Ubuntu 18.04 GNOME like Unity (with Microsoft Windows Keyboard Shortcuts)

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Some tweaks I learned about to make Ubuntu 18.04 Gnome behave more like Unity did, for those with 'muscle memory'.

Prerequisites

The following requirements need to be installed first:

  1. Open a Terminal window;
  2. Type:
    1. sudo apt install gnome-tweaks dconf-editor
  3. Accept installation of these and any dependencies;

Unity (Compiz) Spread Mode

Open Gnome Tweak Tool (called just 'Tweaks' in the Application Launcher.

  1. Navigate to Top Bar;
  2. Enable 'Activities Overview Hot Corner';
  3. Click on the tick-box icon on the lower edge of the window to apply.

Moving the mouse and holding pushed into the upper-left corner will spread out all windows.

Unity Application Launcher top-left

Open DConf Editor (called 'dconf Editor' in the Application Launcher).

  1. Navigate to org / gnome / shell / extensions / dash-to-dock;
  2. Set value 'show-apps-at-top' to 'On';
  3. Click on the tick-box icon on the lower edge of the window to apply.

Gnome with Windows Shortcuts

If, like me, you're accustomed to the Windows ways of <Windows Key> + <M> for minimize all to desktop you'll find it opens the Message Tray (center-top drop-down with Calendar and Activities) instead. The actual key combination is set to <Super> + <D> ('Super' being the Linux term for 'Windows Key', because, reasons).

Message Tray (Unbind <Super> + <M>)

The first thing that needs changing is the key binding presently assuming the <Super> + <M> combination. Open DConf Editor (called 'dconf Editor' in the Application Launcher).

  1. Navigate to org / gnome / shell / keybindings / toggle-message-tray;
  2. Set 'Use default value' to 'Off';
  3. Edit the 'Custom value' box to contain just ['<Super>t'] (including the square brackets, per the original content);
  4. Click on the tick-box icon on the lower edge of the window to apply.

Note: The <Super> + <T> combination was selected partly because it still reflects the 'T' of 'Message Tray' (or 'Tasks') and because it appears unassigned to any other use.

Minimize All (Bind <Super> + <M>)

Still within DConf Editor and <Super> + <M> freed-up in the previous steps:

  1. Navigate to org / gnome / desktop / wm / keybindings / show-desktop;
  2. Set 'Use default value' to 'Off';
  3. Edit the 'Custom value' box to contain just ['<Super>m'] (including the square brackets, per the original content);
  4. Click on the tick-box icon on the lower edge of the window to apply.

'Start / Run' (Bind <Super> + <R>)

Continuing the Windows-learned key behaviours, <Windows> + <R> for 'Start / Run' is another memory muscle go-to combination.

Once again, within DConf Editor:

  1. Navigate to org / gnome / shell / keybindings / toggle-application-view;
  2. Set 'Use default value' to 'Off';
  3. Edit the 'Custom value' box to contain just ['<Super>r'] (including the square brackets, per the original content);
  4. Click on the tick-box icon on the lower edge of the window to apply.

This will be the equivalent of clicking on the Application Launcher; however, you can start typing in commands and the text-box automatically gains focus.

Lock Screen (Bind <Super> + <L>)

Thankfully this one is already catered for, so nothing to do here!

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