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Install Gnome on Ubuntu 14.04 (Guide)

by Fahad Saleem

Install Gnome on Ubuntu 14.04 (Guide)

Gnome is a handy desktop environment that is composed of free and open-source software that runs on multiple operating systems. It aims to provide framework to put the users more in command over their operating systems. You can install Gnome on Ubuntu 14.04 using the following guide.

How to Install Gnome on Ubuntu 14.04

You can install Gnome 3.12 on Ubuntu 14.04 using web installer as well as shell terminal commands. Use this link to download Gnome 3.12.

gnome 2

Currently, Gnome 3.12 is available for downloading in the Gnome 3 staging PPA and it is not considered stable for the general use. The packages might contain some bugs or regressions. Mostly, the things should run well, but you should be prepared for unexpected errors.

It is possible to use Gnome 3 PPA to install Gnome Ubuntu with Unity. However, in case of some errors on Gnome, Unity will stop working.

Hence, Gnome 3 staging PPA should only be used by Ubuntu Gnome 14.04. The users, who have Unity with Ubuntu 14.04, shouldn’t install Gnome 3 if they don’t know how to fix the probable errors. When Unity stops working, the method for reverting the changes is quite complicated.

gnome 3

You need to read the Output before inputting “Y” for the “dist-upgrade” command below to make sure that the important packages are intact. Even if the “dist-upgrade” command tries to remove the packages, you must immediately stop the installation and also remove the PPA. It is always a good idea to save the list of packages that are upgraded by the instructions below if you want to revert the changes when ppa-purge fails.

You only require Gnome 3 Staging PPA at this stage. However, some packages might be upgraded to the stable Gnome 3 PPA. Using the following instructions, you will be able to add Gnome 3 PPA as well as the Gnome 3 Staging PPA.

You need to use the following commands to add Gnome 3 and Gnome 3 staging PPAs and then upgrade to Gnome 3.12 in Ubuntu Gnome 14.04.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3-staging

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade”

You can also install the Gnome 3 apps (Clocks, Music, Maps, Polari etc) that aren’t installed by default. Default Gnome Shell Extensions and Gnome Tweak Tool can also be added along with the apps by using the following commands.

sudo apt-get install bijiben polari gnome-clocks gnome-weather gnome-maps gnome-music gnome-photos gnome-documents gnome-contacts epiphany-browser gnome-sushi gnome-boxes gnome-shell-extensions gnome-tweak-tool”

When the installation completes, you need to restart your system.

How to Revert the Changes for Going Back to Gnome 3.10

If you face some issues or don’t like the Gnome 3.12 features, you can revert to Gnome 3.10 using PPA purge command. Use the following commands.

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge

sudo ppa-purge ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3-staging

sudo ppa-purge ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3”

Once the PPA is purged, you need to restart your system again.

This is how to install Gnome 3.12 on Ubuntu 14.04 and reverting to Gnome 3.10 if some errors occur.

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