Suggestions for Some Tools: Optimizing Your Ubuntu Workflow

As users transitioning from Windows to Ubuntu, we often seek tools and configurations that replicate familiar functionalities while leveraging the power and flexibility of the Linux environment. In this article, we’ll explore specific tools and desktop environments (DEs) that address the common desire for virtual desktop management and comprehensive progress bar visibility, mirroring the Windows experience while embracing the unique advantages of Ubuntu. Our aim is to provide concrete, actionable suggestions to enhance your productivity and streamline your workflow.

Choosing the Right Desktop Environment for Virtual Desktop Management

One of the most significant adjustments when switching from Windows to Linux is the handling of virtual desktops (also known as workspaces). While Windows has improved its virtual desktop capabilities, Linux DEs often offer more robust and customizable implementations. Here are a few DEs that excel in virtual desktop management, catering to the need for seamless switching between different project contexts, such as running multiple Android Studio instances:

GNOME: A Modern and Intuitive Experience

GNOME, the default desktop environment for Ubuntu, provides a clean and modern interface with excellent virtual desktop support. To effectively utilize GNOME’s virtual desktop features, consider the following:

Activating and Navigating Workspaces

GNOME typically defaults to a dynamic workspace setup. To switch between workspaces, you can:

  • Use the Super Key (Windows Key) + Page Up/Page Down keyboard shortcuts.
  • Open the Activities Overview (by pressing the Super Key) and visually select a workspace.
  • Configure keyboard shortcuts for specific workspace numbers in the GNOME Settings under Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Navigation.

Customizing Workspace Behavior

GNOME allows customization of workspace behavior through the GNOME Tweaks tool (installable via sudo apt install gnome-tweaks). Specifically, you can:

  • Static Workspaces: Configure a fixed number of workspaces instead of the default dynamic setup. This can be beneficial for consistent workflow organization.
  • Workspace Switching Settings: Adjust how applications behave when switching between workspaces. For example, you can prevent applications from automatically moving between workspaces.

Extensions for Enhanced Workspace Management

GNOME’s extensibility is a key strength. Numerous extensions enhance workspace management. Some notable options include:

  • Dash to Dock/Dash to Panel: These extensions modify the dock/panel to show which workspace an application is currently running on. They also allow you to quickly move windows between workspaces by dragging them to the appropriate workspace icon in the dock/panel. Configure their visibility across all workspaces or just the current one.
  • Workspace Indicator: Displays a small indicator in the top panel showing the current workspace number. Customize its appearance and behavior through its settings.
  • Workspace Matrix: Provides a visual overview of all workspaces in a grid layout, allowing you to quickly switch between them.

To install GNOME extensions, first install the chrome-gnome-shell package (sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell) and the GNOME Shell integration browser extension (available from the Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons). Then, visit the GNOME Extensions website (https://extensions.gnome.org/) to browse and install extensions.

KDE Plasma: Highly Customizable and Feature-Rich

KDE Plasma is renowned for its unparalleled customization options. Its virtual desktop implementation is equally powerful and flexible.

Configuring Virtual Desktops in KDE Plasma

KDE Plasma provides extensive settings for managing virtual desktops accessible through System Settings -> Workspace Behavior -> Virtual Desktops. You can:

  • Define the Number of Virtual Desktops: Specify the precise number of virtual desktops you want to use.
  • Assign Names to Virtual Desktops: Give each virtual desktop a descriptive name to easily identify its purpose (e.g., “Android Studio 1,” “Android Studio 2,” “Web Development”).
  • Configure Keyboard Shortcuts: Customize keyboard shortcuts for switching between virtual desktops, moving windows to different desktops, and more. KDE Plasma offers a high degree of flexibility in defining these shortcuts.
  • Desktop Rules: Create rules to automatically place specific applications on particular virtual desktops. For example, you can configure KDE Plasma to automatically open Android Studio projects in designated workspaces. This feature significantly streamlines workflow organization.

Activity Management in KDE Plasma

KDE Plasma introduces the concept of “Activities,” which are essentially enhanced virtual desktops. Activities allow you to group applications and settings based on specific tasks or projects. For example, you could create an activity for Android Studio development with specific applications and settings tailored to that activity.

KWin Scripting for Advanced Customization

KDE Plasma’s KWin window manager supports scripting using JavaScript. This allows for advanced customization of window behavior and virtual desktop management. While requiring some programming knowledge, KWin scripting opens up a world of possibilities for tailoring your desktop environment to your precise needs.

