This is the multi-page printable view of this section. Click here to print.

Return to the regular view of this page.

Configuration & Customization

Explore detailed tutorials focusing on the myriad customization and configuration options available in Fedora. From desktop environments to system settings and user preferences, learn how to tailor Fedora to individual needs, ensuring a personalized computing experience that enhances productivity and usability.

1 - Accessibility Options in Fedora Linux

Fedora Linux provides a wide range of accessibility options to enhance the computing experience for users with disabilities or special needs. These features aim to make the operating system more accessible, usable, and inclusive for everyone. This tutorial will guide you through the various accessibility options available in Fedora Linux, covering visual, auditory, and mobility-related settings.

Visual Accessibility

High Contrast Theme

Fedora offers a high contrast theme that enhances visibility by increasing the contrast between text and background colors. This feature is particularly helpful for users with low vision or certain visual impairments.

To enable the high contrast theme:

  1. Click on the “Activities” overview button (the top-left icon on the desktop).
  2. Search for and open the “Settings” application.
  3. Navigate to the “Universal Access” section.
  4. Under the “Vision” tab, toggle the “High Contrast” option to enable it.

Screen Reader

Fedora includes Orca, a powerful screen reader that provides spoken and braille feedback to users with visual impairments. Orca can read aloud the contents of the screen, including text, menus, and dialogues.

To enable the screen reader:

  1. Open the “Settings” application.
  2. Navigate to the “Universal Access” section.
  3. Under the “Vision” tab, toggle the “Screen Reader” option to enable Orca.
  4. You can further customize Orca’s settings by clicking on the “Settings” button next to the “Screen Reader” option.

Text-to-Speech

Fedora offers text-to-speech (TTS) capabilities, which can read aloud text from documents, web pages, or other applications. This feature is particularly useful for users with visual impairments or reading difficulties.

To enable text-to-speech:

  1. Open the “Settings” application.
  2. Navigate to the “Universal Access” section.
  3. Under the “Speech” tab, toggle the “Text-to-Speech” option to enable it.
  4. You can configure various settings, such as the voice, rate, and pitch, by clicking on the “Settings” button next to the “Text-to-Speech” option.

Zoom

Fedora provides a zoom feature that allows users to magnify the entire screen or a specific area. This can be beneficial for users with low vision or those who require a larger on-screen display.

To enable the zoom feature:

  1. Open the “Settings” application.
  2. Navigate to the “Universal Access” section.
  3. Under the “Vision” tab, toggle the “Zoom” option to enable it.
  4. You can customize the zoom settings, such as the magnification level and zoom behavior, by clicking on the “Settings” button next to the “Zoom” option.

Auditory Accessibility

Visual Alerts

Fedora offers visual alerts as an alternative to auditory alerts for users with hearing impairments. This feature provides visual cues, such as flashing the screen or displaying a notification, instead of playing sound alerts.

To enable visual alerts:

  1. Open the “Settings” application.
  2. Navigate to the “Universal Access” section.
  3. Under the “Hearing” tab, toggle the “Visual Alerts” option to enable it.

Closed Captions

Fedora supports closed captions for multimedia content, which displays text transcriptions of audio or dialogue. This feature is particularly useful for users with hearing impairments or those who prefer to follow along with on-screen text.

To enable closed captions:

  1. Open the multimedia application (e.g., Videos, Web Browser, etc.).
  2. Look for the closed caption or subtitle settings within the application’s preferences or playback controls.
  3. Enable closed captions and select the desired language or style.

Mobility Accessibility

Keyboard Navigation

Fedora provides robust keyboard navigation capabilities, allowing users to control the desktop environment and applications using keyboard shortcuts and commands. This feature is beneficial for users with mobility impairments or those who prefer to minimize mouse usage.

To enable keyboard navigation:

  1. Open the “Settings” application.
  2. Navigate to the “Universal Access” section.
  3. Under the “Typing” tab, toggle the “Keyboard Navigation” option to enable it.
  4. You can further customize keyboard navigation settings, such as key repeat rate and delay, by clicking on the “Settings” button next to the “Keyboard Navigation” option.

Sticky Keys

The sticky keys feature allows users to press modifier keys (e.g., Ctrl, Alt, Shift) and other keys separately, rather than simultaneously. This can be helpful for users with mobility impairments or those who find it difficult to press multiple keys at once.

To enable sticky keys:

  1. Open the “Settings” application.
  2. Navigate to the “Universal Access” section.
  3. Under the “Typing” tab, toggle the “Sticky Keys” option to enable it.

Mouse Keys

Fedora’s mouse keys feature allows users to control the mouse pointer using the numeric keypad on the keyboard. This can be beneficial for users who have difficulty using a physical mouse or trackpad.

To enable mouse keys:

  1. Open the “Settings” application.
  2. Navigate to the “Universal Access” section.
  3. Under the “Pointing & Clicking” tab, toggle the “Mouse Keys” option to enable it.
  4. You can further customize mouse keys settings, such as the pointer speed and acceleration, by clicking on the “Settings” button next to the “Mouse Keys” option.

Additional Resources

Fedora provides additional resources and documentation to help users explore and utilize accessibility features effectively:

Remember, accessibility features can be combined and customized to suit individual needs and preferences. Fedora’s commitment to accessibility empowers users with disabilities or special needs to have an inclusive and enriching computing experience.

2 - Application Defaults and Associations in Fedora Linux

In the world of Linux, you have the freedom to choose from a wide range of applications for various tasks. However, this freedom also means that you need to set up your system to associate specific file types, protocols, and MIME types with the applications you prefer. Setting up these associations properly can streamline your workflow and enhance your overall experience.

Understanding File Types, Protocols, and MIME Types

Before we dive into the details, let’s briefly explain the key terms:

  1. File Types: These refer to the extensions associated with files, such as .txt for text files, .pdf for PDF documents, or .mp3 for audio files. File types help the operating system identify the appropriate application to handle a particular file.

  2. Protocols: Protocols define the way data is transmitted over a network. Common examples include http for web browsing, mailto for email clients, and ftp for file transfers.

  3. MIME Types: MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) types are a standardized way of identifying file formats on the internet. They are used by web servers and browsers to determine how to handle different types of content. For example, text/plain is a MIME type for plain text files, and image/jpeg is for JPEG images.

Graphical Method: Using the Default Applications Tool

Fedora provides a graphical tool called “Default Applications” that allows you to manage application associations easily. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Open the “Activities” overview by clicking on the “Activities” icon in the top-left corner of your desktop or by pressing the Super (Windows) key.

  2. Search for “Default Applications” and click on the corresponding entry.

  3. The “Default Applications” window will open, displaying various categories such as “Web,” “Mail,” “Calendar,” “Music,” “Video,” “Photos,” “Terminal,” and “Text Editor.”

  4. Click on a category to see the currently associated applications for that category.

  5. To change the default application, click on the desired application from the list or click the “Other…” button to browse for an alternative application.

  6. Once you’ve made your selections, click the “Set as Default” button to apply the changes.

This graphical tool provides a user-friendly way to manage application associations for common file types and protocols. However, it may not cover all possible associations, especially for more obscure file types or protocols.

Command-Line Method: Using the xdg-mime and xdg-open Commands

For more advanced or specific associations, you can use the command-line utilities xdg-mime and xdg-open. These utilities are part of the Freedesktop.org standards and provide a consistent way to manage application associations across different desktop environments.

Listing Current Associations

To list the current associations for a specific file type or MIME type, use the xdg-mime command with the query subcommand:

xdg-mime query default <file_extension>

For example, to check the default application for opening PDF files:

xdg-mime query default application/pdf

This command will display the currently associated application for the specified file type or MIME type.

Setting New Associations

To set a new association for a file type or MIME type, use the xdg-mime command with the default subcommand:

xdg-mime default <desktop_file> <mime_type>

Replace <desktop_file> with the path to the .desktop file of the application you want to associate with the specified <mime_type>.

For example, to set the Evince document viewer as the default application for opening PDF files:

xdg-mime default /usr/share/applications/evince.desktop application/pdf

Note that you may need to run this command with sudo if you want to set system-wide associations.

Opening Files with a Specific Application

If you want to open a file with a specific application without changing the default association, you can use the xdg-open command:

xdg-open <file_path> --app <desktop_file>

Replace <file_path> with the path to the file you want to open, and <desktop_file> with the path to the .desktop file of the application you want to use.

For example, to open a PDF file with the Okular document viewer:

xdg-open /path/to/document.pdf --app /usr/share/applications/org.kde.okular.desktop

Resetting Associations to Default

If you want to reset the associations for a specific file type or MIME type to their default values, use the xdg-mime command with the default subcommand and the --mode option:

xdg-mime default <mime_type> --mode user

Replace <mime_type> with the MIME type you want to reset.

For example, to reset the associations for PDF files to their default values:

xdg-mime default application/pdf --mode user

This command will restore the default application associations for the specified MIME type for the current user.

Managing Associations with Other Tools

While the graphical tool and command-line utilities mentioned above are the primary methods for managing application associations in Fedora, you can also use other tools depending on your desktop environment or preference.

For example, in the GNOME desktop environment, you can use the dconf-editor tool to modify application associations through the org.gnome.desktop.applications schema.

