My Ubuntu desktop setup

README.md

Ubuntu Desktop Setup

These are my scripts for setting up a handy Ubuntu desktop. They also include solutions to problems people may hit when migrating from Windows to Ubuntu, based on my own experience. With Make, you can select the features you want by choosing targets.

Usage

• Install the prerequisite:

  sudo apt update
  sudo apt install -y make

• Run one or more targets:

  make [<target> ...]

  With no targets, the default setup is applied.
• Reboot.

Key Features

• gnome-extension/dash-to-panel: A Windows-like taskbar to feel familiar.
• google-chrome: Install Google Chrome via Flatpak (not available in the Snap Store).
• google-chrome.dual-profile: Google Chrome with distinct taskbar icons for Home/Work profiles.
• qemu-kvm: Operate virtual machines.
• remmina: An SSH and RDP client for Linux.
• remote-desktop: Allows this machine to be managed over LAN via RDP.
• samba: Share files over LAN and access hosts via hostname.local.
  • To share a folder, with nautilus-share installed, right-click it and choose "Sharing Options".
• sublime-text: The text editor.
• taiwan-locale
  • Install the required input method and recommended GNOME extension.
  • For developers, keep Ubuntu in English while using regional formats.
• vs-code: Visual Studio Code for development, with Git and Docker integration.
• xbox-controller-connection: Xbox controllers may appear paired but still not work. In most cases, re-pairing a few times fixes it without extra setup. If not, try this target and test with the included joystick-tester.

Some steps may still require manual operation.

Tested On

• Ubuntu 25.10

Known issue: In GNOME, the Flatpak version of Google Chrome does not group dock icons by profile. Windows are grouped under a single icon because GNOME groups by App ID and ignores WM_CLASS for Flatpak apps.

google-chrome.dual-profile.mk

config := .var/app/com.google.Chrome/config
desktop_entry := .local/share/applications
template := $(dir $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST)))google-chrome.template.desktop

.PHONY: all config-alias

all: config-alias
all: $(desktop_entry)/google-chrome.home.desktop
all: $(desktop_entry)/google-chrome.work.desktop

$(config) $(desktop_entry):
	mkdir -p $@

$(config)/google-chrome.home: $(config)
	cd $< && (if test -d google-chrome -a ! -h google-chrome; then mv -T google-chrome google-chrome.home; fi)

config-alias: $(config) $(config)/google-chrome.home
	cd $< && (test -h google-chrome || ln -s google-chrome.home google-chrome)

$(desktop_entry)/google-chrome.home.desktop: $(template) $(desktop_entry)
	CONFIG=$(config) CLASS=google-chrome.home NAME=Home envsubst < $< > $@
	chmod +x $@

$(desktop_entry)/google-chrome.work.desktop: $(template) $(desktop_entry)
	CONFIG=$(config) CLASS=google-chrome.work NAME=Work envsubst < $< > $@
	chmod +x $@

# Known issue: In GNOME, the Flatpak version of Google Chrome does not group
# dock icons by profile. Windows are grouped under a single icon because GNOME
# groups by App ID and ignores `WM_CLASS` for Flatpak apps.

google-chrome.template.desktop

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Google Chrome (${NAME})
Icon=com.google.Chrome
Exec=flatpak run com.google.Chrome --class=${CLASS} --user-data-dir=${CONFIG}/${CLASS} %U
Terminal=false
StartupNotify=true
StartupWMClass=${CLASS}

install-gnome-extension.sh

#!/bin/sh
set -e

if test $# -ne 1; then
    echo "Usage: $0 <extension-uuid>" >&2
    exit 1
fi

# Reference: https://github.com/mjakeman/extension-manager/blob/v0.6.5/src/local/org.gnome.Shell.Extensions.xml
gdbus call --session \
    --dest org.gnome.Shell.Extensions \
    --object-path /org/gnome/Shell/Extensions \
    --method org.gnome.Shell.Extensions.InstallRemoteExtension \
    "$1" || echo The error above is ignored because the D-Bus call fails if the confirmation dialog is not answered quickly enough.

makefile

.PHONY: default ufw-enable remote-desktop xbox-controller-connection
.PHONY: apt-update docker flatpak git joystick-tester qemu-kvm samba snapd taiwan-locale
.PHONY: remmina sublime-text vs-code google-chrome google-chrome.dual-profile
.PHONY: gnome-extension/dash-to-panel gnome-extension/kimpanel

default: samba taiwan-locale remmina sublime-text vs-code google-chrome gnome-extension/dash-to-panel

