GNOME extensions and Tweaks

In short: GNOME can be adapted to your own wishes through extensions and the “Tweaks” tool, although the defaults are lean.

In more detail: Extensions are small JavaScript modules for GNOME Shell. You install them via the website extensions.gnome.org or the “Extensions” app.

In detail

• Popular: Dash to Dock (dock), AppIndicator (tray icons), Blur My Shell (blur), Just Perfection, Clipboard Indicator, tiling extensions.
• Tweaks: font sizes, window buttons (show minimise/maximise), themes, autostart.
• dconf editor: allows hidden settings, use carefully.
• Stability: new GNOME versions can break extensions until they are updated. So use only a few.
• Security: install only from the official source, extensions run with full rights in the shell.
• Shortcuts: Super (overview), Super+arrows (tiling), Alt+Tab (programs), Super+Tab.

See also: GNOME, Linux desktop environments at a glance