In the KDE Plasma desktop environment, you can use the “File Associations” tool to manage associations for different file types and MIME types.

Additionally, some applications may provide their own settings or preferences to associate file types with themselves.

Conclusion

Managing application defaults and associations in Fedora Linux can greatly enhance your productivity and streamline your workflow. By understanding the concepts of file types, protocols, and MIME types, and using the appropriate tools, you can ensure that your system opens the right applications for the corresponding files or protocols.

Whether you prefer the graphical approach or the command-line utilities, this tutorial has provided you with the necessary knowledge and steps to take control of your application associations in Fedora Linux.

Remember, the freedom to choose and customize is one of the core principles of the Linux ecosystem, and managing application associations is an essential aspect of that freedom.

3 - Application Launcher Customization on Fedora Linux

The application launcher is a crucial part of your desktop environment, providing quick access to your frequently used applications. Customizing the application launcher can significantly improve your workflow efficiency by allowing you to organize applications, add custom entries, and even create keyboard shortcuts for rapid access. This tutorial will guide you through the process of customizing the application launcher on two popular desktop environments: GNOME and KDE Plasma.

GNOME Application Launcher Customization

GNOME is the default desktop environment for Fedora Workstation. The application launcher in GNOME is known as the “Activities Overview.” Follow these steps to customize it:

1. Rearranging Application Icons

  1. Open the Activities Overview by pressing the Super key (Windows key) or clicking the “Activities” icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
  2. Right-click on an application icon and select “Move to Favorites” to add it to the dock at the left side of the screen.
  3. To remove an application from the dock, right-click on its icon and select “Remove from Favorites.”
  4. You can rearrange the order of the icons in the dock by holding the Super key and dragging the icons to their desired positions.

2. Creating Custom Application Launchers

You can create custom application launchers for applications, scripts, or commands that are not present in the default list.

  1. Open the ~/Desktop directory in your file manager.
  2. Right-click in the directory and select “Create New” -> “Desktop Entry.”
  3. In the new file, add the following content, replacing the placeholders with your desired values:
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Custom Application Name
Comment=A brief description of the application
Exec=/path/to/executable
Icon=/path/to/icon.png
Terminal=false
Categories=Utility;
  1. Save the file with a .desktop extension (e.g., custom-app.desktop).
  2. The custom application launcher should now appear in the Activities Overview.

3. Keyboard Shortcuts

GNOME allows you to set custom keyboard shortcuts for launching applications or performing specific actions.

  1. Open the “Settings” application.
  2. Navigate to “Keyboard” -> “Keyboard Shortcuts” -> “View and Customize Shortcuts.”
  3. Scroll down to the “Custom Shortcuts” section and click the “+” button to add a new shortcut.
  4. Enter a descriptive name for the shortcut and the command to be executed (e.g., /path/to/application).
  5. Click the “Set Shortcut” button and press the desired key combination.
  6. The new shortcut will be listed in the “Custom Shortcuts” section.

KDE Plasma Application Launcher Customization

KDE Plasma is another popular desktop environment available on Fedora. The application launcher in KDE Plasma is known as the “Application Launcher” or “Kickoff.”

1. Rearranging Application Icons

  1. Open the Application Launcher by clicking the “K” icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen or by pressing the Super key.
  2. Right-click on an application icon and select “Add to Favorites” to add it to the favorite applications list.
  3. To remove an application from the favorites list, right-click on its icon and select “Remove from Favorites.”
  4. You can rearrange the order of the icons in the favorites list by holding the Super key and dragging the icons to their desired positions.

2. Creating Custom Application Launchers

Similar to GNOME, you can create custom application launchers for applications, scripts, or commands that are not present in the default list.

  1. Open the ~/.local/share/applications directory in your file manager.
  2. Right-click in the directory and select “Create New” -> “Text File.”
  3. In the new file, add the following content, replacing the placeholders with your desired values:
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Custom Application Name
Comment=A brief description of the application
Exec=/path/to/executable
Icon=/path/to/icon.png
Terminal=false
Categories=Utility;
  1. Save the file with a .desktop extension (e.g., custom-app.desktop).
  2. The custom application launcher should now appear in the Application Launcher.

3. Keyboard Shortcuts

KDE Plasma also allows you to set custom keyboard shortcuts for launching applications or performing specific actions.

  1. Open the “System Settings” application.
  2. Navigate to “Shortcuts” -> “Custom Shortcuts.”
  3. Click the “Edit” button next to “Custom Shortcuts.”
  4. Click the “New” button to create a new custom shortcut.
  5. Enter a descriptive name for the shortcut and the command to be executed (e.g., /path/to/application).
  6. Click the “None” button next to “Shortcut” and press the desired key combination.
  7. Click “OK” to save the new shortcut.

Additional Tips

  • You can create categories or folders in the application launcher to better organize your applications. Right-click in an empty space and select “Create New” -> “Folder.”
  • Consider using keyboard shortcuts for frequently used applications to improve your productivity.
  • Customize the appearance of the application launcher by changing themes or icon sets in your desktop environment’s settings.
  • Regularly review and remove unused application launchers to keep your launcher organized and clutter-free.

Customizing your application launcher can greatly enhance your desktop experience and workflow efficiency. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can tailor the application launcher to suit your specific needs and preferences on Fedora Linux.

4 - Desktop Environment Customization in Fedora Linux

Fedora Linux offers a wide range of desktop environments (DEs) to choose from, each with its own unique look, feel, and customization options. In this comprehensive tutorial, we’ll explore how to personalize and tweak various desktop environments, including GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, and MATE, to suit your preferences and workflow.

GNOME

GNOME is the default desktop environment in Fedora Workstation. It’s a modern, sleek, and user-friendly DE with a focus on simplicity and efficiency.

Customizing GNOME Shell

GNOME Shell is the core user interface of the GNOME desktop environment. You can customize various aspects of GNOME Shell, including the top bar, activities overview, and more.

  1. Tweaking GNOME Shell Appearance

    • Install the gnome-tweaks package: sudo dnf install gnome-tweaks
    • Launch GNOME Tweaks from the application menu or by running gnome-tweaks in the terminal.
    • Under the “Appearance” section, you can change the GTK theme, icon theme, cursor theme, and more.

  2. Configuring GNOME Shell Extensions

    • GNOME Shell Extensions provide additional functionality and customization options.
    • Visit the GNOME Shell Extensions website to browse and install various extensions.
    • Popular extensions include Dash to Dock, User Themes, and Clipboard Indicator.

  3. Adjusting GNOME Shell Settings

    • Open the Settings application from the application menu or by running gnome-control-center in the terminal.
    • Navigate through various sections to customize desktop backgrounds, display settings, keyboard shortcuts, and more.

Customizing GNOME Applications

GNOME applications, such as Files (Nautilus), Text Editor (gedit), and Image Viewer (Eye of GNOME), can also be customized to suit your needs.

  1. Customizing Nautilus (Files)

    • Open Nautilus and go to Edit > Preferences.
    • Customize view options, behavior, previews, and more.
    • Install Nautilus extensions like nautilus-python to add extra functionality.

  2. Customizing gedit (Text Editor)

    • Open gedit and go to Edit > Preferences.
    • Customize font, color scheme, plugins, and more.

  3. Customizing Eye of GNOME (Image Viewer)

    • Open Eye of GNOME and go to Edit > Preferences.
    • Customize background color, zoom options, and more.

KDE Plasma

KDE Plasma is a highly customizable and feature-rich desktop environment that offers a wide range of options for personalization.

Customizing KDE Plasma Desktop

  1. Changing Desktop Theme

    • Right-click on the desktop and select “Look and Feel” or go to System Settings > Desktop Behavior > Workspace.
    • Choose from various desktop themes or create your own.

  2. Configuring Plasma Widgets

    • Right-click on the desktop and select “Add Widgets” or go to System Settings > Desktop Behavior > Desktop Effects.
    • Add various widgets like weather, notes, and system monitors to your desktop.

  3. Adjusting Plasma Settings

    • Go to System Settings and explore various categories like “Appearance”, “Workspace”, “Shortcuts”, and “Notifications” to customize Plasma to your liking.

Customizing KDE Applications

KDE applications, such as Dolphin (File Manager), Kate (Text Editor), and Gwenview (Image Viewer), can also be customized.

  1. Customizing Dolphin (File Manager)

    • Open Dolphin and go to Control > Configure Dolphin.
    • Customize view modes, file previews, and more.

  2. Customizing Kate (Text Editor)

    • Open Kate and go to Settings > Configure Kate.
    • Customize font, color scheme, plugins, and more.

  3. Customizing Gwenview (Image Viewer)

    • Open Gwenview and go to Settings > Configure Gwenview.
    • Customize background color, zoom options, and more.

Xfce

Xfce is a lightweight and fast desktop environment that offers a good balance between simplicity and customization options.

Customizing Xfce Desktop

  1. Changing Desktop Theme

    • Go to Applications > Settings > Appearance or run xfce4-appearance-settings.
    • Choose from various styles, icon themes, and more.

  2. Configuring Xfce Panels

    • Right-click on the panel and select “Panel > Panel Preferences” or run xfce4-panel --preferences.
    • Customize panel layout, add or remove items, and more.

