basic, I will check next time if more advanced gestures are available.

 

Touchegg provides an excellent, configurable solution, without any graphical interface but a really easy text cfg file. Haven't tried it, but seems pretty much what you'd need.

https://wdullaer.com/blog/2015/10/08/multitouch-trackpad-gestures-with-touchegg/

Also there's app-specific gestures (if you change "All" in name with the software list you want).

 

<application name="All">
        <gesture type="DRAG" fingers="3" direction="RIGHT">
                <action type="CHANGE_DESKTOP">PREVIOUS</action>
        </gesture>
        <gesture type="DRAG" fingers="3" direction="LEFT">
                <action type="CHANGE_DESKTOP">NEXT</action>
        </gesture>
</application>

[Claryn]

1 minute ago, jldjul said:

I know Fedora has built-in multitouch support on my Macbook, and the gestures I use are pretty basic, I will check next time if more advanced gestures are available.

 

Touchegg provides an excellent, configurable solution, without any graphical interface but a really easy text cfg file. Haven't tried it, but seems pretty much what you'd need.

https://wdullaer.com/blog/2015/10/08/multitouch-trackpad-gestures-with-touchegg/

Also there's app-specific gestures (if you change "All" in name with the software list you want).

 

<application name="All">
        <gesture type="DRAG" fingers="3" direction="RIGHT">
                <action type="CHANGE_DESKTOP">PREVIOUS</action>
        </gesture>
        <gesture type="DRAG" fingers="3" direction="LEFT">
                <action type="CHANGE_DESKTOP">NEXT</action>
        </gesture>
</application>

Alright thanks, I will try this out.

 

To my second question, is there a terminal command to install apps that just have a folder? I am used to apt-get install commands or simply running a file to set up a program..

[ChuckMaurice]

For themes I don't know Unity but I'm gonna suppose it works like Gnome2 with themes : you need to put them into this folder :

/usr/share/themes/

Ubuntu-tweak should detect the theme afterwards.
For out-of-repository programs I recommand sticking to .deb whenever it's possible, they're made for Ubuntu/Debian-based distros so they install automatically.

 

Sometimes you'll get a program in a folder with a file just named INSTALL (without extension) or INSTALL.sh, just open a terminal in the folder and type ./INSTALL (or the name of the file with ./ in front). Il will execute the auto-installer in command line.
But this may vary if the program is not on a .deb file.
I'm trying to find an example of such a program to show you.

 

Also (forgot that as I haven't use Ubuntu for a wile), there's some additional or homemade repositories you can add to your software update list, they are called PPA. An example (for a "moka" theme I found) :
 

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:moka/daily  (-> will add the repository to your list)
sudo apt-get update                     (-> update your list)
sudo apt-get install moka-icon-theme    (-> install the new software added from the repository)

[Claryn]

2 minutes ago, jldjul said:

For themes I don't know Unity but I'm gonna suppose it works like Gnome2 with themes : you need to put them into this folder :

/usr/share/themes/

Ubuntu-tweak should detect the theme afterwards.
For out-of-repository programs I recommand sticking to .deb whenever it's possible, they're made for Ubuntu/Debian-based distros so they install automatically.

 

Sometimes you'll get a program in a folder with a file just named INSTALL without extension for example, just open a terminal in the folder and type ./INSTALL (or the name of the file with ./ in front). Il will execute the auto-installer in command line.
But this may vary if the program is not on a .deb file.
I'm trying to find an example of such a program to show you.

Now you lost me. How do I install and use ubuntu-tweak? I only have this https://github.com/tualatrix/ubuntu-tweak

[ChuckMaurice]

Ok there you have a  setup.py file you need to execute to install it. But I think there's a more "clean" way to do this for ubuntu-tweak as I installed myself from a PPA a while ago.
See there, .deb packages. Clean install
There's also a PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/next

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

Ubuntu software developpers often make their own PPA in addition to releasing their code on Github (like tualatrix on this one). Always look for PPA first. Then .deb, then Github/bulk install.
Sometimes the Github page also mention PPA.

 

Careful, though : according to a french wiki page, ubuntu-tweak is abandonned since may 2016. You may want to look at Unity Tweak Tool

[ChuckMaurice]

I don't know what is the equivalent for the french ubuntu-fr wiki, who is the biggest and greatest source of info and software I use for Linux stuff, even for non-Ubuntu related.
The official EN wiki seems pretty empty as it is not maintained by the community.

 

Also check http://www.webupd8.org/ which is a great source for Ubuntu personalisation and has a very complete list of PPAs for every taste/need.

