Posted: 2024-02-18

AlmaLinux 9 includes the GNOME 40 desktop environment. Although lacking the complexity of Windows and macOS desktops, GNOME 40 provides an uncluttered and intuitive desktop environment that provides all of the essential features of a windowing environment with the added advantage that it can be learned quickly.

In this chapter, the main features of the GNOME desktop will be covered together with an outline of how basic tasks are performed.

Installing the GNOME Desktop

If the Workstation or Server with GUI software configuration was selected during the AlmaLinux 9 installation process, the GNOME desktop will be installed and automatically launched each time the system starts.

If any other software configuration had been selected during the AlmaLinux 9 installation process, the GNOME desktop would not have been included in the packages installed on the system. Installing a graphical desktop environment may seem redundant on server-based systems without a display attached. It is worth noting, however, that remote access to the GNOME desktop is also possible; even on headless servers (i.e., servers lacking a monitor, keyboard, and mouse), it may still be beneficial to install the GNOME desktop packages. The topic of establishing remote desktop access will be covered in detail in this book’s “AlmaLinux 9 Remote Desktop Access with VNC” chapter.

If the installation configuration did not include the GNOME desktop, it can be installed at any time using the following command:

# dnf groupinstall workstationCode language: plaintext (plaintext)

The Workstation group is one of several package groups available for installation. Run the following command to view a list of all available and installed package groups:

$ dnf grouplist
dnf grouplist
Available Environment Groups:
   Server
   Minimal Install
   Workstation
   Virtualization Host
   Custom Operating System
Installed Environment Groups:
   Server with GUI
Installed Groups:
   Container Management
   Headless Management
.
.
Code language: plaintext (plaintext)

Once the installation is complete, the desktop environment may be launched from the command prompt on a monitor as follows:

$ startxCode language: plaintext (plaintext)

Run the following command to launch the desktop environment automatically when the system restarts (we will explore this command in more detail in “Managing Rocky Linux 9AlmaLinux 9 systemd Units”):

# systemctl isolate graphical.targetCode language: plaintext (plaintext)

An Overview of the GNOME 40 Desktop

The screen shown in Figure 6-1 below shows the appearance of a typical, newly launched GNOME desktop session before any other programs have been launched or configuration changes made:

The main desktop area (marked A) is where windows will appear when applications and utilities are launched. Unlike other desktop environments, dragging and dropping files or applications onto the desktop is impossible, providing a clean and uncluttered workspace.

The bar at the top of the screen (B) is called the top bar. It includes the Activities menu (C), the day and time (B), and a collection of status icons (D) which, when clicked, displays a menu containing additional options.

In addition, the application menu for the currently active application running on the desktop will also appear in the top bar. Figure 6-2, for example, shows the application menu for the Terminal program:

Activity Overview

Applications and utilities are launched using the Activities Overview, which may be displayed by clicking the Activities button in the top bar or pressing the special key on the keyboard. On Windows keyboards, this is the Windows key; on macOS, the Command key and Chromebooks, the key displaying a magnifying glass.

When displayed, the Activities Overview will resemble Figure 6-3 below:

The central area of the overview (marked A in Figure 6-3 above) displays all of the currently open app windows. At the bottom of the screen (B) is the dashboard (also referred to as the dash) from which apps are launched. By default, the dash will display an icon for a predefined set of commonly used applications and an icon for any currently running applications. If the application is running, it will appear with a dot beneath the icon. To launch an application, simply click on the icon in the dash.

To find an application not included on the dash, one option is to select the right-most grid icon (the square comprising nine dots) to display a browsable list of applications as shown in Figure 6-4:

It is also important to be aware that some entries in the list are folders holding additional applications. Items in the grid may be repositioned by dragging and dropping the icons. To add an app to a folder, locate it in the grid and drag it into the folder. Moreover, dragging one icon and dropping it onto another will create a new folder containing both apps and to which other apps may be added.

An alternative to browsing the applications is to perform a search using the search bar (marked C in Figure 6-3 above) and shown in action in the figure below:

The list of possible matches will be refined as the text is typed into the search box.