  3. Adjusting Xfce Settings

    • Go to Applications > Settings or run xfce4-settings-manager.
    • Explore various categories like “Desktop”, “Window Manager”, and “Keyboard” to customize Xfce.

Customizing Xfce Applications

Xfce applications, such as Thunar (File Manager), mousepad (Text Editor), and Ristretto (Image Viewer), can also be customized.

  1. Customizing Thunar (File Manager)

    • Open Thunar and go to Edit > Preferences.
    • Customize view options, behavior, and more.

  2. Customizing mousepad (Text Editor)

    • Open mousepad and go to Edit > Preferences.
    • Customize font, color scheme, and more.

  3. Customizing Ristretto (Image Viewer)

    • Open Ristretto and go to Edit > Preferences.
    • Customize background color, zoom options, and more.

MATE

MATE is a desktop environment that follows the traditional GNOME 2 style, offering a familiar and customizable experience.

Customizing MATE Desktop

  1. Changing Desktop Theme

    • Go to System > Preferences > Look and Feel or run mate-appearance-properties.
    • Choose from various themes, icon themes, and more.

  2. Configuring MATE Panels

    • Right-click on the panel and select “Properties” or run mate-panel --preferences.
    • Customize panel layout, add or remove items, and more.

  3. Adjusting MATE Settings

    • Go to System > Preferences or run mate-control-center.
    • Explore various categories like “Desktop”, “Window Manager”, and “Keyboard” to customize MATE.

Customizing MATE Applications

MATE applications, such as Caja (File Manager), Pluma (Text Editor), and Eye of MATE (Image Viewer), can also be customized.

  1. Customizing Caja (File Manager)

    • Open Caja and go to Edit > Preferences.
    • Customize view options, behavior, and more.

  2. Customizing Pluma (Text Editor)

    • Open Pluma and go to Edit > Preferences.
    • Customize font, color scheme, and more.

  3. Customizing Eye of MATE (Image Viewer)

    • Open Eye of MATE and go to Edit > Preferences.
    • Customize background color, zoom options, and more.

Advanced Customization

For more advanced customization, you can explore various tools and techniques, such as:

  1. Editing Configuration Files

    • Many desktop environments and applications use configuration files (often in XML or INI format) to store settings.
    • Carefully modifying these files can provide deeper customization options, but be cautious as incorrect changes can lead to issues.

  2. Using Command-Line Tools

    • Command-line tools like gsettings (for GNOME), kwriteconfig (for KDE), and xfconf-query (for Xfce) allow you to modify settings directly from the terminal.
    • This method requires knowledge of the specific settings and their values.

  3. Creating Custom Themes

    • Many desktop environments support custom themes, allowing you to modify the look and feel to your liking.
    • Tools like gtk3-engines and qt5ct can help you create and apply custom themes.

  4. Installing Third-Party Extensions/Addons

    • Look for third-party extensions, addons, or plugins that provide additional customization options for your desktop environment.
    • These can be found on official repositories, project

5 - Display Settings and Multi-Monitor Setup in Fedora Linux

Fedora Linux provides a user-friendly graphical interface for managing display settings and configuring multi-monitor setups. In this tutorial, we will cover how to adjust display resolution, scaling, rotation, refresh rate, and how to set up multiple monitors for an enhanced workspace experience.

Accessing Display Settings

  1. Click on the “Activities” overview button at the top-left corner of your desktop.
  2. Type “Settings” in the search bar and open the “Settings” application.
  3. In the “Settings” window, click on the “Displays” option.

Adjusting Display Resolution

  1. In the “Displays” settings, you will see a list of available displays connected to your system.
  2. Click on the display you want to adjust.
  3. Under the “Resolution” dropdown menu, select your desired resolution.
  4. The display will automatically apply the new resolution.

Adjusting Display Scaling

Display scaling is useful when you have a high-resolution display or want to adjust the size of user interface elements.

  1. In the “Displays” settings, click on the display you want to adjust.
  2. Locate the “Scale” section and use the slider to increase or decrease the scaling factor.
  3. Higher scaling factors will make everything appear larger, while lower scaling factors will make things appear smaller.

Rotating the Display

If you need to rotate your display for a specific use case or physical orientation, follow these steps:

  1. In the “Displays” settings, click on the display you want to rotate.
  2. Click on the “Rotation” dropdown menu and select the desired rotation (Normal, 90°, 180°, 270°).
  3. The display will rotate accordingly.

Adjusting Refresh Rate

A higher refresh rate can provide a smoother visual experience, especially for gaming or video playback.

  1. In the “Displays” settings, click on the display you want to adjust.
  2. Under the “Refresh Rate” dropdown menu, select the desired refresh rate.
  3. Note that available refresh rates depend on your monitor’s capabilities and the maximum supported by your graphics hardware.

Multi-Monitor Setup

Fedora Linux supports multiple monitors out of the box, allowing you to extend or mirror your desktop across multiple displays.

Enabling Multiple Monitors

  1. Connect the additional monitors to your computer’s video output ports (HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, etc.).
  2. Open the “Displays” settings as described earlier.
  3. The additional monitors should appear in the “Displays” list.

Extending the Desktop

Extending the desktop allows you to treat multiple monitors as a single, larger workspace.

  1. In the “Displays” settings, make sure both monitors are detected and listed.
  2. Click on the primary display (usually the one with the menu bar).
  3. Check the “Extend desktop to this display” option.
  4. Adjust the display layout by dragging and positioning the monitor icons according to your physical setup.

Mirroring the Desktop

Mirroring the desktop duplicates the same content across all connected displays.

  1. In the “Displays” settings, make sure both monitors are detected and listed.
  2. Click on the primary display.
  3. Check the “Mirror display” option.
  4. All connected displays will now show the same content.

Display Arrangement

If your multi-monitor setup doesn’t match the physical arrangement, you can rearrange the display layout.

  1. In the “Displays” settings, click and drag the monitor icons to match their physical positions.
  2. You can also use the “Join Displays” option to combine multiple displays into a single larger workspace.

Display Profiles

Fedora Linux allows you to save and load display configurations as profiles, making it easier to switch between different setups.

  1. In the “Displays” settings, configure your desired multi-monitor setup.
  2. Click on the “Save” button at the bottom of the window.
  3. Give your profile a name and click “Save” again.
  4. To load a saved profile, click on the profile name in the “Displays” settings.

By following this comprehensive tutorial, you should now be able to adjust display settings, configure multi-monitor setups, and optimize your workspace according to your preferences in Fedora Linux.

6 - Fedora Linux System Theme Customization Tutorial

Fedora Linux provides a highly customizable desktop environment, allowing you to personalize the look and feel of your system according to your preferences. In this tutorial, we’ll explore various ways to customize the system theme, icons, fonts, and other visual elements.

Introduction

Fedora Linux ships with the GNOME desktop environment by default, which offers a modern and sleek user interface. However, you may want to personalize the look and feel of your desktop to suit your taste or increase productivity. Fortunately, GNOME provides various tools and utilities to customize the system theme, icons, fonts, and other visual elements.

Changing the System Theme

The system theme determines the overall appearance of the desktop, including the color scheme, window decorations, and UI elements. To change the system theme in Fedora Linux, follow these steps:

  1. Open the “Settings” application by clicking on the “Activities” overview and typing “Settings”.
  2. In the “Settings” window, navigate to “Appearance”.
  3. Under the “Themes” section, you’ll see the currently applied theme. Click on the drop-down menu to view available themes.
  4. Select the theme you want to apply, and the changes will take effect immediately.

Customizing Icons

Icons are an essential part of the desktop experience, representing various applications, files, and folders. You can change the icon theme in Fedora Linux to give your desktop a fresh look.

  1. Open the “Settings” application and navigate to “Appearance”.
  2. Under the “Icons” section, click on the drop-down menu to view available icon themes.
  3. Select the icon theme you prefer, and the changes will be applied instantly.

Modifying Fonts

Fonts play a crucial role in the readability and aesthetic appeal of your desktop. Fedora Linux provides a wide range of font options to choose from.

  1. Open the “Settings” application and navigate to “Fonts”.
  2. In the “Fonts” section, you can modify various font settings, such as the default font, document font, monospace font, and more.
  3. Click on the respective drop-down menus to select the desired fonts.
  4. You can also adjust the font hinting and anti-aliasing settings for better rendering.

Adjusting the Desktop Background

The desktop background is one of the most visible elements of your desktop environment. Fedora Linux offers a variety of background options, including solid colors, pictures, and even live wallpapers.

  1. Right-click on the desktop and select “Change Desktop Background”.
  2. In the “Background” window, you can choose from various options:
    • “Pictures”: Select an image from your local files or the provided wallpapers.
    • “Colors”: Pick a solid color or create a custom gradient.
    • “Live Wallpapers” (if available): Choose an animated background.
  3. Once you’ve made your selection, click “Set Background” to apply the changes.

Customizing the Login Screen

The login screen is the first thing you see when you start your Fedora Linux system. You can customize the login screen to match your system’s theme or personal preferences.

