Gnome-shell needs some Ubuntu design/theming integration (font, on-off swithch, etc.)

[mlaverdiere]

This is obviously a wish report, not a bug report per se.

Since Ubuntu Oneiric, gnome-shell can easily be installed and it works pretty well, coexisting peacefully with Unity. With this option easily available, a significant number of Ubuntu users may prefer using gnome-shell instead of Unity, for whatever reasons. That's why I think some efforts should be put to better integrate gnome-shell within the regular Ubuntu design/theming framework. IMHO, what is missing right now is some slight adjustments, like these ones:

 - Using Ubuntu font, instead of Canterella
 - Using Ubuntu orange color for on/off buttons, instead of blue

Many (if not all) of these adjustments could be done quite easily (I did it myself) with just a line modification in /usr/share/gnome-shell/theme/gnome-shell.css or by adjusting color in files within the directory /usr/share/gnome-shell/theme

On the other hand, I don't think that we need a complete and specific Ambiance or Radiance gnome-shell theme (like this one: http://half-left.deviantart.com/art/GNOME-Shell-Ubuntu-Ambience-210264151) . I think (I may be wrong) that the vast majority of users will prefer to experience the real gnome-shell experience, with just some bits of Ubuntu integration.

So, in short, my wish is that gnome-shell receives some Ubuntu love! We don't have to create a "Gubuntu" derived distro for this (or a fork, like UGR: http://ugr.teampr0xy.net/) , we just have to make sure that some integration work is done at the gnome-shell packaging stage. (I guess that to support this work, the Ubuntu/gnome-shell community could unite around the Ubuntu GNOME3 team? See: https://launchpad.net/~gnome3-team)

Thanks.

[mlaverdiere (mlaverdiere)]

Just to illustrate what's my take on this, I'm including an installable "GS Ubuntu Integration Theme" that I made (installable with the gnome-shell-extension-user-theme) and a screenshot.

[mlaverdiere (mlaverdiere)]

Screenshot

[Jeremy Bícha (jbicha)]

The Cantarell font is not installed unless a user explicitly installs it. In other words, simply installing gnome-shell won't also install Cantarell. Therefore, the Ubuntu fonts are used by default.

[mlaverdiere (mlaverdiere)]

Well, if you let the gnome-shell.css at it's original state, it may not use Cantarell font since it is not installed, but it will not use the specific Ubuntu font (see: http://font.ubuntu.com/) used by official Ubuntu themes (Ambiance & Radiance). I suppose it uses a more or less arbitraty determined Cantarell equivalent.

So, in order to have GS include this particular Ubuntu theming aspect, a specific reference to ubuntu font (just by replacing "cantarell" by "ubuntu" in gnome-shell.css) is required. And believe me (or just try it!), it makes a significant impact in terms of integration.

[mlaverdiere (mlaverdiere)]

In case it could be useful, I have updated the theme (orange less flashy) and put it on gnome-look.org: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/GS+Ubuntu+Integration+Theme?content=146361