Upgrading GNOME on Debian

The stable version of Debian often comes with an old GNOME version due to its focus on stability. For example, GNOME Debian 12 latest update comes with GNOME 43. The newest version of GNOME, as of writing this post, is 46. The latest versions of GNOME loaded so many innovative features. Debian 12 users can't simply update to GNOME 46. Here are the steps to update to GNOME's latest version. Debian 12 is used to demonstrate the update process. I request that the process be tried in a Debian 12 installed in Virtualbox for learning purposes and later tried on the production computer. Take the data backup before the update attempt.

Two ways we can do the GNOME update. Install the Debian 12 without any desktop. While software selection, uncheck the Debian Desktop environment and GNOME to get desktopless Debian.

Start the installation directly if you are using the Debian stable version with a desktop. Anyway, start the update process from here.

Install GNOME Core for slim desktop experience

GNOME is an excellent and modern desktop in terms of features and size. It is packed with so many apps and packages. Bulky-size GNOME desktops occupy a good amount of storage and memory. Linux distros are available with a complete package of the GNOME desktop. Users who want to try a lean GNOME desktop can install GNOME Core. The GNOME Core package contains the core components of the GNOME Desktop. Here, I select the Debian desktop to install GNOME Core installation. Debian Linux OS is flexible in the selection of desired desktops during the installation process. The GNOME desktop in Debian Linux comes without many modifications and is very fast.

Easy way to remove GNOME games

A group of games install along with GNOME desktop in Linux-based operating systems like Debian and Ubuntu. If you are not a game lover, it's possible to remove them.

Here is the command to remove the whole game;

sudo apt purge iagno lightsoff four-in-a-row gnome-robots pegsolitaire gnome-2048 hitori gnome-klotski gnome-mines gnome-mahjongg gnome-sudoku quadrapassel swell-foop gnome-tetravex gnome-taquin aisleriot gnome-chess five-or-more gnome-nibbles tali

sudo apt autoremove

First-hand experience with Ubuntu 17.04 (Artful Aardvark)

I installed and tried Ubuntu 17.04 (Artful Aardvark) Linux. The main change is the advent of GNOME desktop instead of Unity. Default GNOME desktop seems heavy for low profile computers. Experienced fast performance after the installation of GNOME Classic desktop. Users can sync with various accounts (e.g. Google) from the file manager. This feature is helpful for users to backup files in cloud storage.

Default GNOME desktop of Ubuntu 17.04. The desktop feel heavy for low profile computers.

Install GNOME Classic desktop for fast performance.

User can add various acounts.

Sync with Google Drive in File Manager

Switch from Unity to Gnome in Ubuntu 11.10

Enter the following command in Terminal,

sudo /usr/lib/lightdm/lightdm-set-defaults -s gnome-shell

Reboot PC. 

Ubuntu 11.04: how to switch from Unity to Gnome

You can easily switch to Gnome from new Unity Desktop.

Select Ubuntu Classic from

System > Administration > Login Screen