How To Install GNOME 3.10 on Ubuntu 13.10 Without Breaking Unity

Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander has been released last month on 17 October 2013. This latest update has nothing new but simply follows the footsteps of its ancestor 13.04. The only new desktop feature is Smart Scopes. You know that Unity is default desktop environment for Ubuntu which has been polished for some years and one of finest interface available today.

Even though, it is not finest for some users. For those people, here I’ll show you, how to install GNOME 3.10 on Ubuntu 13.10

Also See: 50+ Best Linux Software Applications for All Distros [Most Useful]

Why GNOME?

Wait, Before Installing GNOME, Why? Is GNOME doesn’t come with the launcher like Unity? For this Question, the answer is YES and NO. It offers much smoother and better interface than Unity to desktop. Also, the latest GNOME 3.10 offers more features,

Wayland – will enable the GNOME to fully adopt the next generation display and input technology in the future.

Enhanced System Status Area – which gives a more focused overview of your system.

Software – which provides an easy way to browse and install applications.

Many New Apps – including Maps, Notes, Music and Photos.

New geolocation features – such as automatic time zones and world clocks.

And many other features that it has already in previous versions

Install GNOME 3.8 in Ubuntu 13.04

Just follow the below steps to install GNOME 3.10 in Ubuntu Desktop

1. Open the Terminal Window, you can use the shortcut CTRL + ALT + T

2. Add the GNOME PPA repository with the command: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3

3. Press the Enter key.

4. You will get a Prompt, just press the Enter again

5. After adding the new repository, you need to update the list using the command: sudo apt-get update

6. After the refresh, install GNOME desktop using the command: sudo apt-get install gnome-shell ubuntu-gnome-desktop

7.You will get a prompt to choose the default login manager. You can choose you desired one ,both will work (LightDM is the default Unity manager and GDM is the GNOME default).

8. After the installation, just close the Terminal and Reboot the system.

That’s it. The GNOME Desktop will welcome you afterwards.

Install GNOME 3.10 in Ubuntu 13.10 without Breaking Unity

Before installin the GNOME 3.10, you should do some makeovers to GNOME work properly in Ubuntu.

In Ubuntu 13.10 GNOME 3.10 has some issues, such as

LightDM is not working properly. You probably know thatLightDM is the Display manager. So that InstallGDM which is the GNOME display manager and selectGDM when login prompt.
```
sudo apt-get install gdm
```
Now Add the GNOME 3.10 PPAs. Like above execute the code one by one to install GNOME 3.10 in Ubuntu 13.10. The Dist upgrade will install 200+ MB data in your system. Also, read the information carefully.
```
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3-next 
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3-staging 
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
```

To install all GNOME apps use the following command

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell gnome-shell-extensions

You have to remove the Ubuntu OverlayScrollbars to fix the Black shadow issues. Now the GNOMEScrollbar will function properly
```
sudo apt-get remove overlay-scrollbar
```

That’s it. Now restart the Computer