Unity's "about:config" doesn't work in Ubuntu 11.10 Oneirc Ocelot

Custumization of Unity in Ubuntu 11.10; about:config doesn't work

spanish version - all english posts

Unity probably due to a misguided Ubuntu's "zero-config" policy cannot be customized by the end user. At least by default.

Theroetically by pressing alt-F2 and typing in the laucher "about:config" the configuration/personalization utility of Unity should appear... but although the icon of the configuration utility shows up, nothing happens at all. Neither even a notice that the config utility is not working. A minimal configuration tool is not installed by default. Incredible!

To make the configuration utility work you must install CCSM (The «compiz config settings manager»):

apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Once that package is installed, the "about:config" thing will work. It's pretty sad that Ubuntu doesn't allow the end user to personalize the desktop (or doesn't seriously take into account that possibility); but it is at least as sad, that when the user tries to launch the "hidden" config utility there is not a minimal warning saying that the user should install CCSM to make it work.

To check the few (really few) options that the CCSM configuration tool allows, I recommend to read the following link; but once you have opened the utility you will notice that there's not much to customize:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/29553/how-can-i-configure-unity

However it seems that things will change in the near future:

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/11/ubuntu-desktop-designers-clarify-on-configurability/

Unity "about:config" no funciona en Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot

Personalización de Unity en Ubuntu 11.10; about:config no funciona

english version - all spanish posts

Unity debido probablemente a la política mal entendida de "zero-config" de Ubuntu no se puede modificar y personalizar por defecto.

Teóricamente pulsando alt-F2 y escribiendo en el lanzador "about:config" debería lanzarse la utilidad de configuración de Unity... pero aunque aparece el icono de la utilidad de configuración, al hacer click sobre este no pasa nada. Ni un aviso indicando que la utilidad de configuración no se puede ejecutar. ¡Sí, parece mentira! pero la herramienta de configuración no está instalada por defecto.

Para que funcione hay que instalar CCSM (compiz config settings manager):

apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Una vez instalado funcionará "about:config". Es bastante triste que no permitan que el usuario realice modificaciones mínimas en su escritorio, pero lo es mucho más que ni siquiera cuando se ejecuta "about:config" aparezca un aviso indicando que para que funcione hay que instalar CCSM.

Para ver las pocas (realmente pocas) opciones de configuración que permite CCSM os recomiendo ver el siguiente enlace aunque una vez hayáis abierto la utilidad veréis que tampoco hay mucho que personalizar:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/29553/how-can-i-configure-unity

De cualquier modo parece que las cosas cambiarán en un futuro próximo:

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/11/ubuntu-desktop-designers-clarify-on-configurability/