Moving the ubuntu logo button in the ubuntu dock to the top. why not standard?

Hi guys,

I was thinking about how much i hated having to moving the mouse all the way to the ubuntu button in bottom left corner every single time i wanted to open the app drawer.

And thought about how much i liked the original ubuntu button in the top left corner of the dock.
I figured it was probably a very difficult thing to do something.

so i was like you know what maybe there is some addon for it so a quick internet search brings me to a simple command i could enter which i didnt use first search the web if line was legit or not and then it brought me to this website.

https://fostips.com/hide-move-shows-apps-ubuntu/

here i find not only is the command line legit but there was even a graphical way to do it which is what i ended up using it was as simple as turning of a toggle switch thats it 
 now i have the button back where it belongs!

My question is basically if it was this easy then you probaly did this by design and i was wondering why? when it being in the top left corner of the dock is so much better in terms of look (it is the ubuntu look) and b it is more ergonimical?

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Moved to Desktop as this could be a useful discussion, one of which I’d love to see the outcome.

Indeed, I had trouble explaining to my aunt, an 81-year-old woman who is switching to Ubuntu soon, why it was at the bottom. I, for one, think it would be optimal to be in the top-left like where the BFB is on Unity, from whence we get this layout clear back in 17.04.

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Glad i am not the only one.

I would like to see (if i am not to forward to say this) this look to be standard and a toggle switch added to the appearance section to be able to move it top or bottom because i know people will complain about this.

ubuntu 17.04 what a beauty especially with those 3d windows open.

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In my opinion it’s ok where it is. Also it can be easily changed using the “Ubuntu Dock” extension configuration panel.

Maybe adding that option from “Ubuntu Dock” extension to the Settings Dock options (that is just a selected subset of the extension’s options) should make it even easier to change it.

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The command line to change this setting is

gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock show-apps-at-top true
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I’m using Ubuntu for daily tasks for about one month. To me it makes totally sense that the ‘Show Apps’ button is not near my daily used (and pinned) apps. I hardly use it at all - I prefer pressing <Super> and typing what I’m looking for.

Thanks for the hint that ‘Show Apps’ button can be hidden using gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock show-show-apps-button false - I didn’t think about this yet. If I need to access ‘Show Apps’ I simply press <Super>+<A>.

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Well, nostalgic in me want’s that it would be on the top like the days of Unity. However since Ubuntu returned to the bosom of Gnome, it really doesn’t matter that much. I have no issue it being on the bottom.

But I think if we want to honor the tradition, it probably should be on top. Maybe trashcan should be on it’s place in the bottom?

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If you use a lot the “Applications” button, I think that this extension https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1149/activity-app-launcher/ would be very useful too.

The trash can is on the bottom on my dock. I don’t remember doing anything special to put it there.

Well, there is a difference between “at the end of the app list” or “at the bottom left corner” 
 on Unity it used to be in the corner, with gnome nowadays it is only the last in the app list (had you only like three apps there the trash would rather be towards the top)

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My panel only has 4 apps pinned so I guess you could say the trash now resides in the middle.

Different strokes for different folks, as they say.

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in Settings > Ubuntu desktop > Panel mode you may change to have ubuntu logo less distant

Just a thought, so many refugees here from Windows - they would be more comfortable with the familiar bottom-left location.

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Really interesting topic.

I personnaly feel that the button is at his place in the bottom left. It is distinct from the apps.

Moreover, I feel that we need to consider Fitt’s law more in the Ubuntu/Gnome space (Window buttons are the things grinding my gears
), where this position makes even more sense.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitts’s_law?wprov=sfla1

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Just my two cents, but I like that there are very different gestures for:

Action Gesture
Activities overview “fling mouse to top left”
App grid “fling mouse to bottom left”
Quick settings “fling mouse to top right”

Most of the time, I tap <Super> and then type what I need, but in the rare occasion I don’t want to touch my keyboard, the bottom left is nice.

As a bonus, as some have mentioned, accessing applications is the same gesture as it is on Windows, from what I recall.

Seems like something which should be able to be customized, however, the ubuntu dock is just a GNOME shell extension.

Exactly, and to be fair, it can be customized through Extension Manager, and it would be relatively simple to expose in the “Ubuntu Desktop” section of Settings.

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Actually, this is already customizable!

Here’s the process:

  1. Install the “Extension Manager” application (available as a .deb or flatpak)
  2. Open “Extension Manager”, scroll down to the “System Extensions” section, and next to “Ubuntu Dock”, click the gear icon – this should open a pop-up for settings for the Ubuntu Dock extension
  3. Click on the “Launchers” tab
  4. Under the “Show Applications icon” section, there is a box for “Move at beginning of the dock”
  5. Click that box to toggle the position

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Excellent!

Now it only needs option to move trashcan to it’s rightful place
 :wink:

I see, the article linked by OP also explains the customization via “Extension Manager”. I agree it would be nice if this were surfaced in the “Ubuntu Desktop” → “Dock” settings in the Settings application.

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Guys i am telling you this from the perspective of a casual user.
they the normal people are not going to do what i did and i am them in terms of skills 


And from a ergonomics stand point being in the top left corner of the dock makes perfect sense.
They did this in unity for a reason because it worked best.

you guys are pro’s and can and would customize or whatever gets you guys going to the desktop but not normal people.

So in my opinion it should be in the top left corner of the dock and like has been mentioned add a toggle switch in the settings so you guys can move it down or remove entirely or whatever.

I came this close to moving to unity over this placement of this button hahaha

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