Step by step tutorial with screenshots

Dec 28, 2008 11:41 GMT  ·  By

Because many people complained a lot about the looks of the new Ubuntu OS and other major Linux distributions, and how they wanted a more eye-candy, professional desktop, we thought that the following tutorial would be a nice Christmas Gift for all of you Linux enthusiasts out there. Therefore, this step-by-step guide will teach you how to create your own "futuristic" Linux desktop! In other words, we will pimp your desktop and change its looks:

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from this
to this

But, remember that nothing can stop you from adding other elements to your desktop, in order to make it "perfect"!

What do I need to get started?

1. A recent Linux distribution (we recommend Ubuntu 8.10) 2. Avant Window Manager 3. Screenlets 4. Pidgin Screenlet 5. Emerald Decorator 6. A nice wallpaper! 7. Mashup Icon Theme

Let's get started, shall we? First of all we need to install Avant Window Navigator, therefore you should open Synaptic Package Manager (System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager)...

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Search for "avant" (without quotes). Wait a few seconds to find the packages. Click the box in front of the "avant-window-navigator" package and select the "Mark for Installation" option...

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You will be asked if you want to add the additional required packages. Click on the "Mark" button to add them...

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Now, we need to add two more packages: "awn-applets-python-extras" ...

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...and "awn-applets-c-extras" ...

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Then, search for "screenlets" (without quotes). Wait a few seconds to find the package. Click on the box in front of the "screenlets" package and select the "Mark for Installation" option:

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Click the "Apply" button and wait for the packages to be downloaded and installed...

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When the installation is over, close Synaptic Package Manager. Right click on the bottom panel and select the "Delete This Panel" option...

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A warning window will appear. Just click on the "Delete" button...

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And now, let's replace it with Avant Window Navigator. Open it from Applications -> Accessories -> Avant Window Navigator...

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You will immediately see the dock at the bottom. Go to System -> Preferences -> Awn Manager and set its options like this...

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We recommend you add the following basic applets: MiMenu, Launcher/Taskmanager (installed by default), Awn Notification Daemon, Awn Terminal Applet, PyClock, Quit-Logoff Applet. Make sure they are in this exact order...

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Now, remove everything from the right side of the upper panel (simply right click on them and choose the "Remove From Panel" option...

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Drag and drop your favorite application shortcuts, from the panel to the Avant Window Navigator (make sure that the panel icons are not locked). After that, remove them all...

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Go to System -> Preferences -> Sessions...

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Add an entry for Avant Window Navigator, so it will automatically start with the session...

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In order to add the nice Pidgin widget, download it from the beginning of the tutorial, open the Screenlets manager from Applications -> Accessories -> Screenlets...

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Click the "Install" option on the left side and click the "OK" button on the little install window...

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Search for the PidginScreenlet archive and double click it to install. You will receive a confirmation message if the installation is successful...

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Search for Pidgin in the applets window, click on it and make sure that you check the "Start/Stop" and "Auto start on login" options in the left side...

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Drag the Pidgin Screenlet from the left side of the desktop to the right. Right click on it, select the "Theme -> Black 2" and make sure you have the following options active under the "Window" sub-menu: Lock, Sticky and Keep below...

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Go back to System -> Preferences -> Sessions and uncheck the "Screenlets Daemon option...

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You can now remove the last remaining item from the upper panel...

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In order to make the panel disappear, right click on it and select "Properties"...

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On the "General" tab, check the "Autohide" option and set the Size to 21...

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On the "Background" tab select the "Solid color" option and drag the Style slide to "Transparent"...

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Get a nice wallpaper, right click on the desktop and choose "Change Desktop Background"...

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...and select your favorite wallpaper...

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Go to the "Theme" tab and drag and drop the Mashup icon theme. You will be asked if you want to apply the theme. Click on the "Apply New Theme" button...

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That's it. Optionally, you can install the Emerald Decorator and get some nice themes for it from here.

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Don't forget to drop a link with your own screenshots!

Note: To revert everything back to default, please use our Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop Customization - Revert Guide