Experimental Windows 10 UI looks transformation package - testers wanted!

[Botspot]

I love Raspberry Pi, but I have always felt uncomfortable with Raspbian Pixel's appearance.

Since I was familiar with Windows 10, I installed a windows 10 icon pack, mouse cursor, window border, GTK theme, and composite manager, but soon found it was too difficult to maintain them all.

So I combined them and coded a simple installer.

Here is what it looks like:

2019-07-06-193437-1280x1024-scrot.png (235.47 KiB) Viewed 8433 times

I have tested it on Raspbian Stretch and Buster, but I am looking for suggestions on how to improve it.

To download, run this in the terminal:

Code: Select all

cd
wget -O Windows-10-trans-pack.tar.gz 'https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1FhcdVtsCrWoS4qL53vqSSwcse8eYUucO'
tar -xzf Windows-10-trans-pack.tar.gz &>/dev/null

To install:

Code: Select all

~/Windows-10/install.sh

To uninstall:

Code: Select all

~/Windows-10/uninstall.sh

Credits:
Botspot (me) for the Openbox window border
Google for Product Sans font
User xxmmtrtxx for the mouse cursor
B00merang Project for the GTK theme
User HEMOO023 for the icon pack

[pik33]

Tested. On my own risk

Problem: after applying this, a change in font size destroys windows layout (maximize, close icons are only partially visible)

The major problem: uninstall doesn't work properly. The installer should backup all settings it changes to allow uninstaller to restore them.
In my case I lost my autostart script and several other settings was also damaged, so I had to restore defaults, reboot and restore manually what was lost by testing the scripts.

[PeterO]

I love Raspberry Pi, but I have always felt uncomfortable with Raspbian Pixel's appearance.

"Pixel" as a name was retired about two years ago. Are you still running a two year old configuration ?
PeterO

[fruitoftheloom]

I love Raspberry Pi, but I have always felt uncomfortable with Raspbian Pixel's appearance.

"Pixel" as a name was retired about two years ago. Are you still running a two year old configuration ?
PeterO

Yes Pixel Desktop Environment was ditched when Stretch released and the replacement Raspberry Pi Desktop desktop environment was updated to coincide with Buster release.....

[Botspot]

Problem: after applying this, a change in font size destroys windows layout (maximize, close icons are only partially visible)

Like this?

2019-07-16-071402_1280x1024_scrot.png (8.67 KiB) Viewed 8579 times

Yes, I am aware of this problem. Unfortunately I know no way around it as openbox determines the titlebar height based on the font.
According to this site:

If you want to make your window icons larger, you would have to specify that your theme’s users change the font size in obconf to something larger, such as 10px+.

Later on the author suggests openbox change this and determine the icon size, based on the icon size.

Either I had to shrink the buttons or go with a large font.

The major problem: uninstall doesn't work properly. The installer should backup all settings it changes to allow uninstaller to restore them.
In my case I lost my autostart script and several other settings was also damaged, so I had to restore defaults, reboot and restore manually what was lost by testing the scripts.

Good point. Currently the uninstall script simply deletes the theme, icon and mouse packs, uninstalls xcompmgr and the gtk engine, then launches lxappearance and prompts the user to change the settings back. And you're right, is did overwrite the autostart file.

I have updated the script to backup all files it replaces to a directory in the Windows-10 directory, so this problem should be fixed.
Install script was also improved to not close all graphical programs by restarting the lightdm service. Instead, it restarts lxpanel, openbox, and pcmanfm.

Any other suggestions? Specifically I have noticed the relative lack of attention to this topic and am wondering if there is a better place to put this transformation pack. Gnome-look.org? GitHub?

[W. H. Heydt]

I wish you all the luck in the world, since it is the UI you prefer. However, as I absolutely DETEST Win10--in all its manifestations--I'll pass. This is, naturally, the advantage of all *nix systems. You can specify the "look and feel" to suit yourself. Unlike certain other OSes.

[Andyroo]

I think the lack of uptake maybe timing.

With the Pi 4 coming out you have lots and lots of folk trying Linux and not thinking about the look and feel as it’s all new.

Being a Mac user as well as Linux, I’ll also wish you luck but will not be taking up a test for you

[hippy]

Any other suggestions? Specifically I have noticed the relative lack of attention to this topic and am wondering if there is a better place to put this transformation pack. Gnome-look.org? GitHub?

Could be that people thought "sounds great" but didn't post just that. I note the actual image of the desktop has gone from your OP ( not appearing for me anyway, just "image" as text ) so it's not clear what it actually looks like, what exactly is being offered.

But maybe people don't want Windows 10 UI customisation. If it had been Windows XP Classic UI customisation I'd have likely given it a whirl by now. For me it seems great, well done, but it's not for me.

It may also be that most people don't seek any customisation, are happy with what there is, don't see any real benefit from making the desktop look like something else..

The problem I found when I tried UI customisation in the past is it's fine for making it look like a familiar operating system desktop, but different enough to be annoying. I guess that comes down to how good the implementation is.