XFCE: Lightweight and Efficient with Virtual Desktop Support

XFCE is a lightweight desktop environment known for its speed and efficiency. While it might not offer as many built-in features as GNOME or KDE Plasma, it provides solid virtual desktop support and can be easily extended with plugins.

Configuring Virtual Desktops in XFCE

XFCE’s virtual desktop settings are accessible through Settings -> Workspace Settings. You can:

  • Specify the Number of Workspaces: Define the number of virtual desktops.
  • Configure Workspace Names: Assign names to each workspace.
  • Use the Workspace Switcher: The Workspace Switcher plugin provides a visual representation of your workspaces in the panel, allowing you to easily switch between them.

Extending XFCE with Plugins

XFCE’s modular design allows you to add functionality through plugins. Several plugins enhance virtual desktop management, including:

  • xfce4-docklike-plugin: This plugin provides a dock-like interface that shows which applications are running on each workspace, similar to Dash to Dock/Dash to Panel in GNOME.
  • Workspace Names Plugin: Displays the name of the current workspace in the panel.

Achieving Windows-like Progress Bar Functionality in Ubuntu

Replicating the Windows-style progress bar experience in Ubuntu requires exploring alternative solutions, as the default behavior may differ. The key is to find tools that provide detailed, system-wide progress monitoring.

KDE Plasma’s Built-in Progress Indicators

If you choose KDE Plasma, you’ll find that it already offers reasonably good progress indicators for file operations, software installations, and other tasks. The notifications system is relatively comprehensive, providing visual feedback on ongoing processes.

Using rsync with Progress Monitoring

For file copying and synchronization tasks, the rsync command-line tool offers excellent progress monitoring capabilities. The -P (or --progress) option provides a detailed progress bar and transfer statistics.

rsync -avP /path/to/source /path/to/destination

This command will display a progress bar showing the percentage of data transferred, the transfer rate, and the estimated time remaining.

pv (Pipe Viewer) for Generic Progress Monitoring

The pv (Pipe Viewer) command is a powerful tool for monitoring the progress of data passing through a pipe. You can use it to track the progress of virtually any command that outputs data to standard output.

# Install pv
sudo apt install pv

# Example: Copying a file with progress monitoring
cat large_file.iso | pv -s $(stat -c %s large_file.iso) > destination_file.iso

In this example, pv is used to monitor the progress of the cat command as it copies a large ISO file. The -s option specifies the total size of the file, allowing pv to calculate the percentage complete.

Graphical Progress Bar Tools

Several graphical tools provide progress bar functionality in Ubuntu. These tools often integrate with the desktop environment and provide a more visually appealing experience.

Progress (Command-line monitoring with graphical output)

This is a command-line tool that provides output about currently running processes in a graphical format. To install and use it, run:

sudo apt install progress
watch -n 1 progress

The watch command executes progress every second, providing a near real-time view of CPU, I/O usage, and progress of various processes.

Dconf Editor tweaks (for GNOME) to Show More Detailed Copy Progress

While not a direct progress bar replacement, Dconf Editor can be used to adjust settings that make GNOME’s file copy operations more informative.

  1. Install Dconf Editor:
    sudo apt install dconf-editor
  2. Open Dconf Editor.
  3. Navigate to: org -> gnome -> nautilus -> preferences.
  4. Find and enable: show-create-delete-progress. This displays detailed progress information for file operations directly in the Nautilus file manager.

Monitoring System Resources with htop

While not directly a progress bar, htop provides a real-time view of system resource usage, including CPU, memory, and disk I/O. This can be helpful for monitoring the progress of resource-intensive tasks.

sudo apt install htop
htop

htop provides a color-coded display of resource usage, making it easy to identify processes that are consuming significant resources.

Combining Tools for a Comprehensive Workflow

The most effective approach is often to combine different tools and techniques to create a workflow that meets your specific needs. For example, you might use KDE Plasma with its built-in progress indicators, combined with rsync for file synchronization and pv for monitoring the progress of custom scripts.

By carefully selecting and configuring the right tools, you can create an Ubuntu environment that is both powerful and comfortable, mirroring the familiar aspects of Windows while embracing the unique advantages of the Linux ecosystem. Remember to experiment with different options and tailor your setup to your specific workflow and preferences. Good luck, revWhiteShadow!