  1. Open the “Settings” application and navigate to “Users”.
  2. Under the “Users” section, click on the “Unlock” button and enter your password to make changes.
  3. Click on the user account you want to customize.
  4. In the “Account Settings” window, navigate to the “User Account” tab.
  5. Under the “Account Icon” section, you can change the user account icon by clicking on the current icon and selecting a new one.
  6. Under the “Account Background” section, you can choose a custom background image for the login screen.

Installing Third-Party Themes

While Fedora Linux comes with a decent selection of themes and icons, you can further enhance your desktop’s appearance by installing third-party themes from various sources.

  1. Open the “Software” application (or your preferred package manager).
  2. Search for “gnome-shell-extensions” or “gnome-tweaks” and install the corresponding package.
  3. After installation, open the “Extensions” application (you can search for it in the “Activities” overview).
  4. Browse and install the desired extensions or themes from the available options.
  5. Some popular third-party theme sources include:
    • Gnome-Look.org - A vast collection of GNOME themes, icons, and extensions.
    • Pling.com - Another excellent source for GNOME-related customizations.

Using the Gnome Tweaks Tool

The Gnome Tweaks Tool is a powerful utility that provides advanced customization options for the GNOME desktop environment. It allows you to tweak various aspects of your desktop, including the appearance, behavior, and functionality.

  1. Install the “Gnome Tweaks” package from the Software application or your preferred package manager.
  2. Once installed, open the “Tweaks” application (you can search for it in the “Activities” overview).
  3. The Tweaks application is divided into several sections, each offering different customization options:
    • “Appearance”: Customize the desktop theme, icons, cursors, and more.
    • “Desktop”: Adjust desktop icons, font rendering, and other desktop-related settings.
    • “Top Bar”: Customize the top bar (panel) appearance and behavior.
    • “Windows”: Modify window behavior, such as focus mode, titlebar buttons, and more.
    • “Extensions”: Enable or disable GNOME Shell extensions.

Explore the various options available in the Tweaks application and make adjustments to suit your preferences.

Restoring Default Settings

If you’ve made too many customizations and want to revert to the default system theme and settings, you can easily do so by following these steps:

  1. Open the “Settings” application and navigate to “Appearance”.
  2. Under the “Themes” section, click on the drop-down menu and select the default system theme (usually named “Adwaita”).
  3. Repeat the same process for the “Icons” section and select the default icon theme.
  4. Navigate to the “Fonts” section and reset the font settings to their defaults.
  5. Right-click on the desktop and select “Change Desktop Background”.
  6. In the “Background” window, click on the “Reset” button to restore the default desktop background.

With this comprehensive tutorial, you should now have a solid understanding of how to customize the system theme, icons, fonts, and other visual elements in Fedora Linux. Personalize your desktop environment to create a unique and visually appealing workspace that suits your style and preferences.

7 - Fedora Linux: Keyboard Layout and Shortcuts

In this comprehensive tutorial, we will explore various keyboard layout options available in Fedora Linux and learn how to create custom keyboard shortcuts to streamline your workflow and increase productivity. We’ll cover both system-wide and application-specific shortcuts, as well as how to modify existing shortcuts or create new ones tailored to your preferences.

Introduction to Keyboard Layouts

Keyboard layouts determine the arrangement of characters on your physical keyboard. Fedora Linux supports a wide range of keyboard layouts, allowing you to work comfortably in various languages and layouts. By default, Fedora uses the standard US English keyboard layout, but you can easily switch to different layouts based on your preferences or language requirements.

Changing the Keyboard Layout

To change the keyboard layout in Fedora Linux, follow these steps:

  1. Open the “Settings” application.
  2. Navigate to the “Region & Language” section.
  3. Click on the “Input Sources” tab.
  4. Click the “+” button at the bottom of the list to add a new keyboard layout.
  5. Search for the desired layout or language, and select it from the list.
  6. Once added, you can switch between different keyboard layouts using the keyboard shortcut Super + Space (where Super is the Windows/Command key).

Alternatively, you can use the command line to list available keyboard layouts and set a new layout:

# List available keyboard layouts
localectl list-x11-keymap-layouts

# Set a new keyboard layout (e.g., French)
localectl set-x11-keymap fr

Creating Custom Keyboard Shortcuts

Fedora Linux provides a powerful tool called “Settings” that allows you to create and manage custom keyboard shortcuts for both system-wide and application-specific tasks. Let’s explore how to create and customize shortcuts in each category.

System-wide Keyboard Shortcuts

System-wide keyboard shortcuts are global shortcuts that work across all applications and desktop environments. To create or modify system-wide shortcuts, follow these steps:

  1. Open the “Settings” application.
  2. Navigate to the “Keyboard” section.
  3. Click on the “Keyboard Shortcuts” tab.
  4. Here, you’ll find a list of predefined shortcuts categorized by functionality (e.g., Windows, Workspaces, Media, etc.).
  5. To create a new shortcut, scroll down to the bottom of the list and click the “+” button.
  6. In the “New Shortcut” dialog, enter a name for the shortcut and the command to be executed.
  7. Click the “Disabled” button to set the desired keyboard shortcut combination.
  8. Once you’ve set the shortcut, click “Add” to save the new shortcut.

Application-specific Keyboard Shortcuts

Many applications in Fedora Linux also support their own set of keyboard shortcuts, which can be customized within the application’s settings or preferences. The process for creating or modifying application-specific shortcuts may vary depending on the application, but generally, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open the application you want to customize shortcuts for.
  2. Look for the “Preferences” or “Settings” menu within the application.
  3. Navigate to the “Keyboard Shortcuts” or a similarly named section.
  4. Here, you should see a list of existing shortcuts for various actions within the application.
  5. To create a new shortcut, look for an option to add or customize shortcuts (e.g., a “+” button or “Customize” option).
  6. Follow the application’s prompts to set the desired keyboard shortcut combination for the action you want to customize.
  7. Save your changes, and the new shortcut will be applied.

Managing Keyboard Shortcuts

As you create and customize keyboard shortcuts, it’s essential to manage them effectively to avoid conflicts and ensure a smooth workflow. Here are some tips for managing keyboard shortcuts in Fedora Linux:

  1. Review existing shortcuts: Before creating a new shortcut, review the existing shortcuts to avoid conflicts and ensure your new shortcut doesn’t override an important system or application shortcut.
  2. Prioritize mnemonics: When creating custom shortcuts, try to use mnemonics or logical combinations that are easy to remember and relate to the associated action.
  3. Organize shortcuts: Consider organizing your custom shortcuts into categories or groups for better organization and easier management.
  4. Remove or disable unused shortcuts: Periodically review your custom shortcuts and remove or disable any that are no longer needed to keep your shortcut list clean and organized.

Troubleshooting and Advanced Tips

While working with keyboard layouts and shortcuts, you may encounter some issues or want to explore more advanced options. Here are some troubleshooting tips and advanced techniques:

  1. Keyboard layout conflicts: If you experience issues with keyboard layouts, such as characters not appearing correctly or shortcuts not working as expected, try resetting the keyboard layout to defaults and reconfiguring it.
  2. Custom keyboard layouts: Fedora Linux allows you to create custom keyboard layouts by modifying the underlying X keyboard extension (XKB) files. This advanced technique requires familiarity with the XKB configuration files and is typically reserved for specific use cases or localization requirements.
  3. Remapping keys: In some cases, you may want to remap specific keys on your keyboard to different functions or characters. This can be achieved using tools like xmodmap or the setxkbmap command in Fedora Linux.
  4. Accessibility features: Fedora Linux offers various accessibility features, including sticky keys, mouse keys, and more. These can be helpful for users with specific accessibility needs or preferences.

Resources and Further Reading

If you want to learn more about keyboard layouts, shortcuts, and related topics in Fedora Linux, here are some additional resources:

By following this comprehensive tutorial, you should now have a solid understanding of how to manage keyboard layouts, create custom keyboard shortcuts, and optimize your workflow in Fedora Linux. Remember, practice and experimentation are key to mastering these techniques and finding the setup that works best for your needs.

8 - Fedora Linux: Notification Settings Tutorial

This tutorial will guide you through managing notification preferences, including notification sounds, pop-up notifications, and notification center settings in Fedora Linux. Notifications play a crucial role in keeping you informed about incoming messages, system updates, and various other events while using your Fedora system.

Understanding Notifications in Fedora

Fedora Linux uses the GNOME desktop environment by default, which provides a streamlined and user-friendly notification system. Notifications appear as small pop-ups on your desktop, typically in the top-right corner of the screen. These notifications can be generated by various applications, such as email clients, instant messaging apps, system updates, and more.

Accessing Notification Settings

To access the notification settings in Fedora, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the “Activities” overview button (typically located in the top-left corner of your desktop).
  2. Type “Notifications” in the search bar.
  3. Click on the “Notifications” icon to open the notification settings.

Alternatively, you can navigate to the settings menu by clicking the gear icon in the top-right corner of the desktop and selecting “Settings” > “Notifications”.

Configuring Notification Sounds

Notification sounds can help draw your attention to important events or messages. Here’s how you can manage notification sounds in Fedora:

  1. In the “Notifications” settings window, scroll down to the “Sounds” section.
  2. You can choose to enable or disable notification sounds by toggling the “Play Sound” option.
  3. If you want to customize the notification sound, click on the “Sound” drop-down menu and select your preferred sound from the list.
  4. Alternatively, you can click the “+” button to add a custom sound file from your local system.

