Dear community,
though I have been using Linux for years, I consider myself kind of a newbie, so I post my question in this Forum. Please, feel free to move it to a more appropiate forum if you think it should be there and excuse my poor english.
Long story short: I have been using Ubuntu (Unity) + Compiz + Cairo Dock for years and I desesperately need some of the Compiz features. I wonder if there is any other alternative which would allow me to have the same features with more modern, stable software.
Long story: Many years ago, I switched from Windows to Linux in my work computer and I was amazingly surprised about the improvement it was for my usual work. I could easily manage and reorganize all my windows in an agile way that couldn't even dream with Windows XP or Vista.
I have been using Ubuntu (Unity) + Compiz + Cairo Dock since then. I'm currently in Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. Compiz is awesome and it gives me all the features I need from a window manager. I hid Unity dock and put Cairo instead. Cairo Dock was not very stable, but it worked most of the time and was far better that Unity.
However, I have a new computer and I have installed Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS and I see that Unity has been removed. And Compiz and Cairo Dock work but they don't seem very stable.
It's my work computer and I don't have too much time to try things, I just need to work! I think that I'm going to install Unity in 18.04.1 and try to stay like before, but I wonder if there is any other combination of Linux, window manager and dock that could give me the same features that I have but with more modern and stable software.
So I ask you, Linux gurus. If somebody can suggest a better work environment, I could invest some time in get accustomed to it. For example, I have read wonders about KDE Plasma and Latte Dock. But I don't want to waste time in installing them if I can't do the same things that right now.
The things from Compiz that I need to do proficiently my job are:
- Shortcuts, shortcuts, shortcuts for everything! Every action must be configurable with a shortcut. For me this is the best feature of Compiz.
- An expo view of all the windows of the current desktop to quickly choose one (done with Compiz Expo and Compiz Scale Window)
- A quick way to move windows between two screens and several virtual desktops (done with Compiz Desktop Wall and Compiz Put)
- A quick way to maximize, minimize and put half window in an screen edge (done with Compiz Grid)
- A quick way to launch apps (done with Unity's shortcuts) and switch between them (done with Compiz Shift Switcher)
- A quick launcher/search tool like Unity, so I push the "Super" button and I can search documents and apps just typing on it their name.
And the features I need from Cairo Dock aren't a big thing IMHO:
- A dock with several permanent icons and one icon for every opened window in the current desktop, I hate the stacked windows.
- The dock must be in the bottom of the screen and must be permanent.
Please, don't hesitate in asking me whatever you need to know and many thanks in advance for your help.
Best regards.
