I’ve been using Ubuntu 20.04 for a while now, and I really appreciate its flexibility and power. However, I can’t shake off my appreciation for the slick aesthetics of macOS Catalina. It just feels so polished! So, I’ve been thinking—how can I customize my Ubuntu system to make it look and feel more like macOS Catalina?
I mean, let’s face it: while Ubuntu is fantastic for development and general use, sometimes it just lacks that eye-catching beauty that macOS has. I really love the minimalist design, the soft color palette, and those rounded window corners. Not to mention the smooth animations and that lovely dock at the bottom!
I’ve already dabbled with changing the GTK themes, but I’m not sure where to go from there. Are there specific themes or icon packs that mimic the macOS look? And what about the dock setup? I’ve seen some people talking about using Plank or Dash to Panel, but I’m not sure which one would give me the best experience.
Also, I’ve read that Terminal can be styled too—any tips for making that look more like the macOS Terminal? I know there are certain fonts that are really nice, but again, I could use some help figuring out which ones are best to use.
And while we’re at it, how can I set up my files and applications to resemble the macOS Finder? I love that sidebar layout. Any suggestions on customizing Nautilus or using alternatives like Nemo to achieve that?
If anyone has insights on custom scripts or any tweaks they’ve used to give their Ubuntu a little macOS flair, I’d really appreciate it! Screenshots would be amazing too, just so I can see what the final result could look like. I’m excited to see how far I can go with this project and would love to hear everyone’s thoughts!
Customize Ubuntu for a macOS Catalina Feel
Sounds super exciting that you want to give Ubuntu a macOS look! You’re right; Ubuntu definitely has its own charm, but adding that slick, polished macOS vibe can make it even better!
Get the Right Themes and Icons
For GTK themes that give off that macOS feel, you might want to check out macOS GTK Theme or McMojave. They have those nice, soft colors and minimalist design.
As for icons, look for icon packs like La Capitaine or Sierra Icons. They do a fabulous job of mimicking the macOS icon style!
Dock Setup
When it comes to a dock, Plank is a solid choice for its simplicity and ease of use. If you want something more feature-rich, check out Dash to Panel—it combines your top panel and an app dock, giving you a pretty sweet experience similar to macOS.
Styling the Terminal
To make your Terminal look more macOS-ish, you can use the Fira Code or Menlo font. They look sleek and modern!
Don’t forget to tweak your Terminal colors—there are some profiles online that mimic the macOS Terminal color scheme. Just search for “macOS Terminal colors for Ubuntu” to find some cool setups.
Resembling Finder
If you want your files to look like macOS Finder, customizing Nautilus might do the trick. You can enable the sidebar view and adjust it to show the things you frequently access toward the top.
Alternatively, Nemo is a great file manager that can be customized extensively and has a pretty nice side panel. It can definitely help you achieve that sidebar layout you love!
Scripts & Tweaks
For custom scripts, you can look on GitHub for “macOS Ubuntu themes” or similar searches. Many users share their config files, and they might have some handy scripts that change things up even more.
Sadly, I can’t share screenshots here, but looking for “macOS themed Ubuntu” on Google should give you plenty of inspiration! It’s really cool to see what others have done!
Final Thoughts
So, dive into those themes and icon packs, mess around with your dock, and don’t hesitate to customize your Terminal and file manager! Have fun on this project—can’t wait for you to show off your newly styled Ubuntu!
To give your Ubuntu 20.04 system a macOS Catalina-inspired aesthetic, start by installing a macOS-like GTK theme and icon pack. Popular options include the “McMojave” GTK theme and “La Capitaine” icon pack, both of which closely resemble macOS elements. You can use GNOME Tweaks to easily apply these themes after downloading them from websites such as GNOME-Look.org. For your dock, consider using Dash to Panel for a more integrated experience, as it combines the functionality of the traditional panel and dock, mimicking the macOS dock while providing the flexibility of Ubuntu’s panel. Additionally, install Plank if you prefer a standalone dock; it’s user-friendly and can be customized to further reflect the macOS look with icons and dock effects.
Don’t forget about the Terminal! You can make it resemble macOS’s Terminal by using the Oh My Zsh framework with theming options like “agnoster” or “powerlevel10k,” which provide a sleek command-line interface. For fonts, consider using “Fira Code” or “SF Mono,” both of which can be installed using custom font managers or system settings. To mimic the Finder’s sidebar layout, you can modify Nautilus by customizing the sidebar entries or exploring alternatives like Nemo, which may offer more configuration options. You might also want to look into custom scripts, such as those for desktop icons or application launchers, to add more personal flair. Sharing your customized desktop’s screenshots on forums can not only inspire others but also connect you with users who have boldly ventured into similar transformations.