Managing Pop-up Notifications

Pop-up notifications are the small windows that appear on your desktop when a new notification is received. You can customize the behavior and appearance of these pop-up notifications:

  1. In the “Notifications” settings window, scroll down to the “Pop-up Notifications” section.
  2. Toggle the “Show Pop-up Notifications” option to enable or disable pop-up notifications altogether.
  3. Adjust the “Duration” slider to set the amount of time a pop-up notification remains visible on the screen.
  4. Under the “Position” setting, you can choose where the pop-up notifications should appear on your desktop (top-center, bottom-center, etc.).
  5. The “Lock Screen” option allows you to control whether notifications should be displayed while your screen is locked.

Configuring the Notification Center

The Notification Center is a central location where you can view and manage all your notifications. Here’s how to configure it:

  1. In the “Notifications” settings window, scroll down to the “Notification Center” section.
  2. Toggle the “Show Notification Center” option to enable or disable the Notification Center.
  3. Adjust the “Remove Notifications After” slider to set the duration for which notifications should remain in the Notification Center before being automatically removed.
  4. Under the “Behavior” section, you can choose whether to group similar notifications or display them individually.
  5. The “Opacity” slider allows you to adjust the transparency level of the Notification Center.

Application-Specific Notification Settings

In addition to the system-wide notification settings, some applications may have their own notification preferences. You can access these settings by opening the respective application and navigating to its notification or preferences menu. For example, in the GNOME Files (Nautilus) file manager, you can find notification settings under “Edit” > “Preferences” > “Behavior” tab.

Command-Line Options

While the GNOME settings provide a user-friendly graphical interface for managing notifications, you can also configure some aspects of notifications using command-line tools. For example, the gsettings command allows you to modify various GNOME settings, including notification settings.

To list all available notification-related keys, run the following command:

gsettings list-keys org.gnome.desktop.notifications

To modify a specific setting, use the gsettings set command followed by the key and desired value. For example, to disable pop-up notifications, you can run:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.notifications show-banners false

Note that using the command-line approach requires familiarity with the GNOME settings keys and values, and it’s generally recommended to use the graphical interface for most users.

Conclusion

By following this tutorial, you should now have a solid understanding of how to manage notification settings in Fedora Linux. Customizing notifications according to your preferences can help you stay informed while minimizing distractions and maintaining an organized desktop environment.

Remember, notification settings can vary slightly between different versions of Fedora and GNOME, so it’s always a good idea to consult the official documentation or seek community support if you encounter any issues or have specific questions.

9 - Fedora Linux: Panel and Taskbar Configuration

In Fedora Linux, the panel and taskbar configuration varies depending on the desktop environment you’re using. This tutorial will cover the customization options for the most popular desktop environments: GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Xfce.

GNOME Desktop Environment

GNOME is the default desktop environment in Fedora Workstation. It comes with a top panel (also known as the “top bar”) and an optional dock (called the “dash”) on the left side of the screen.

Top Panel Configuration

  1. Right-click on the top panel and select “Preferences” or “Tweak Tool”.

  2. In the “Top Bar” section, you can customize various aspects of the panel, such as:

    • Changing the panel location (top, bottom, left, or right)
    • Adjusting the panel size and auto-hide behavior
    • Enabling or disabling the date, week numbers, and battery percentage displays
    • Configuring the clock format and calendar preferences
    • Adding or removing panel applets (e.g., volume control, network indicator, etc.)

  3. You can also access advanced panel settings by installing the gnome-tweaks package:

    sudo dnf install gnome-tweaks

    The GNOME Tweaks tool provides additional options for panel customization, such as changing the panel theme, adjusting transparency levels, and enabling desktop icons.

Dash (Dock) Configuration

  1. Right-click on the dash (dock) and select “Dash to Dock Settings”.
  2. In the settings window, you can customize various aspects of the dash, such as:
    • Changing the dash position (left, right, top, or bottom)
    • Adjusting the dash size, icon size, and icon spacing
    • Enabling or disabling dash auto-hiding behavior
    • Configuring dash appearance (opaque, transparent, or customized)
    • Adding or removing dash extensions (e.g., window previews, app shortcuts, etc.)

KDE Plasma Desktop Environment

KDE Plasma provides a highly customizable desktop experience, including extensive panel and taskbar configuration options.

  1. Right-click on the panel (taskbar) and select “Enter Edit Mode”.

  2. Once in edit mode, you can:

    • Add or remove panel widgets (such as system tray, clock, launcher, etc.)
    • Adjust the panel size, position, and orientation
    • Configure panel behavior (auto-hide, visibility settings, etc.)
    • Customize the panel appearance (theme, transparency, background, etc.)

  3. For more advanced settings, open the “System Settings” utility from the application menu or by pressing Alt + F3.

  4. Navigate to “Workspace Behavior” > “Desktop Behavior” to access additional taskbar and panel configuration options, such as:

    • Configuring taskbar and panel settings (e.g., task grouping, app launchers, etc.)
    • Adjusting panel and taskbar animations and visual effects
    • Enabling or disabling desktop widgets and system tray icons

Xfce Desktop Environment

Xfce is a lightweight and highly configurable desktop environment with a panel (taskbar) at the top or bottom of the screen.

  1. Right-click on the panel and select “Panel” > “Panel Preferences”.

  2. In the “Panel Preferences” window, you can customize various aspects of the panel, such as:

    • Adjusting the panel size, length, and position
    • Configuring panel appearance (background, colors, transparency, etc.)
    • Adding or removing panel items (launchers, applets, separators, etc.)
    • Enabling or disabling panel auto-hide behavior

  3. For more advanced settings, open the “Window Manager” application from the application menu or by pressing Alt + F3.

  4. Navigate to “Window Manager Tweaks” > “Workspaces” to access additional taskbar and panel configuration options, such as:

    • Configuring taskbar behavior (task grouping, button styles, etc.)
    • Adjusting panel and taskbar animations and visual effects
    • Enabling or disabling desktop icons and system tray icons

By following these steps, you can customize your Fedora Linux panels and taskbars to suit your workflow and preferences, optimizing your workspace organization across different desktop environments.

10 - File Manager Configuration in Fedora Linux

The file manager in Fedora Linux, known as Nautilus, provides a user-friendly graphical interface for managing files and directories on your system. Nautilus offers a wide range of customization options, allowing you to tailor the file manager’s appearance, behavior, and functionality to suit your preferences. In this tutorial, we’ll explore various aspects of configuring Nautilus to enhance your file management experience.

Accessing Nautilus Preferences

Before diving into the configuration options, let’s first understand how to access the Nautilus preferences:

  1. Open the Nautilus file manager by clicking on the “Files” icon in the application launcher or by pressing the Super (Windows key) + E shortcut.
  2. Once Nautilus is open, navigate to the “Edit” menu and select “Preferences” or press Ctrl + Q.

The Nautilus Preferences window will appear, providing you with several tabs to configure different aspects of the file manager.

Behavior Tab

The “Behavior” tab allows you to customize how Nautilus handles various file operations and interactions.

General Behavior

  • Single Click to Open Items: Enable this option if you prefer to open files and folders with a single click instead of the default double-click behavior.
  • Thumbnails: Configure the appearance of file and folder thumbnails. You can adjust the thumbnail size and choose whether to display thumbnails for specific file types.
  • Date Format: Customize the date format used to display file and folder modification times.

Executable Text Files

This section allows you to specify how Nautilus should handle executable text files, such as shell scripts or programming source code files. You can choose whether to display a warning dialog, run the executable file, or disable execution entirely.

View

  • Sort Folders Before Files: Enable this option to display folders before files when sorting items in a directory.
  • Show Hidden Files: Toggle this option to show or hide hidden files and directories (those whose names begin with a period).

Display Tab

The “Display” tab allows you to customize the appearance of Nautilus and how it displays files and folders.

Icon View Defaults

  • Use Compact Layout: Enable this option to display icons in a more compact layout, reducing the amount of white space between items.
  • Default Zoom Level: Adjust the default zoom level for icon views.
  • Captions: Configure the captions displayed beneath file and folder icons. You can choose from various options, such as showing the full file name, file type, or custom captions.

List View Defaults

  • Default Zoom Level: Adjust the default zoom level for list views.
  • Use Compact Layout: Enable this option to display files and folders in a more compact list view.
  • Columns: Customize the columns displayed in the list view by selecting or deselecting specific attributes, such as file name, size, type, and modification date.

Other Previewable Files

In this section, you can specify which file types should be previewed in the Nautilus window. You can add or remove file types based on their MIME types or file extensions.

Preview Tab

The “Preview” tab allows you to configure how Nautilus handles file previews and the associated plugins.

File Contents

  • Preview Text Files: Enable this option to display the contents of text files in the preview pane.
  • Preview Other Previewable Files: Enable this option to preview other file types, such as images, PDF documents, and media files, in the preview pane.

Plugins

Nautilus supports various plugins that extend its functionality. In this section, you can manage installed plugins and enable or disable them according to your preferences.

Media Tab

The “Media” tab allows you to configure how Nautilus handles various media types, such as audio and video files.

