Introduction

Cloudberry is a Linux desktop system based on Ubuntu Desktop 20.04, featuring subtle changes to the default GNOME Shell settings inspired by macOS and Chrome OS.

Features

  • Progressive Web Applications (via Google Chrome)
  • Ad-blocking (via AdGuard)
  • Customizable browser home / new tab page (nightTab)
  • A dock (Dash to Dock)
  • Additional customization (Yaru-Colors)
  • Support for Microsoft Windows applications (via Wine)

Setup

A Cloudberry iso disk image can be created using Cubic.

First, download Ubuntu Desktop 20.04 LTS and create a new Cubic project based on it.

Then, once in the virtual environment terminal:

  1. Uninstall Firefox, Ubuntu Dock and Snap:
apt remove --yes firefox gnome-shell-extension-ubuntu-dock gnome-software-plugin-snap snapd
  1. Update everything:
apt update

apt upgrade --yes
  1. Install Software and Tweaks:
apt install --no-install-recommends --yes gnome-software gnome-tweaks
  1. Install Google Chrome:
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

apt install --yes ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

rm google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
  1. Install Wine:
mkdir -pm755 /etc/apt/keyrings

wget -O /etc/apt/keyrings/winehq-archive.key https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key

wget -NP /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/dists/focal/winehq-focal.sources

apt install --install-recommends --yes winehq-stable
  1. Install Yaru-Colors:
git clone https://github.com/Jannomag/Yaru-Colors

./Yaru-Colors/install.sh

Follow the installer and choose whatever you like, but don’t enable anything yet.

rm --recursive Yaru-Colors
  1. Configure Ubuntu:
nano /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades

Delete the contents of the file and paste in the following settings (Ctrl+Shift+V):

[DEFAULT]
Prompt=never
  1. Configure GNOME Shell:
cd /usr/share

Download the assets (wallpaper, sample application icons), copy them by dragging the file into Cubic’s terminal and install them:

tar --extract --file assets.tar

rm assets.tar

cd glib-2.0/schemas

nano 90_custom.gschema.override

Paste in the following settings (Ctrl+Shift+V):

[org.gnome.shell]
disable-user-extensions = false
enabled-extensions = ['desktop-icons@csoriano', 'dash-to-dock@micxgx.gmail.com', 'user-theme@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com']
favorite-apps = ['google-chrome.desktop', 'org.gnome.Nautilus.desktop']

[org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences]
num-workspaces = 1

[org.gnome.mutter]
dynamic-workspaces = false

[org.gnome.shell.overrides]
dynamic-workspaces = false

[org.gnome.desktop.privacy]
remember-app-usage = false

[org.gnome.desktop.background]
picture-uri = 'file:///usr/share/backgrounds/wallpaper.jpg'

[org.gnome.shell.extensions.desktop-icons]
show-trash = false
show-home = false

glib-compile-schemas .
  1. Install Dash to Dock:
cd gnome-shell/extensions

Download the extension, copy it by dragging the file into Cubic’s terminal and install it:

unzip dash-to-dockmicxgx.gmail.com.v69.shell-extension.zip -d dash-to-dock@micxgx.gmail.com

rm dash-to-dockmicxgx.gmail.com.v69.shell-extension.zip

cd dash-to-dock@micxgx.gmail.com

chmod 644 metadata.json

cd schemas

nano 90_custom.gschema.override

Paste in the following settings (Ctrl+Shift+V):

[org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock]
autohide = true
transparency-mode = 'FIXED'
background-opacity = 1
custom-theme-shrink = true
dash-max-icon-size = 48
dock-position = 'BOTTOM'
hide-delay = 1.3877787807814457e-17
intellihide-mode = 'ALL_WINDOWS'
pressure-threshold = 10
running-indicator-style = 'SOLID'
show-trash = false
icon-size-fixed = true

glib-compile-schemas .
  1. Install User Themes (needed for Yaru-Colors):
cd /etc/skel

mkdir --parents .local/share/gnome-shell/extensions

cd .local/share/gnome-shell/extensions

Download the extension, copy it by dragging the file into Cubic’s terminal and install it:

unzip user-themegnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com.v42.shell-extension.zip -d user-theme@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com

rm user-themegnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com.v42.shell-extension.zip

cd user-theme@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com

chmod 644 metadata.json

Now, finish creating the iso using Cubic. The next part can be done after installing the iso on a computer.

  1. Open and configure Google Chrome:
  • install AdGuard and nightTab
  • for each desired web application (e.g. Gmail, YouTube, YouTube Music, Khan Academy, etc.):
    1. visit the website (and log in)
    2. create a shortcut (3 dots menu -> More Tools -> Create shortcut…)
    3. a desktop file will apear in ~/Desktop; delete it
    4. (optional) find the new application in the application menu and add it to the Dock (right click -> Add to Favorites)