Ubuntu 24.04 setup: macOS dock, timeouts, dev tools

setup.md

Ubuntu 24.04 Setup Guide

macOS-Style Dock & Window Controls

# Move dock to bottom (macOS style)
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock dock-position 'BOTTOM'
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock extend-height false
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock always-center-icons true
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock show-apps-at-top true
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock click-action 'minimize'

# Move window controls to left (macOS style)
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences button-layout 'close,minimize,maximize:appmenu'

Screen Timeout — 20 Minutes

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.session idle-delay 1200
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.power sleep-inactive-ac-timeout 1200
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.power sleep-inactive-battery-timeout 1200

Passwordless Sudo

echo "$(whoami) ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL" | sudo tee /etc/sudoers.d/$(whoami)-nopasswd

SSH Key for GitHub

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your-email@example.com" -f ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 -N ""
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Add the printed key at GitHub.com → Settings → SSH and GPG keys → New SSH key.

Test with:

ssh -T git@github.com

GitHub CLI (gh)

sudo apt install gh -y
gh auth login

Apps

# System monitor
sudo apt install htop -y

# Media player
sudo apt install vlc -y

# Docker + Compose
sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose-v2 -y
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
# Log out & back in (or run: newgrp docker)

Add Apps to Dock

# Pin Chrome to dock
gsettings set org.gnome.shell favorite-apps "['google-chrome.desktop', ...]"

Terminal Copy/Paste

In GNOME Terminal, use Ctrl+Shift+C to copy and Ctrl+Shift+V to paste (because Ctrl+C sends an interrupt signal in the terminal).