Seeking comprehensive resources about desktop environment customization.
Seeking comprehensive resources about desktop environment customization.
I’ve only dabbled with Linux recently, mainly on my laptop and a small arcade setup. With the increasing data-gathering tactics of Windows 10 and 11, plus my past issues with secure boot and TPM compatibility, I realized it’s time to fully commit to Linux as my primary system. While I’m familiar with pop_OS for laptops and the stable Mint version for gaming machines, I was eager to explore more customization options—especially a full Linux desktop experience. I’m mainly interested in desktop environments, aiming to build a Star Trek-themed desktop, but from what I saw in r/Desktop environments, most options seem limited to minor UI tweaks or anime backgrounds. I’ve been considering Openbox because it’s lightweight and could support fun themes like Gnome, which has a dedicated theme store.
Gnome isn't great for customization and is becoming less supported. For a highly tailored experience, KDE is a better choice. If you need inspiration, check r/unixporn where users often share screenshots of their desktops. You'll usually find config details in the top comment.
Consider trying Manjaro first, then adjust settings to match your preferences. If you're aiming for a lighter experience, you might want to install Manjaro separately after setting up Manjaro. KDE Plasma isn’t something I’m familiar with—maybe you meant another distribution?
I've been using Manjaro KDE for some time now. It works well for both work and daily tasks and is quite reliable. The only issue I face is with dual monitors—KDE occasionally loses my wallpapers and right-click functionality stops. To fix this, I had to remove the KDE configuration file and create a fresh one so the desktop operates properly again.
It's actually quite manageable. You just need to tweak the gnome.style.css file if you're familiar with CSS styling. Besides that, Gnome Extensions provide a good level of personalization.
I first looked into understanding the problem. It seems this particular issue is unique to KDE, as I experienced it on Arch (using KDE) and Kubuntu too. Eventually, I switched to Openbox on Manjaro because it was more efficient and easier to use during my work.