Library Guide

If you aren't satisfied with Unity's approach, with the Launcher locked at the left screen edge, lacking the ability to minimize windows by clicking on their respective icons, Avant Window Navigator is yet another alternative for you. It would sit at any screen edge you want it to and would behave quite familiar, just like things used to be in Gnome 2.x. If you've already tried running AWN in Ubuntu Precise and Oneiric and aren't that satisfied with the outcomes, the easy-to-use script attached to this post might well sort out most of the issues you faced.


Primarily, there are two approaches for running AWN in Ubuntu. The first one is to add AWN to the Startup Applications and disable the Unity Plugin in CCSM, but that's not too great of an idea, because this way you would be deprived of your original Unity session. The other, and more sensible, approach is to create a custom session for AWN. While AWN can run as a standalone dock and can hold all the indicators, a notification area, etc., I would recommend to run the Unity 2D Panel along with it, so that you are not deprived of the Global Menu at least, although there won't be things like HUD, Lenses or Quicklists in this session obviously, as the former require the Dash functionality and the latter the Launcher, of course.

Installation / Setup