Multimedia

  • Automatic Run Multimedia Player: Enable this option to automatically launch the default multimedia player when opening audio or video files.
  • Multimedia Viewer: Select the preferred multimedia player for handling audio and video files.

Removable Media

This section allows you to configure how Nautilus handles removable media, such as USB drives, external hard drives, and optical discs.

  • Media Automount on Hot Plug: Enable this option to automatically mount removable media when connected to your system.
  • Autorun Behavior: Specify how Nautilus should handle autorun features on removable media. You can choose to ignore autorun, prompt for action, or automatically run the autorun program.

Context Menu Options

Nautilus provides a context menu (right-click menu) that offers additional options and actions for files and folders. You can customize the context menu by adding, removing, or modifying menu items.

To access the context menu configuration, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Nautilus file manager.
  2. Navigate to the “Edit” menu and select “Preferences” or press Ctrl + Q.
  3. In the Preferences window, switch to the “Behavior” tab.
  4. Scroll down to the “Context Menu” section.

In this section, you can enable or disable various context menu items by checking or unchecking the corresponding checkboxes. Some of the available options include:

  • Open in Terminal: Add a menu item to open a terminal window in the current directory.
  • Scripts: Enable or disable the display of user-defined scripts in the context menu.
  • Trash: Add a menu item to move the selected file(s) or folder(s) to the trash.
  • Rename: Add a menu item to rename the selected file or folder.
  • Compress: Add a menu item to compress the selected file(s) or folder(s) into an archive.
  • Extract Here: Add a menu item to extract compressed archives in the current directory.

You can also add custom context menu items by clicking the “Add” button and specifying the required details, such as the label, command, and conditions for displaying the menu item.

File Associations

Nautilus allows you to associate specific file types with preferred applications, making it easier to open and manage different types of files. To configure file associations, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Nautilus file manager.
  2. Navigate to the “Edit” menu and select “Preferences” or press Ctrl + Q.
  3. In the Preferences window, switch to the “Behavior” tab.
  4. Scroll down to the “File Associations” section.

In the “File Associations” section, you’ll find a list of registered file types and their associated applications. You can modify the default application for a file type by selecting it from the list and clicking the “Set Default Application” button.

Alternatively, you can add a new file association by clicking the “Add” button and providing the necessary details, such as the file type (MIME type or file extension) and the preferred application for opening files of that type.

By following this comprehensive tutorial, you’ll be able to customize Nautilus, the default file manager in Fedora Linux, to suit your preferences and enhance your file management experience.

11 - Power Management Configuration in Fedora Linux

Power management is an essential aspect of modern computing, especially for laptops and mobile devices, as it helps conserve battery life and reduce power consumption. Fedora Linux provides various tools and options to configure power management settings, allowing users to balance performance and battery life according to their needs. This tutorial will guide you through the process of configuring power management settings in Fedora Linux.

Understanding Power Management Components

Before diving into the configuration process, it’s essential to understand the key components involved in power management:

  1. CPU Frequency Scaling: This feature allows the system to dynamically adjust the CPU frequency based on the current workload, reducing power consumption when the system is idle or under low load.
  2. Display Power Management: This includes settings for screen brightness, display sleep, and screen blanking, which help conserve battery life by reducing power consumption when the display is not in use.
  3. Disk and Device Power Management: This feature allows the system to spin down hard disks and put devices into low-power modes when they are not in use, reducing overall power consumption.
  4. Battery Management: This component monitors and reports the battery status, providing information about the remaining battery life and enabling battery-saving modes.

Configuring Power Management Settings

Fedora Linux provides several graphical and command-line tools to configure power management settings. We’ll cover both methods in this tutorial.

Using the GNOME Power Manager (Graphical Interface)

The GNOME Power Manager is a graphical utility that allows you to configure various power management settings for your Fedora Linux system. To access the Power Manager, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the “Activities” icon (the top-left corner of the desktop).
  2. Search for “Power” and select “Power” from the search results.
  3. The Power Manager window will open, providing access to various power management settings.

Display Settings

  1. In the Power Manager window, click on the “Displays” section.
  2. Here, you can adjust the screen brightness and configure display sleep and screen blanking settings.
  3. Drag the “Brightness” slider to adjust the screen brightness according to your preference.
  4. Set the “Turn off after” and “Blank after” values to specify the duration after which the screen will turn off or go blank when the system is idle.

Power Settings

  1. In the Power Manager window, click on the “Power” section.
  2. Here, you can configure power management settings for various power sources (battery and AC power).
  3. Adjust the “Blank screen” and “Suspend” values to specify the duration after which the screen will go blank or the system will enter suspend mode when idle.
  4. Enable or disable the “Automatic Suspend” and “Automatic Brightness” options according to your preferences.

Battery Settings

  1. In the Power Manager window, click on the “Battery” section.
  2. Here, you can view the current battery status and configure battery-related settings.
  3. Enable or disable the “Battery Percentage” option to show or hide the battery percentage indicator in the top bar.
  4. Adjust the “Critical Battery Action” setting to specify the action the system should take when the battery reaches a critical level.

Using Command-Line Tools

Fedora Linux also provides command-line tools for configuring power management settings. These tools are particularly useful for server environments or situations where the graphical interface is not available.

TLP (Thermal, Linux Power)

TLP is a command-line utility that provides advanced power management features for Linux systems. It can optimize power consumption, CPU frequency scaling, disk spin-down, and more. To install TLP, run the following command:

sudo dnf install tlp tlp-rdw

After installation, TLP is enabled and starts automatically at system boot. You can configure TLP by editing the /etc/tlp.conf file. Here are some common settings you can adjust:

# CPU Frequency Scaling
CPU_SCALING_GOVERNOR_ON_BAT=powersave
CPU_MAX_PERF_ON_BAT=30

# Disk Power Management
DISK_IOSCHED=cfq
DISK_APM_LEVEL_ON_BAT=1

# Display Power Management
RADEON_POWER_PROFILE_ON_BAT=low
RADEON_DPM_STATE_ON_BAT=battery
RADEON_DPM_PERF_LEVEL_ON_BAT=auto

# Battery Management
START_CHARGE_THRESH_BAT0=75
STOP_CHARGE_THRESH_BAT0=80

After making changes to the configuration file, you can apply the new settings by running:

sudo tlp start

CPUFreq Utils

The cpufreq-utils package provides tools for configuring CPU frequency scaling. You can install it with the following command:

sudo dnf install kernel-tools

Once installed, you can use the cpufreq-info command to view the current CPU frequency scaling settings and the available governors:

cpufreq-info

To change the CPU frequency scaling governor, use the cpufreq-set command:

sudo cpufreq-set -g powersave

This command sets the CPU frequency scaling governor to “powersave” mode, which favors power efficiency over performance.

Additional Tips and Best Practices

  • Use power-saving modes when running on battery power to extend battery life.
  • Adjust screen brightness and sleep settings according to your usage patterns.
  • Disable unnecessary services and background processes to reduce power consumption.
  • Keep your system up-to-date with the latest software and kernel updates, as they often include power management improvements.
  • Consider using tools like PowerTOP or TLP to analyze and optimize power consumption on your system.

Conclusion

Power management configuration is crucial for maximizing battery life and reducing power consumption on Fedora Linux systems, especially for laptops and mobile devices. By following this tutorial, you should now have a solid understanding of the various power management components and the tools available for configuring them. Remember to adjust the settings based on your specific needs and usage patterns to strike the right balance between performance and power efficiency.

12 - Shell Customization (Bash/Zsh) in Fedora Linux

Customizing your shell environment can greatly enhance your productivity and create a personalized experience tailored to your workflow. In this tutorial, we’ll explore various aspects of shell customization, including prompt settings, aliases, and shell scripting, for both Bash and Zsh shells in Fedora Linux.

Introduction to Shells

A shell is a command-line interface that allows users to interact with the operating system by executing commands, running scripts, and automating tasks. In Fedora Linux, the default shell is Bash (Bourne Again SHell), but there are alternative shells available, such as Zsh (Z SHell).

Both Bash and Zsh offer extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor their shell environment to their preferences and enhance their productivity.

Bash Customization

Bash is the default shell in most Linux distributions, including Fedora. Customizing Bash involves modifying configuration files and creating scripts.

Configuring the Bash Prompt

The Bash prompt is the line that appears before you type a command, and it can be customized to display various information, such as the current working directory, user name, hostname, and more.

To customize the Bash prompt, edit the ~/.bashrc file using a text editor like nano or vim:

nano ~/.bashrc

Add the following line to the file, replacing \u with the desired prompt format:

export PS1="\u@\h:\w$ "

Here’s what the various escape sequences mean:

  • \u: Current user’s username
  • \h: Hostname (short form)
  • \W: Current working directory (short form)
  • \w: Current working directory (full path)
  • \$: Displays $ for regular users or # for root

After saving the file, either restart your terminal or run source ~/.bashrc for the changes to take effect.

Creating Bash Aliases

Aliases are shortcuts that allow you to execute commands or a series of commands with a single word. They can save you time and effort by reducing the need to type long commands repeatedly.

To create a Bash alias, open the ~/.bashrc file and add the following line:

alias shortcut='command'

Replace shortcut with the desired alias name and command with the actual command or series of commands you want to execute.

