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GNOME on Qubes
Raw
instructions.md

Hi!

You should be able to install GNOME DE on Qubes OS dom0 with.

sudo qubes-dom0-update gnome-shell

Install extensions according to instructions here.

Enable window borders

Install [email protected] and run this:

sudo cp ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]/schemas/org.gnome.shell.extensions.pop-shell.gschema.xml /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/org.gnome.shell.extensions.pop-shell.gschema.xml && sudo glib-compile-schemas /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas

Reload the shell with Alt + F2 and type r. Use the tiling widget in the panel to enable active window hint.

Then run label.sh to enable colored window borders. Thanks to the kind people in the Qubes forum who helped me with the script.

Raw
label.sh
#!/bin/bash
while true
do
ID=`xdotool getwindowfocus`
QUBE=`xprop _QUBES_VMNAME -id $ID|cut -f2 -d\" `
if [[ "$QUBE" == "_QUBES_VMNAME: not found." ]]; then
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.pop-shell hint-color-rgba 'white'
else
LABEL=`qvm-prefs "$QUBE" label`
#echo $LABEL
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.pop-shell hint-color-rgba $LABEL
sleep 0.05
fi
done
@0104910052
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0104910052 commented Sep 25, 2021

Hey this is great, really glad people got gnome working on qubes.

I've been wondering, is the link to the extensions installation guide broken or its really meant to point to the current url?
Also, could you please go in a little more depth to how you got popos-shell installed in dom0 please?

@code3z
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code3z commented Sep 25, 2021

Sorry, I did this quickly and forgot to add the link, it is there now. Pop shell is here and can be installed according to instructions for installing an extension from ZIP:
https://github.com/pop-os/shell/releases/tag/1.2.0

@code3z
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code3z commented Sep 25, 2021

You’ll need to download the file in an AppVM and move it to dom0, see qubes docs.

@jonathan-kosgei
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jonathan-kosgei commented Jan 4, 2022

@code3z what theme/icon set are you using?

@Nugget2269
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Nugget2269 commented Feb 11, 2022

he is using the zorin-os icon/theme set as shown in one of his pictures

@code3z
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code3z commented Feb 11, 2022

Yup I think it was zorin

@Newrad-G
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Newrad-G commented Feb 20, 2022

Hello,
Thanks very much for the instructions for Gnome DE. The first step worked perfectly; able to sign-in to Gnome - version 3.36.9.

Gnome Tweaks and gnome Extensions install, and launch, perfectly - in Fedora 34 and Debian 11.
But in neither of the templates are these gnome tools effective. Any changes made in Tweaks are not operative. Actual gnome extensions - manually installed per link above with corrections for UUID - into home/user/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions are not picked up by Tweaks or the Extensions App.

I am new to Qubes OS, and it's working great otherwise - not working great, yet, in the Gnome DE though!

Would greatly appreciate any help or/and feedback.

@code3z
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code3z commented Feb 26, 2022

@Newrad-G I don’t use Qubes anymore.

sounds like you are installing GNOME extensions and tweaks in templates or app VM, it must be in dom0

@Newrad-G
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Newrad-G commented Mar 4, 2022

sounds like you are installing GNOME extensions and tweaks in templates or app VM, it must be in dom0

Thanks for the reply.
I guess I will need to find out more about dom0: its functions and when and why to use it when needed!

@kennethrrosen
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kennethrrosen commented Apr 12, 2024

I realize this is a bit old, but how does one manage tray services (sys-net, sys-whonix, etc.)?

@vboufleur
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vboufleur commented Apr 16, 2025 •
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@kennethrrosen there are some Gnome Extensions for enabling showing legacy tray icons for quick access to the services you mentioned.

For example, here's the one that I use, called "AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support": https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/615/appindicator-support/

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