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So I installed Gnome Do (0.7.99.1-0) last night and it’s pretty awesome. One of the themes enables a full-fledged dock interface when not in search mode.

Gnome Do on its own is an equivalent to QuickSilver which is an OSX search and command program. By hitting the super key and the space bar on your keyboard Do will pop up a box to type a command or search term into. It’s got an interesting plugin system that enables it to perform tasks such as:

• Initiating chat with Pidgin contacts
• Quickly searching for a GMail contact’s details
• Searching files and folders on your PC
• Playing a particular song in Rhythmbox
• Searching your Google Calendar
• Searching for programs to call by via command-line

An example of initiating a conversation would be:

• Hit super key and space bar together
• Type ‘chat’
• Hit tab
• Type ‘Chr’
• Hit up and down arrows to move through Pidgin contacts containing the text ‘Chr’: Chris B, Chris N, Chris O
• Hit enter and Pidgin gains focus with the Pidgin contact conversation open

To install Gnome Do with the Docky theme available you’ll need to add Gnome Do PPA Repository to your sources:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/do-core/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/do-core/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main

Simple sudo edit

/etc/apt/sources.list

And append the deb lines to the end. Then open Synaptic and reload the manager. Then search for ‘Do’ and install Gnome Do.

Full example screenshot:

The only thing I dislike about the Docky theme is that it loses the listing of possible actions that Gnome Do normally provides as it autocompletes your typing. Try out the regular Do themes and then try Docky’s and you’ll see what I mean.

Otherwise it’s a pretty awesome app and much better than Cairo or Sim dock which I have tried previously.

Kudos to the Do team!

EDIT:

As David points out in the comments, Gnome Do can also (and apparently is optimised for) start its search process by object and then interact with it via its possible actions. In other words, I can type the name of a friend on my pidgin contact list, hit tab and then select to begin chatting with them. Or I could select to copy their email contact information.

Hence, any of the actions that are possible with that friend would be listed. Very cool stuff. Thanks for pointing this out David.

Personally I prefer the original approach as it relates more to English and feels like a more natural language processing flow for the user but that’s just me. I’m sure users in countries where the verb follows the object will be appreciative of the Do team’s efforts!

Tags: ISD, ubuntu

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 8th, 2009 at 11:24 pm and is filed under Programming. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.