How to force-enable server-side decor on gnome apps?

Help
1

I don’t mind if there are two sets of buttons, I just cannot stand the gnome-type decor.

2

Best way is to look for alt apps that dont use gtk/adwita the other thing to do is request that whoever makes the app to not use gtk/gnome tooling.

3

So there is no way to override this globally? I can’t stand GNOME either and the way these apps ignore your desktop environment’s aesthetics and assert their own looks is atrocious. Unfortunately, there are some useful apps like Gear Lever or Pika that can’t be simply ignored.

This literally is one of the main issues that ruins the entire Linux experience for me, no matter what distro I use. Choice and customization seem like one of the biggest myths in Linux: sure, you can pick any distro you want from literally hundreds but GNOME will always show its ugly head no matter what you do and where you go.

Sad.

Screenie-2025-03-18-11.08.26
Screenie-2025-03-18-11.08.261569×940 149 KB

4

Yep, as far as I know there’s not currently a way to force KWin-drawn window decorations to be wrapped around applications that force client-side decorations.

Maybe getting philosophical for a moment…the possibility of choosing and customizing how your system works is guaranteed by free and open source software.

What can vary is, out of the near-infinite possible combinations of configurations, how many of them:

  • Are already implemented for you by someone else
    vs.
  • Are possible through the developer granting you free access and license to modify the code, though not implemented

But I guess as a child of the 90s, I never quite expected 100% uniform window decorations on a PC anyway :slight_smile:

On a side note, if you want a Qt-based GUI for Borg, Vorta is really good too.

5

Thanks again:) I know about Vorta. Actually, I was hoping Pika can do encrypted backups to a vanilla SFTP/SSH share but I guess it can’t, it’s only a Borg client.

Windows is a complete mess when it comes to theming and customization (even worse now than ever before). I expected more from Linux and it generally works much better than Windows but the way GNOME/GTK style is forced in other DEs is really bad and contrary to what I’d expect from Linux.