Try Out the Latest Linux Gnome DE With DistroBox

Recently, we wrote an article on DistroBox showcasing the advantages of using it, in which one was trying out the latest Linux desktop environment (DE) release before it officially arrives.

In today’s article, we’ll try the latest Gnome 45, officially accessible for Ubuntu 23.10, on our host system running on Ubuntu 22.04 (with Gnome 42) using the DistroBox.

Trying Out the Latest Linux Gnome DE with DistroBox

The first thing you need to do is install DistroBox on your host Linux system, followed by installing an Ubuntu 23.10 container, and then accessing the container, all of which have already been discussed in our DistroBox article.

So, as you can see from the picture below, I am already inside my Ubuntu 23.10 container.

Once you are ready and inside your DistroBox container, follow the below-mentioned steps one by one.

1. Run the following command to make the host systemd session accessible from within the container:

$ sudo mkdir /run/systemd
$ sudo mkdir /run/dbus

$ sudo ln -s /run/host/run/systemd/system /run/systemd
$ sudo ln -s /run/host/run/dbus/system_bus_socket /run/dbus/

Output:

2. Then, proceed to install Gnome inside the container:

$ sudo apt install ubuntu-gnome-desktop gnome-session gdm3

Output:

During installation, if asked to specify a language for the keyboard configuration, choose the one you want and click “OK” to proceed.

3. Quit the DistroBox container and fix the common permissions problem with the “/tmp/.X11-unix” directory by changing the ownership from “root” to “$USER“.

$ exit
$ chown -f -R $USER:$USER /tmp/.X11-unix

Output:

4. Create a “wayland-session” directory at “/usr/local/share/” required for the next step in creating the desktop file for the Gnome DE running inside the container on the host file system.

$ sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/share/wayland-sessions/

Output:

5. Create a “distrobox-gnome.desktop” file at “/usr/local/share/wayland-sessions/” using your choice of text editor.

$ sudo nano /usr/local/share/wayland-sessions/distrobox-gnome.desktop

#OR

$ sudo vim /usr/local/share/wayland-sessions/distrobox-gnome.desktop

And then copy and paste the following line:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=GNOME on Wayland (Ubuntu 23.10 distrobox)
Comment=This session logs you into GNOME
Exec=/usr/local/bin/distrobox-enter -n ubuntu -- /usr/bin/gnome-session --builtin
Type=Application
DesktopNames=GNOME
X-GDM-SessionRegisters=true

Save and close the file.

6. Finally, log out of your host system; upon relogging in, you will find an option to switch to the new Gnome DE in the bottom right corner.

Once you switch and log into the system, you will be welcomed by the new Gnome look.

The following is a picture of the new Gnome application menu.

The following is a picture of the new Gnome settings.

Final Word

That’s it for today’s article. If you have any questions or queries related to the topic, then do let me know in the comment section.

Till then, peace!