To add an application to the dash for more convenient access, locate the icon for the application, right-click on it, and select the Add to Favorites menu option:

To remove an app from the dash, right-click on the icon in the dash and select Remove from Favorites. Alternatively, drag and drop icons to and from the dash to add and remove them.

Managing Windows

As with other desktop environments, applications run on GNOME in windows. When multiple application windows are open, the Super + Tab keyboard shortcut will display the switcher panel (Figure 6-7), allowing a different window to be chosen as the currently active window (the Super key is either the Windows key or, in the case of a Mac keyboard, the Cmd key):

If a single application has more than one window open, the switcher will display those windows in a second panel so that a specific window can be selected:

To cycle backward through the icons in the switcher, use the Shift+Tab keyboard shortcut.

To maximize a window so it fills the entire screen, click the title bar and drag the window to the top of the screen. To return the window to its original size, click on the title bar and drag it downwards. Alternatively, double-click on the title bar to toggle between window sizes. Similarly, dragging a window to the left or right side of the screen will cause the window to fill that half of the screen.

Using Workspaces

The area of the screen where the application windows appear is referred to as the workspace, and GNOME allows multiple workspaces to be configured. To view the current workspaces, click Activities in the top bar (marked C in Figure 6-1 above) or press the keyboard Super key to display the following screen:

The area marked A in the above figure is the currently selected workspace. Clicking in the areas marked B and C will select and display the previous and next workspaces, respectively. The center workspace panel (A) displays the currently active applications windows. Hovering the mouse pointer of a window will display a close button that can be used to exit the window. To move a window from one workspace to another, display the workspaces panel and drag and drop the application window onto the destination workspace. When a window is added to a blank workspace, another blank workspace is added to the workspace panel, allowing multiple workspaces to be created.

The workspace thumbnails (D) provide a convenient way to switch between workspaces and are particularly helpful when working with many workspaces.

To remove a workspace, either close all the windows on that workspace or move them to another workspace.

The Show Applications screen also provides access to the current workspaces, as illustrated in Figure 6-10 below:

When the system needs to notify you of an event (such as the availability of system or application updates), a popup panel will appear at the top of the workspace. In addition, access to the calendar and any previous notifications is available by clicking on the day and time in the top bar, as shown in Figure 6-11:

GNOME Desktop Settings

To access the Settings application, click on the row of icons on the right-hand side of the top bar and select Settings as shown in Figure 6-12:

The Settings application provides many options, such as Ethernet and WiFi connections, screen background customization options, screen locking and power management controls, and language preferences. To explore the settings available in each category, select an option from the left-hand panel in the Settings window:

The menu shown in Figure 6-12 above also includes options to switch users, adjust audio volume, change to a different WiFi network, and log out, restart, or power off the system.

Beyond Basic Customization

The GNOME 40 desktop is, by design, a clean and uncluttered environment with minimal customization options. However, it is possible to make additional changes to the desktop. The GNOME Project has developed a tool called GNOME Tweaks for this purpose. Use the following commands to install and run this tool:

# dnf install gnome-tweaks
$ gnome-tweaksCode language: plaintext (plaintext)

Once GNOME Tweaks has loaded, the interface shown in Figure 6-14 will appear:

A wide range of options for customizing the desktop is now available. Too many to cover in this chapter, so experiment with these settings before proceeding to the next chapter.

Installing GNOME Desktop Apps

No desktop environment would be complete without an app store, and the GNOME desktop is no exception. The app store for the GNOME desktop is called Software and can be launched from the dash, as highlighted in Figure 6-14:

Once loaded, the Software app will appear as shown in Figure 6-15, allowing you to browse and install apps:

Summary

AlmaLinux 9 includes the GNOME 40 desktop environment, which may either be included during the initial installation or installed later using the dnf group package installation feature. Unlike most other desktop environments, GNOME 40 is intended to provide a clean and easy-to-use windowing user interface. Key areas of the GNOME 40 desktop include the top bar, Activities overview, and dash. In addition, GNOME 40 supports multiple workspaces keeping running applications organized and the screen uncluttered. Various configuration options are available within the Settings app, including desktop background settings, audio, network configuration, and WiFi network selection.