[Claryn]

Thanks, Ill check out the Wikis. As for Ubuntu-tweak, how does it work? I have it installed, I guess, but what now

[ChuckMaurice]

It should appear on your software list (on Unity, I guess you'd have to type in the name of the software in the search bar as you have no software list). I really don't like Unity

 

[Claryn]

1 minute ago, jldjul said:

It should appear on your software list (on Unity, I guess you'd have to type in the name of the software in the search bar as you have no software list). I really don't like Unity

 

I cannot find it. I tried searching for it in the Ubuntu Software app as well, but no luck. I downloaded the file from your link and pressed install. It seemed as if it installed it.

 

[ChuckMaurice]

That's why I prefer PPAs : they are more bound with the Ubuntu software management and get well integrated after install. Check in terminal if it's installed by typing "ubuntu-tweak" or "sudo ubuntu-tweak".

 

If nothing found, just retry installation with the PPA I added on my previous message.

[Claryn]

4 minutes ago, jldjul said:

That's why I prefer PPAs : they are more bound with the Ubuntu software management and get well integrated after install. Check in terminal if it's installed by typing "ubuntu-tweak" or "sudo ubuntu-tweak".

 

If nothing found, just retry installation with the PPA I added on my previous message.

It is not found.

What is a PPA and what is it for?

 

EDIT> Nvm didnt see that message.

[Claryn]

50 minutes ago, jldjul said:

For themes I don't know Unity but I'm gonna suppose it works like Gnome2 with themes : you need to put them into this folder :

/usr/share/themes/

Ubuntu-tweak should detect the theme afterwards.
For out-of-repository programs I recommand sticking to .deb whenever it's possible, they're made for Ubuntu/Debian-based distros so they install automatically.

 

Sometimes you'll get a program in a folder with a file just named INSTALL (without extension) or INSTALL.sh, just open a terminal in the folder and type ./INSTALL (or the name of the file with ./ in front). Il will execute the auto-installer in command line.
But this may vary if the program is not on a .deb file.
I'm trying to find an example of such a program to show you.

 

Also (forgot that as I haven't use Ubuntu for a wile), there's some additional or homemade repositories you can add to your software update list, they are called PPA. An example (for a "moka" theme I found) :
 

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:moka/daily  (-> will add the repository to your list)
sudo apt-get update                     (-> update your list)
sudo apt-get install moka-icon-theme    (-> install the new software added from the repository)

I did this, and it seems like the icons installed correctly. I did a reboot, but icons are still the same. I seem to have been able to install the theme through Unity Tweak Tool

 

[ChuckMaurice]

You'll almost never need to reboot, even after installing major updates. Icons are, I think, handled by Unity Tweak Tool too, but maybe the moka icon theme is somehow incompatible, I got it as an example I didn't checked.

[Claryn]

1 hour ago, jldjul said:

I know Fedora has built-in multitouch support on my Macbook, and the gestures I use are pretty basic, I will check next time if more advanced gestures are available.

 

Touchegg provides an excellent, configurable solution, without any graphical interface but a really easy text cfg file. Haven't tried it, but seems pretty much what you'd need.

https://wdullaer.com/blog/2015/10/08/multitouch-trackpad-gestures-with-touchegg/

Also there's app-specific gestures (if you change "All" in name with the software list you want).

 

<application name="All">
        <gesture type="DRAG" fingers="3" direction="RIGHT">
                <action type="CHANGE_DESKTOP">PREVIOUS</action>
        </gesture>
        <gesture type="DRAG" fingers="3" direction="LEFT">
                <action type="CHANGE_DESKTOP">NEXT</action>
        </gesture>
</application>

Taking a look at this, it seems it doesnt work nicely with Unity. Looks like there are only downsides to it. How much effort do I have to put in to change the launcher? Cinnamon looks cool.

 

[ChuckMaurice]

7 minutes ago, Claryn said:

Taking a look at this, it seems it doesnt work nicely with Unity. Looks like there are only downsides to it. How much effort do I have to put in to change the launcher? Cinnamon looks cool.

 

Couldn't agree more. CInnamon is pretty great, you can add it with these commands (PPAs, still) :

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:embrosyn/cinnamon
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install cinnamon

Everything is PPA now ^^

Then on login click on the Ubuntu logo at the right of your username, and select Cinnamon as your current desktop environment.

There is also multiple variations of the Ubuntu distro where Cinnamon, KDE, MATE, Gnome3... are default desktop environments if you ever reinstall it from scratch.

[Claryn]

8 minutes ago, jldjul said:

Couldn't agree more. CInnamon is pretty great, you can add it with these commands (PPAs, still) :

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:embrosyn/cinnamon
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install cinnamon

Everything is PPA now ^^

Then on login click on the Ubuntu logo at the right of your username, and select Cinnamon as your current desktop environment.

