Oxygen-GTK: Make GNOME Apps Look Like KDE Apps on Linux
The Convergence of GNOME and KDE Desktop Environments
Historically, the Linux landscape has largely been divided between two primary desktop environments: GNOME and KDE. Users typically aligned themselves with one or the other, rarely seeking to combine both. However, a growing trend indicates a desire among Linux users to leverage the strengths of each environment.
A frequent preference is to utilize GNOME applications within a KDE desktop environment. This combination, while appealing, has traditionally presented visual challenges.
The Challenge of Theme Integration
The core issue stems from the differing theme engines employed by GNOME and KDE. GNOME applications rely on GTK, while KDE utilizes Qt. Seamless integration between these engines has proven difficult to achieve.
Consequently, GNOME applications often appear visually inconsistent and aesthetically unpleasing when executed under the KDE desktop, as demonstrated in the image below.
The demand for a more harmonious visual experience has been steadily increasing. Fortunately, a recent project has emerged with the potential to bridge this gap effectively.
A New Project for Enhanced Compatibility
Recognizing the need for improvement, a new initiative was launched to facilitate better integration between GTK and Qt. Initial results suggest a remarkably successful outcome.
This project aims to minimize the visual discrepancies between GNOME and KDE applications, offering a more unified and polished desktop experience. It represents a significant step towards allowing users to freely combine the best aspects of both environments.
The project’s success lies in its ability to reconcile the differing aesthetic approaches of GTK and Qt, resulting in a more cohesive and visually appealing interface.
Oxygen-GTK: Bridging the Visual Gap
Oxygen-GTK is a theme package designed to create a consistent visual experience between applications running on the GNOME desktop environment and KDE’s native Oxygen theme.
The primary goal of this project is to seamlessly integrate the appearance of GNOME applications with the broader KDE aesthetic.
Distinguishing Features
What sets Oxygen-GTK apart from previous efforts to harmonize the look and feel of KDE and GNOME? Unlike many alternatives, this package delivers on its promise of visual consistency.
Previous attempts often relied on external theme engines, which weren't native to either GTK or Qt, resulting in outcomes that, while well-intentioned, fell short of a truly unified appearance.
Oxygen-GTK adopts a straightforward strategy: it leverages the GTK engine to closely replicate the visual characteristics of the default Qt Oxygen theme.
Observed Consistency
In practice, the theme achieves a high degree of fidelity. The only noticeable discrepancy identified thus far concerns the spacing of menu items.
Beyond this minor difference, the visual integration is remarkably effective, providing a cohesive user experience across both GNOME and KDE applications.
Installation
Acquiring Oxygen-GTK for your system can be achieved through your distribution's package manager. Simply search for the package named
oxygen-gtk
. In most cases, the package will be readily available. Should you encounter difficulty, a search using the term 'oxygen' and subsequent browsing of the results is recommended.
Alternatively, the latest files can be downloaded directly. However, it's important to note that your distribution’s repository typically provides the most compatible version for your KDE installation.
Currently, the newest Oxygen-GTK release (version 1.1.0 as of this writing) is designed for KDE 4.7, which was not yet officially stable at the time of publication. For subsequent Oxygen-GTK versions, consult the download page information to ensure compatibility.
If a manual download and extraction is performed, the extracted files should be placed within the
/home/<username>/.local
directory. This ensures the system recognizes the installation correctly.
Customization Completion
Following the installation process, further steps are necessary to fully implement the changes. Although the package installation is complete, the system requires explicit instruction to utilize the new theme for GNOME applications.
Applying the GTK+ Style
To finalize the visual adjustments, navigate to your Desktop or System Settings. Then, select Application Appearance, and subsequently, GTK+ Style.
Within the GTK+ Style settings, modify the widget style to oxygen-gtk. Confirm your selection by clicking Apply.
Upon applying this change, launching any GNOME application will demonstrate a consistent visual aesthetic, harmonizing with your other installed applications.
This ensures a unified look and feel across your desktop environment.
The result is a visually integrated experience for all applications.
Conclusion
Oxygen-GTK provides a method for achieving visual harmony between GNOME and KDE environments, enhancing the overall desktop experience.
It’s important to note that while this approach integrates the appearance of GNOME applications into the KDE desktop, the underlying functionality and settings of those applications remain governed by GNOME’s own tools.
Consequently, modifications made through the KDE Control Panel may not always extend to GNOME applications.
However, KDE applications will consistently reflect any adjustments made within the KDE environment.
Considering a Switch?
If you are a user interested in the KDE desktop but wish to retain access to your preferred GNOME applications, a solution like Oxygen-GTK could facilitate a smoother transition.
We encourage you to share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below. What features or improvements would you like to see implemented?
Let us know your feedback!