[meAndmyRbP]

Hello there Botspot,

i have run into a little bit of a Problem. i have, successfully, tried out your program and have enjoyed my experience so far nevertheless I wanted to try the:
To uninstall:

Code: Select all

Code: Select all

~/Windows-10/uninstall.sh

but that doesn't seem to have work as I had hoped because it doesn't return to the settings/layout that I had before. I think it would be nice if that were to be included in your program.
I hope this feedback was helpful for you

[Botspot]

Forewarning: It's been so long since I developed this. TBH, I nearly forgot I even released this!

Code: Select all

~/Windows-10/uninstall.sh

but that doesn't seem to have work as I had hoped because it doesn't return to the settings/layout that I had before.
I hope this feedback was helpful for you

Sorry, it wasn't that helpful. You have been very vague.

Please list any errors that popped up when running uninstall.sh.
Please post screenshots of what doesn't look correct. Have you rebooted since running uninstall.sh?

[Bremmy679]

The cpu usage on the toolbar could be an icon instead for a much smoother UI and the menu icon on my download is missing so I have to click on the edge to open the menu bar

[AKASGaming]

I seem to be having 6 issues on RPi3:

1) I went into Appearance settings after installing to change my cursor size (Which still didn't change it) and now all highlights are black. [FIXED WITH REINSTALL]

2) As mentioned before, the cursor size does not change

3) The, what should be, windows icon/png does not appear in toolbar menu

4) As show in the photo attached, the computer for networks shows no network when I have multiple network interfaces (While both are connected to the same network)

5) As the second image shows, the small icons have started to disappear [FIXED WITH REINSTALL]

6) Keyboard shortcuts do not work anymore (PrtSc, Volume/Playback Control Buttons, etc)

4 Image:

2020-07-12-002315_800x600_scrot.png (62.22 KiB) Viewed 6705 times

5 Image:

2020-07-12-011925_800x600_scrot.png (82.13 KiB) Viewed 6705 times

[Botspot]

It's been so long since I've maintained this. Sorry to those who it didn't work for.

To uninstall:

Code: Select all

~/Windows-10/uninstall.sh

In the meantime, I may have some time today to improve it and create a github repository with those changes.

[diogen151]

Working fine at my 3b+/Stretch.
Node is configured as bridged AP, NAS with NFS sharing, WebServer and is headless. Pictures from VNC

[AKASGaming]

Working fine at my 3b+/Stretch.

I'm using 3B+ Buster

[AlienDrew]

Does this still get updated? And why not host it on GitHub or something?

[Botspot]

Does this still get updated? And why not host it on GitHub or something?

I'm working on a massive update. Stay tuned.

[Botspot]

Does this still get updated? And why not host it on GitHub or something?

I'm working on a massive update. Stay tuned.

Okay, here's a sneak peek:

2020-07-29-075600_1280x1024_scrot.png (6.64 KiB) Viewed 6186 times

BTW this has taken a lot of time, basically programming an entire panel theme from scratch.

[CaptainMidnight]

Okay, here's a sneak peek:

2020-07-29-075600_1280x1024_scrot.png

BTW this has taken a lot of time, basically programming an entire panel theme from scratch.

Will you be adding this project to your GitHub https://github.com/Botspot or is it just being announced and supported in this thread?

It's an interesting concept and adds to various available desktop themes/tweaks.

[Botspot]

Okay, here's a sneak peek:2020-07-29-075600_1280x1024_scrot.png
BTW this has taken a lot of time, basically programming an entire panel theme from scratch.

Will you be adding this project to your GitHub https://github.com/Botspot or is it just being announced and supported in this thread?

Yes it will be on my GitHub.

[Botspot]

OK, the all-new Windows-10 transformation pack is available for beta testing: https://github.com/Botspot/Windows-10
Overall UI is much improved, and I've combined several icon themes for the best results.
Tint2 panel added, which exactly mimics the Windows 10 panel.

[AlienDrew]

Awesome, and will the theme work when making new accounts, or will that script help with that?

Also I found something pretty nice, along the lines of looking like Windows 10, called LinuxFx, might want to take a look at it.

[Botspot]

Awesome, and will the theme work when making new accounts, or will that script help with that?

No idea.
In theory you should be able to put the main Windows-10 folder anywhere and it will install fine, but I have no idea how it would behave on a non-pi account.
The script copies the fonts, icons, and themes to /usr/share. That's system-wide. But to make the theme change automatically, the script changes a bunch of files in /home/pi/.config. So if you have /home/me, it probably won't work well. Best option is probably to copy /home/pi's config to /home/me and that should work well for the most part. (as long as the set desktop background is in a universal place)

[AKASGaming]

OK, the all-new Windows-10 transformation pack is available for beta testing: https://github.com/Botspot/Windows-10

Do I have to uninstall the current one I have or will this update over it?

[Botspot]

OK, the all-new Windows-10 transformation pack is available for beta testing: https://github.com/Botspot/Windows-10

Do I have to uninstall the current one I have or will this update over it?

In theory it shouldn't matter, but if you want to stay on the safe side I'd uninstall the older one.
Several reasons:

• Both old and new are designed to use the exact same folder: /home/pi/Windows-10.
• The old one modifies ~/.config/autostart, but the new one doesn't. So xcompmgr may end up launching twice.
• You'd be an edge case that I didn't account for when designing the new one, so if you have issues, I wouldn't know how to help you.