Image via Wikipedia

If you are not sure what is Gnome Do, read my previous post on this topic. Ubuntu 8.10 repositories has older version 0.6.0.1 of Gnome-DO. This was probably released around October 2008 time frame when Ubuntu 8.10 was released. It has been several months since then, and Gnome DO has progressed nicely.

If you want to try the latest version of Gnome DO, which now comes with Docky, then read on How to upgrade to latest version.

Remove the existing version

Although update might work after adding coorect sources, it was adviced (on various ubuntu forums) that removing exisitng version is better. Use following command.

sudo aptitude purge gnome-do gnome-do-plugins gnome-do-plugin-rhythmbox

Add new sources

You need to add what is  called PPA – Personal Package Archive. This is where newer packages, which aren’t yet approved by Ubuntu are available. In simpler terms, this are additional Software Sources.

1. Go to System->Administration->Software Sources
2. Third party software Tab, Add, copy following line one by one. (Create two entries)

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/do-core/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/do-core/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main

Install

1. System->Administration->Synaptic package manager
2. Click on Not installed from left hand side, then type gnome do in the search box.
3. Select gnome-do (it will also add gnome-do plugins) Click Apply, and wait for the installation to complete.
4. Once done, go to Applications->accesories->Gnome Do.

Docky still not available ?

So far so good,  But I wanted to install Docky. As per the instructions, I was supposed to select Docky theme. But there was an error that I had not enabled composting.

Since I had four years old machine, I had turned off all the effects, I thought I won’t be able to use Docky, after all. But apparently one can enable composting without having latest and greatest graphics card.

Follow this link to Enable Composting in metacity

So when I finally installed Ubuntu on home machine, I wanted an equivalent for Linux as well. I had read about Gnome Do long ago, and when I looked at it (back then) it was in a very nascent state (plus I didn’t have working Linux machine at home)

So what is so special about Gnome DO ?

It provides quick access to variety of task you would do on day to day basis. e.g. To start Firefox browser, all you need to type is “Fi”, and Gnome Do detects that you may want to start Firefox. See the screenshot below. Underlined text is what user has typed from the keyboard.

Launching Firefox from Gnome DO

But even my shell has auto completion, so I can start Firefox, just by typing “fi” (and tab, to complete the command). But Gnome DO does far more than launching applications.  It takes in parameters that you would pass on to the apps. You can “tweet” from the same interface, as well as add an even to your Google calendar. It does this via plugins. With plugins, the possibilities are endless. Following is only the sample of what all actions you can do from Gnome Do interface, without ever touching mouse.

Plugins

With Twitter plugin, Twit this is added as an action. Once this plugin is configured, newer tweets keep popping up on your screen as they become available.  You can also take a screen shot of current window, or the entire screen.

Take a Shot !!

Gnome DO is not installed by default, but it is is very easy to install. Follow these steps :

1. Start Synaptic Package Manager (You may need to enter your password, if you haven’t logged in as root, and you know, you shouldn’t )
2. Select Not Installed from the left hand side list
3. Put Gnome DO the search box
4. Select gnome do from the available list, tick the check-box to install the application
5. Some additional packages may also be marked as needed (e.g gnome-do-plugins) Allow them to be installed as well.
6. Click Apply button, and allow the installation to complete.
7. Once the installation is complete, Gnome DO is available under Accessories menu

Note : Head over to Flickr for a lot more Screen shots of Gnome DO in action !!