For example, to create an alias ll for the ls -l command, add the following line:

alias ll='ls -l'

After saving the file, either restart your terminal or run source ~/.bashrc for the aliases to take effect.

Writing Bash Scripts

Bash scripts are files containing a sequence of Bash commands that can be executed as a single unit. Scripts are useful for automating repetitive tasks, performing complex operations, and creating custom tools.

To create a Bash script, open a text editor and start writing your commands. Save the file with a .sh extension, for example, myscript.sh.

Here’s a basic example of a Bash script that displays a greeting:

#!/bin/bash

echo "Hello, World!"

The first line #!/bin/bash is called the shebang line and tells the system which interpreter to use for executing the script.

To run the script, navigate to the directory where the script is located and execute the following command:

bash myscript.sh

Alternatively, you can make the script executable and run it directly:

chmod +x myscript.sh
./myscript.sh

Bash scripts can include variables, conditionals, loops, functions, and more, allowing you to create powerful and complex scripts.

Zsh Customization

Zsh is an alternative shell that offers advanced features and extensive customization options. It’s known for its powerful auto-completion, spelling correction, and various plugins and themes.

Installing Zsh

Zsh may not be installed by default on Fedora Linux. To install it, open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo dnf install zsh

After the installation is complete, you can switch to Zsh by running the following command:

zsh

Configuring the Zsh Prompt

Similar to Bash, you can customize the Zsh prompt by modifying the ~/.zshrc file. Open the file in a text editor:

nano ~/.zshrc

Add the following line to set the prompt format:

PROMPT="%n@%m:%~%# "

Here’s what the various escape sequences mean:

  • %n: Current user’s username
  • %m: Machine (hostname)
  • %~: Current working directory
  • %#: Displays % for regular users or # for root

After saving the file, either restart your terminal or run source ~/.zshrc for the changes to take effect.

Creating Zsh Aliases

Creating aliases in Zsh is similar to Bash. Open the ~/.zshrc file and add the following line:

alias shortcut='command'

Replace shortcut with the desired alias name and command with the actual command or series of commands you want to execute.

For example, to create an alias ll for the ls -l command, add the following line:

alias ll='ls -l'

After saving the file, either restart your terminal or run source ~/.zshrc for the aliases to take effect.

Writing Zsh Scripts

Writing Zsh scripts is similar to writing Bash scripts. Create a file with a .zsh extension and start writing your commands.

Here’s a basic example of a Zsh script that displays a greeting:

#!/bin/zsh

echo "Hello, World!"

To run the script, navigate to the directory where the script is located and execute the following command:

zsh myscript.zsh

Alternatively, you can make the script executable and run it directly:

chmod +x myscript.zsh
./myscript.zsh

Zsh scripts can include variables, conditionals, loops, functions, and more, just like Bash scripts.

Additional Customization Options

Besides prompt settings, aliases, and scripting, there are several other ways to enhance your shell experience.

Customizing the Terminal Appearance

You can customize the appearance of your terminal by changing the color scheme, font, and background. In Fedora Linux, you can access these settings through the terminal application’s preferences or by installing a terminal emulator like Terminator or Tilix.

Enabling Tab Completion

Both Bash and Zsh support tab completion, which allows you to auto-complete commands, file paths, and more by pressing the Tab key. This feature can significantly boost your productivity by reducing the need for typing long commands or file paths.

In Bash, tab completion is enabled by default. In Zsh, you can enable advanced tab completion by installing and configuring a plugin like zsh-autosuggestions or zsh-syntax-highlighting.

Syntax Highlighting

Syntax highlighting is a feature that highlights different parts of your commands and scripts with different colors, making it easier to read and understand the code. Both Bash and Zsh have syntax highlighting plugins or extensions available.

In Bash, you can use the bash-syntax-highlighting package, which can be installed using the package manager:

sudo dnf install bash-syntax-highlighting

In Zsh, you can use the zsh-syntax-highlighting plugin, which can be installed using a plugin manager like zinit or `z

13 - System Font Configuration in Fedora Linux

In Fedora Linux, system fonts are managed by the FreeType library, which renders fonts on the screen. FreeType provides several options to tweak font rendering for improved readability and visual appeal. In this tutorial, we’ll explore various font configuration settings and techniques to customize the appearance of fonts in your Fedora system.

Understanding Font Rendering

Font rendering is the process of converting font outlines into bitmaps that can be displayed on the screen. FreeType employs different rendering techniques, such as anti-aliasing, hinting, and sub-pixel rendering, to enhance the appearance of fonts at various sizes.

Anti-Aliasing

Anti-aliasing is a technique that smooths the edges of fonts by adding partially transparent pixels along the boundaries, making them appear smoother and less jagged.

Hinting

Hinting is a process that aligns the outlines of fonts to the rasterized pixel grid, improving their legibility, especially at smaller sizes.

Sub-Pixel Rendering

Sub-pixel rendering is a technique that takes advantage of the individual red, green, and blue components of a pixel to increase the perceived resolution of fonts, resulting in smoother and crisper text rendering.

Configuring System Fonts

In Fedora Linux, system-wide font settings are stored in the /etc/fonts/local.conf file. This file is used by FreeType to determine how fonts should be rendered on your system. Here’s how you can modify this file to customize font rendering:

  1. Open the /etc/fonts/local.conf file using your preferred text editor with root privileges:

    sudo nano /etc/fonts/local.conf

  2. Inside the file, you’ll find various options organized into different sections. Here are some common settings you can adjust:

    <?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE fontconfig SYSTEM "fonts.dtd">
<fontconfig>
  <!-- Anti-Aliasing -->
  <match target="font">
    <edit name="antialias" mode="assign">
      <bool>true</bool>
    </edit>
  </match>

  <!-- Hinting -->
  <match target="font">
    <edit name="hinting" mode="assign">
      <bool>true</bool>
    </edit>
  </match>
  <match target="font">
    <edit name="hintstyle" mode="assign">
      <const>hintslight</const>
    </edit>
  </match>

  <!-- Sub-Pixel Rendering -->
  <match target="font">
    <edit name="rgba" mode="assign">
      <const>rgb</const>
    </edit>
  </match>
</fontconfig>
    • <edit name="antialias">: Set to <bool>true</bool> to enable anti-aliasing or <bool>false</bool> to disable it.
    • <edit name="hinting">: Set to <bool>true</bool> to enable hinting or <bool>false</bool> to disable it.
    • <edit name="hintstyle">: Determine the hinting style. Possible values are hintnone, hintslight, hintmedium, and hintfull.
    • <edit name="rgba">: Set the sub-pixel rendering mode. Possible values are none, rgb, bgr, vrgb, and vbgr.

  3. After making your desired changes, save the file and exit the text editor.

  4. To apply the new font configuration settings, restart the font cache by running the following command:

    sudo fc-cache -f -v

    This command will rebuild the font cache and ensure that the new settings take effect immediately.

Additional Font Configuration Options

Apart from the system-wide settings in /etc/fonts/local.conf, you can also configure font rendering on a per-user basis by creating a ~/.config/fontconfig/fonts.conf file in your home directory. This file follows the same syntax as /etc/fonts/local.conf and allows you to override system-wide settings for your user account.

Additionally, some desktop environments, such as GNOME or KDE, provide graphical tools for configuring font settings. These tools often provide a user-friendly interface for adjusting font rendering options, making it easier for users who prefer a visual approach.

Troubleshooting Font Issues

If you encounter any issues with font rendering after making changes to the configuration files, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:

  1. Verify that your changes are correctly formatted in the configuration files. XML syntax errors can prevent the settings from being applied correctly.

  2. Check if any desktop environment or application-specific font settings are overriding your system-wide configuration.

  3. Try clearing the font cache and rebuilding it using the fc-cache -f -v command.

  4. If the issue persists, you can try resetting the font configuration to the default settings by removing or renaming the /etc/fonts/local.conf file and rebuilding the font cache.

Conclusion

By following this tutorial, you should now have a better understanding of font rendering in Fedora Linux and how to configure system fonts to improve readability and visual appeal. Remember, font rendering preferences can be subjective, so feel free to experiment with different settings until you find the combination that works best for your eyes and needs.

14 - Wallpaper and Screensaver Configuration

Fedora Linux offers a variety of options to customize your desktop environment, including setting wallpapers and configuring screensavers. In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to change the wallpaper and manage screensaver settings in Fedora.

Changing the Desktop Wallpaper

Fedora comes with a collection of pre-installed wallpapers, and you can also use your own images as wallpapers. Here’s how you can change the desktop wallpaper:

  1. Right-click on the desktop and select “Change Desktop Background” or “Change Wallpaper” (depending on your desktop environment).

  2. The “Background Preferences” or “Wallpaper Preferences” window will appear, providing you with different options to choose and configure your wallpaper.

  3. In the “Background” tab, you can select from various pre-installed wallpapers by clicking on the thumbnails or by navigating through the directories in the left pane.

  4. If you want to use your own image as a wallpaper, click on the “+” button at the bottom of the window and select your desired image file.

  5. The selected image will be added to the list of available wallpapers. You can preview it by clicking on the thumbnail.