There is also multiple variations of the Ubuntu distro where Cinnamon, KDE, MATE, Gnome3... are default desktop environments if you ever reinstall it from scratch.

Right uhm, Cinnamon looked WAY better on the pictures etc. I have seen. Are there any launchers that -looks- like Unity, but isnt Unity?

[ChuckMaurice]

It's not about looking (there's themes for that, maybe search something like Humanoid theme or here), it's about User Experience (UX), how to interact with the OS through the interface (and how much you can customize).

 

The Desktop Environments (DE) on Linux divided everyone on post-2010 years, with the end of Gnome 2 :

- Unity is a closed-up UX nightmare thought for both tablets and PCs, but without being too far frome Gnome 2 (big desktop environment in 2010 and before).

- Same could be said about Gnome 3 altough I like some ideas (activities) and customization is more possible. 

- Cinnamon is a more classical DE and allows for much more customization, also packs a very modern look and feel.

- MATE is basically Gnome 2 reworked, so it may feel oldy but is lighter and allows even more customization.

- XFCE is basically the same as MATE.

- KDE is basically the white elephant of DE but is very modern, allows for tons of possibilities and packs unique "K-named" software

 

Thankfully on Linux you can try everything, and also ongoing projects like Pantheon DE on Elementary OS. I'm a MacOS guy so I like Cinnamon cause I can get a nice compromise between MacOS (top menubar, big dock on the left...) and Windows.

 

What do you blame on Cinnamon/Unity specifically ?

[Claryn]

I have been trying to follow this guide:

https://ineed.coffee/881/configure-the-keyboard-for-your-macbook-and-ubuntu-12-04/

The file does absolutely nothing.

 

And in this guide:

https://ineed.coffee/1068/os-x-like-multitouch-gestures-for-macbook-pro-running-ubuntu-12-10/

I dont have the /tmp/unity/unity-*/plugins/unityshell/src/unityshell.cpp directory. My /tmp/unity/ folder is empty...

[ChuckMaurice]

This tutorial is likely outdated as it references Ubuntu 12.04 (april 2012). You need to find up-to-date tutorials using Ubuntu 16.04 or 16.10 (2016 versions).

[Claryn]

2 minutes ago, jldjul said:

This tutorial is likely outdated as it references Ubuntu 12.04 (april 2012). You need to find up-to-date tutorials using Ubuntu 16.04 or 16.10 (2016 versions).

I am going back to Cinnamon and trying a theme. What app do I need to install Cinnamon themes? I already have the theme places in /usr/share/themes

 

[ChuckMaurice]

Cinnamon themes are handled in a hidden folder ".themes" in your Home folder

You can access it by showing hidden files or with terminal (cd ~/.themes/)

Just decompress themes in this folder.

https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/

 

(FYI files and folders beginning with a dot are hidden files, like on MacOS)

[Claryn]

7 minutes ago, jldjul said:

Cinnamon themes are handled in a hidden folder ".themes" in your Home folder

You can access it by showing hidden files or with terminal (cd ~/.themes/)

Just decompress themes in this folder.

https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/

 

(FYI files and folders beginning with a dot are hidden files, like on MacOS)

Yes there is a specific Themes setting where I can download and apply themes. However, none of the themes actually apply. I can only apply the icon-packs.

I also have a problem with DPI-scaling in Cinnamon.

[ChuckMaurice]

Cinnamon should have HiDPI scaling, go to System settings -> General it should be there.

For themes I can't help you more as I don't have Cinnamon currently on my Linux VM. Maybe see there :

http://askubuntu.com/questions/121387/how-to-theme-the-cinnamon-desktop

 

Also maybe try to put theme folders into 

/usr/share/cinnamon/theme

[Claryn]

1 minute ago, jldjul said:

Cinnamon should have HiDPI scaling, go to System settings -> General it should be there.

For themes I can't help you more as I don't have Cinnamon currently on my Linux VM. Maybe see there :

http://askubuntu.com/questions/121387/how-to-theme-the-cinnamon-desktop

 

Also maybe try to put theme folders into 

/usr/share/cinnamon/theme

The HiDPI option there did not help enough. Everything is 3x bigger than I want it to be. I havent been able to find any terminal commands for changing it in Cinnamon either.

I am also extremely frustrated that the titlebar is gone, and I havent been able to find any options for geting it back etc. Cinnamon generally feels horrible to use. I guess I might have to give up multitouch gestures for using Unity instead  - I havent even gotten them to work in CInnamon