Description: The ‘gsettings set’ command is a tool used in GNOME desktop environments to modify application and system settings. This command allows users to set specific values for various configurations, facilitating the customization of the workspace. ‘gsettings’ is part of the GSettings infrastructure, which is a configuration storage system based on DConf. This system allows applications to store and retrieve settings efficiently and in a structured manner. By using ‘gsettings set’, users can change options such as the interface theme, window behavior, and other visual and functional aspects of the GNOME environment or other desktop environments that support similar configuration methods. The command’s syntax is quite straightforward, requiring the configuration schema, the key to be modified, and the new value to be set. This makes it a powerful tool for system administrators and advanced users looking to optimize their experience in desktop environments.
History: The GSettings system was introduced in 2011 as part of the GNOME 3 desktop environment. Its goal was to provide a more efficient and structured way to handle settings compared to previous methods. GSettings is based on DConf, a configuration storage system that allows applications to access their settings quickly and securely. Since its introduction, ‘gsettings set’ has been a key tool for customizing the GNOME environment, allowing users and developers to modify settings easily and directly.
Uses: The ‘gsettings set’ command is primarily used to customize desktop environments. Users can change settings related to appearance, such as themes and icons, as well as behavior options, such as window management and mouse behavior. It is also useful for system administrators who want to apply specific settings across multiple machines efficiently. Additionally, developers can use ‘gsettings set’ to set default values in their applications, enhancing user experience.
Examples: An example of using ‘gsettings set’ would be changing the interface theme to ‘Adwaita-dark’ with the following command: ‘gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-theme ‘Adwaita-dark”. Another example would be modifying window behavior to minimize them when clicking on their title bar: ‘gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences minimize-on-click true’.