  6. Adjust the wallpaper settings according to your preferences. You can choose to fill the screen, center the image, stretch it, or set it to span across multiple displays if you have a multi-monitor setup.

  7. You can also configure the wallpaper to change at specific intervals by selecting the “Change Background” option in the “Background” tab and specifying the desired interval.

  8. Once you’re satisfied with your choices, click “Close” or “Apply” to save the changes and apply the new wallpaper.

Configuring the Screensaver

Screensavers are designed to protect your display from burn-in and add a touch of personalization to your desktop. Here’s how you can configure the screensaver settings in Fedora:

  1. Open the “Settings” application or right-click on the desktop and select “Settings” or “Preferences.”

  2. In the “Settings” window, navigate to the “Screensaver” or “Power Management” section.

  3. Here, you can choose a screensaver from the list of available options. Fedora provides several built-in screensavers, ranging from simple blank screens to animated graphics and photos.

  4. After selecting a screensaver, you can customize its settings by clicking on the “Preferences” or “Settings” button next to it.

  5. Adjust the screensaver’s properties, such as the delay before activation, the behavior when the screensaver is running (e.g., locking the screen or requiring a password to dismiss it), and any other specific settings for the chosen screensaver.

  6. Some screensavers may offer additional options, like displaying random images from a folder or adjusting the animation speed.

  7. You can also configure the power management settings in the same section, which control the behavior of your display and system when it is idle or inactive for a certain period.

  8. Once you’ve made your desired changes, click “Close” or “Apply” to save the settings.

Additional Tips and Tricks

  • You can use online resources or dedicated wallpaper websites to find and download high-quality wallpapers for your desktop.

  • If you have a multi-monitor setup, you can set different wallpapers for each display by selecting the appropriate display in the wallpaper preferences window.

  • Some desktop environments, like GNOME, offer additional extensions or plugins that provide more advanced wallpaper and screensaver customization options. You can explore these extensions from the respective extension repositories.

  • Fedora also supports live wallpapers, which are animated or interactive wallpapers. You can find and install live wallpaper packages from the Fedora repositories or third-party sources.

  • If you prefer a minimalist approach, you can choose a solid color or a simple pattern as your wallpaper by selecting the appropriate option in the wallpaper preferences window.

Customizing your desktop environment with personalized wallpapers and screensavers is a great way to make your Fedora experience more visually appealing and tailored to your preferences. Experiment with different options and find the combination that suits your style and needs best.

15 - Window Manager Tweaks on Fedora Linux

The window manager is a fundamental component of a desktop environment on Linux, responsible for managing the placement and appearance of application windows, as well as handling user interactions with these windows. Fedora Linux, like many other Linux distributions, offers a range of window managers to choose from, each with its own set of features and customization options.

Introduction

In this tutorial, we’ll explore various tweaks and customizations you can apply to your window manager on Fedora Linux, enhancing your desktop experience and improving productivity. We’ll cover window behavior, keyboard shortcuts, window decorations, and more.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the tweaks, ensure that you have the following prerequisites:

  • A working installation of Fedora Linux
  • A desktop environment installed (e.g., GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, or others)
  • Basic knowledge of using the terminal and text editor

Window Behavior

  1. Window Snapping and Tiling

    Many window managers offer built-in features for snapping windows to the edges of the screen or tiling them in various layouts. These features can significantly improve your multitasking experience and workspace organization.

    • GNOME:

      • Enable the “Window Tiling” extension from the GNOME Extensions website or the built-in Tweaks tool.
      • Use keyboard shortcuts like Super + Left/Right to snap windows to the left or right half of the screen, or Super + Up/Down to maximize or restore windows.

    • KDE Plasma:

      • Navigate to “System Settings > Window Management > Window Behavior” and enable the “Window Tiling” option.
      • Use keyboard shortcuts like Meta + Left/Right to snap windows to the left or right half of the screen, or Meta + Up/Down to maximize or restore windows.

    • Xfce:

      • Install the “Window Tiling” plugin from the Xfce Panel’s “Window Manager Tweaks” section.
      • Use keyboard shortcuts like Super + Left/Right to snap windows to the left or right half of the screen, or Super + Up/Down to maximize or restore windows.

  2. Window Focus and Raising

    Customize how windows are focused and raised when clicked or hovered over.

    • GNOME:

      • Use the built-in Tweaks tool to adjust “Window Focus” settings, such as “Click to Focus” or “Focus on Hover.”

    • KDE Plasma:

      • Navigate to “System Settings > Window Management > Window Behavior” and adjust the “Focus” and “Focus Stealing Prevention” options.

    • Xfce:

      • Navigate to “Settings > Window Manager Tweaks > Focus” and adjust the focus behavior settings.

  3. Window Placement and Positioning

    Control how new windows are positioned and placed on the screen.

    • GNOME:

      • Use the built-in Tweaks tool to adjust “Window Tiling” and “Window Placement” settings.

    • KDE Plasma:

      • Navigate to “System Settings > Window Management > Window Behavior” and adjust the “Window Placement” and “Window Tiling” options.

    • Xfce:

      • Navigate to “Settings > Window Manager Tweaks > Placement” and adjust the window placement settings.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can significantly enhance your productivity by allowing you to perform common tasks quickly without having to navigate through menus or use the mouse.

  1. Modifying Existing Shortcuts

    Most desktop environments provide a way to view and modify existing keyboard shortcuts.

    • GNOME:

      • Use the built-in “Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts” tool to view and modify keyboard shortcuts for various actions, such as window management, launching applications, and more.

    • KDE Plasma:

      • Navigate to “System Settings > Shortcuts” to view and modify keyboard shortcuts for various components and actions.

    • Xfce:

      • Navigate to “Settings > Keyboard” to view and modify keyboard shortcuts for various actions.

  2. Creating Custom Shortcuts

    In addition to modifying existing shortcuts, you can also create your own custom shortcuts for specific actions or commands.

    • GNOME:

      • Use the built-in “Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts” tool and click the “+” button to create a new custom shortcut.

    • KDE Plasma:

      • Navigate to “System Settings > Shortcuts > Custom Shortcuts” and click the “Edit” button to create a new custom shortcut.

    • Xfce:

      • Navigate to “Settings > Keyboard” and click the “Application Shortcuts” tab to create new custom shortcuts for specific applications or commands.

Window Decorations

Window decorations refer to the visual elements surrounding application windows, such as the title bar, borders, and window control buttons (minimize, maximize, close). Customizing these decorations can give your desktop a fresh and personalized look.

  1. Changing the Window Theme

    Most desktop environments provide a selection of pre-installed window themes or allow you to install additional themes from their respective repositories or online sources.

    • GNOME:

      • Use the built-in Tweaks tool or the “Settings > Appearance” tool to browse and apply different window themes.

    • KDE Plasma:

      • Navigate to “System Settings > Appearance > Window Decorations” to browse and apply different window decoration themes.

    • Xfce:

      • Navigate to “Settings > Window Manager > Style” to browse and apply different window themes.

  2. Customizing Window Decorations

    Some window managers allow you to customize individual elements of the window decorations, such as the title bar layout, button placements, and more.

    • GNOME:

      • Use the built-in Tweaks tool or the “Settings > Appearance” tool to adjust various window decoration options, such as button layout and title bar appearance.

    • KDE Plasma:

      • Navigate to “System Settings > Appearance > Window Decorations” and click the “Configure Decoration…” button to customize various aspects of the window decorations.

    • Xfce:

      • Navigate to “Settings > Window Manager Tweaks > Window Decorations” to customize the appearance of window decorations.

  3. Using Custom Window Decoration Themes

    If the pre-installed window decoration themes don’t meet your needs, you can explore and install custom themes from online sources or create your own.

    • GNOME:

      • Search for and install custom GNOME Shell themes from the GNOME Extensions website or other online repositories.

    • KDE Plasma:

      • Search for and install custom KDE window decoration themes from online sources like the KDE Store or other repositories.

    • Xfce:

      • Search for and install custom Xfce window decoration themes from online sources or create your own by modifying the relevant configuration files.

Advanced Tweaks

For more advanced users or those seeking even more customization options, there are additional tweaks and configurations you can explore.

  1. Editing Configuration Files

    Most window managers store their configuration settings in text-based configuration files, typically located in the user’s home directory or system-wide directories. By editing these files, you can fine-tune various aspects of the window manager’s behavior and appearance.

    • GNOME:

      • GNOME settings are stored in the DConf database, which can be edited using the dconf-editor tool or by creating custom overrides in the ~/.config/dconf/user directory.

    • KDE Plasma:

      • KDE settings are stored in various configuration files, typically located in the ~/.config/kdeglobals and ~/.config/kwinrc directories.

    • Xfce:

      • Xfce settings are stored in various configuration files, typically located in the ~/.config/xfce4 directory.

    Note: Exercise caution when editing configuration files directly, as incorrect modifications can potentially cause issues or undesired behavior.

  2. Using Advanced Configuration Tools

    Some window managers provide advanced configuration tools or graphical utilities that allow for more extensive customization options.

    • GNOME:

      • The gnome-tweaks tool provides additional customization options for various GNOME Shell components, including window behavior and appearance.

    • KDE Plasma:

      • The “System Settings” application in KDE Plasma offers a wide range of configuration