# System

ufw-enable:
	sudo ufw --force enable

remote-desktop: ufw-enable
	@yelp help:gnome-help/remote-login &
	@echo --- 'Please follow the guide to enable Remote Desktop. Then, close the "Settings" window to continue.'
	gnome-control-center system remote-desktop
	sudo ufw allow from 192.168.0.0/16 to any port 3389 proto tcp comment 'remote desktop'
	sudo ufw allow from fd00::/8       to any port 3389 proto tcp comment 'remote desktop'

xbox-controller-connection: joystick-tester
	# usually not required: echo 1 | sudo tee /sys/module/bluetooth/parameters/disable_ertm
	sudo service bluetooth restart
	service bluetooth status | head
	jstest-gtk &
	@echo --- Try to forget your Xbox controller, pair it again, and test it with the joystick tester.

# APT packages

apt-update:
	sudo apt update
	sudo apt -y upgrade

docker: apt-update
	sudo apt install -y docker.io docker-compose-v2
	sudo adduser $(USER) docker

flatpak: apt-update
	sudo apt install -y gnome-software-plugin-flatpak
	flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

git: apt-update
	sudo apt install -y git

joystick-tester: apt-update
	sudo apt install -y jstest-gtk

qemu-kvm: apt-update
	sudo apt install -y virt-manager
	kvm-ok
	qemu-system-x86_64 -version
	libvirtd -V

samba: apt-update ufw-enable
	sudo apt install -y samba nautilus-share wsdd-server
	@echo --- Since Samba doesn\'t use the system account password, please set up a Samba password for your account.
	sudo smbpasswd -a $(USER)
	sudo adduser $(USER) sambashare
	sudo ufw allow from 192.168.0.0/16 to any app samba
	sudo ufw allow from fd00::/8       to any app samba
	sudo ufw allow from 192.168.0.0/16 to any app wsdd
	sudo ufw allow from fd00::/8       to any app wsdd

snapd: apt-update
	sudo apt install -y snapd

taiwan-locale: apt-update gnome-extension/kimpanel
	sudo apt install -y fcitx5-table-boshiamy language-pack-zh-hant
	@echo --- Please add the required input methods.
	fcitx5 2> /dev/null & fcitx5-configtool
	im-config -n fcitx5

# Snaps

remmina: snapd
	sudo snap install remmina
	sudo snap connect remmina:password-manager-service :password-manager-service
	sudo snap connect remmina:ssh-keys                 :ssh-keys
	sudo snap connect remmina:ssh-public-keys          :ssh-public-keys
	# More permissions can be toggled in the Remmina page of the Settings > Apps panel.

sublime-text: settings.sublime-text.json snapd
	sudo snap install --classic sublime-text
	install -DT $< $(HOME)/.config/sublime-text/Packages/User/Preferences.sublime-settings

vs-code: settings.vs-code.json snapd git docker
	sudo snap install --classic code
	install -DT $< $(HOME)/.config/Code/User/settings.json

# Flatpak apps

google-chrome: flatpak
	sudo flatpak install -y com.google.Chrome

google-chrome.dual-profile: google-chrome.dual-profile.mk google-chrome
	$(MAKE) -C $(HOME) -f $(abspath $<)

# GNOME extensions

gnome-extension/dash-to-panel: settings.dash-to-panel.ini
	sh install-gnome-extension.sh dash-to-panel@jderose9.github.com
	dconf load /org/gnome/shell/extensions/dash-to-panel/ < $<

gnome-extension/kimpanel:
	sh install-gnome-extension.sh kimpanel@kde.org

settings.dash-to-panel.ini

[/]
appicon-margin=4
appicon-padding=8
multi-monitors=false
panel-element-positions='{"0":[{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}]}'
showdesktop-button-width=2
tray-padding=2
window-preview-size=120

settings.sublime-text.json

{
    "line_padding_top": 4,
    "line_padding_bottom": 4,
    "draw_white_space": "all",
    "show_encoding": true
}

settings.vs-code.json

{
    "editor.lineHeight": 2,
    "editor.renderWhitespace": "all",
    "editor.rulers": [
        80,
        100
    ],
    "git.blame.editorDecoration.enabled": true
}