Window controls flipped to left in Lucid Lynx (Alpha 3)

slash_boot — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:34:01 +0000

Ubuntu came out with the Alpha 3 version of Lucid Lynx (Ubuntu 10.04) in the last week of February. The window control buttons (minimize, maximize and close) were still on the right hand side. Then on March 8th, there was a change in metacity. Regardless of which theme you choose, the window controls are seen on the top left hand corner of each window. Its taking me a bit of getting used to. Since I have been using OS-X theme for my windowing, this has come freakishly close to looking like a Mac, and its not good.

Location of controls is switched to left in Lucid Lynx Alpha 3

The release is still in its alpha stage. If a lot of people express dissatisfaction at the new placement of these buttons, it might be reverted back to its old location.

ETA: There is a workaround to get the window controls to the desired location.

start gconf-editor, go to /apps/metacity/general/button_layout

Colon separates what goes in the left corner versus the right. eg:

menu:minimize,maximize,close means menu on the left, min max close on the right.

This workaround was found at: http://www.ivankamajic.com/?p=281#comment-30647

Imaging and a little bit of OSS » controls

Window controls flipped to left in Lucid Lynx (Alpha 3)