# Suggestions for improving Budgie

**URL:** <https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609>\
**Category:** Wish list\
**Created:** [March 7, 2023, 1:56pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609 "2023-03-07T13:56:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![qumeqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@qumeqa](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/qumeqa)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 1:56pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609/1 "2023-03-07T13:56:42Z")

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Hi, I do not know English, write through a translator, so I apologize in advance if something is not clear. I would like to offer you a number of improvements that, in my opinion, will make Budgie better:

1. The background of the login window (when the PC is turned on) is visible only when the background itself is in /usr/share/backgrounds. If the background is in /home/username/Pictures, only the selected background color is displayed. I think that those who do not know this may have problems.
2. As for me, an important addition is more settings in the volume menu. The problem is that there are a lot more settings in the side menu, and in the sound menu you can only change the volume. Not convenient.
3. Add more “AppIndicator Applet” settings. I would like to be able to change the distance between the icons, as well as change their size.

I will be glad to receive feedback)

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 2:13pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609/2 "2023-03-07T14:13:17Z")

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> [@qumeqa](#):
>
> The background of the login window (when the PC is turned on) is visible only when the background itself is in /usr/share/backgrounds. If the background is in /home/username/Pictures, only the selected background color is displayed. I think that those who do not know this may have problems.

The picture is only visible if the folder containing the picture is accessible via lightdm. The default home folder permissions will prevent that.

> [@qumeqa](#):
>
> As for me, an important addition is more settings in the volume menu. The problem is that there are a lot more settings in the side menu, and in the sound menu you can only change the volume. Not convenient.

I disagree - the panel applets is for the most frequent used things - so in this case, adjusting the volume and muting the sound.

> [@qumeqa](#):
>
> Add more “AppIndicator Applet” settings. I would like to be able to change the distance between the icons, as well as change their size.

Seems like a reasonable request - pull requests to implement are most welcome - [GitHub - UbuntuBudgie/budgie-indicator-applet: Application Indicator Applet for the budgie-desktop](https://github.com/ubuntubudgie/budgie-indicator-applet)

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**Author:** ![matthewmrichter](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/matthewmrichter/32/3983_2.png) [@matthewmrichter](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/matthewmrichter)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 1:24pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609/3 "2023-03-14T13:24:13Z")

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I, and probably many others, have the use case of switching audio devices fairly frequently (headphones, multiple desktop speakers outputs, etc) and it would be really nice if the audio bar applet had the option to select that, the way MacOS and even Win11 do.

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 1:27pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609/4 "2023-03-14T13:27:54Z")

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As I said - in my personal opinion - it isn’t necessary - that capability is in raven.

However - feel free to raise this upstream where decisions such as this are made & implemented

> **[GitHub - BuddiesOfBudgie/budgie-desktop: Budgie Desktop is a familiar, modern...](https://github.com/buddiesofbudgie/budgie-desktop)**
>
> Budgie Desktop is a familiar, modern desktop environment. - GitHub - BuddiesOfBudgie/budgie-desktop: Budgie Desktop is a familiar, modern desktop environment.

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**Author:** ![qumeqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@qumeqa](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/qumeqa)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 2:33pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609/5 "2023-03-19T14:33:46Z")

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> [@fossfreedom](#):
>
> that capability is in raven

In my opinion, this means that the audio applet can be completely removed from the system. Why do I need it if all the settings are in the side menu? Or let all the sound settings be in the audio applet, as it should be.  
It’s just that I find it rather funny that when the user first starts Budgie, he will see 2 identical sound settings in different applets

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609/6 "2023-04-15T22:09:24Z")

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> [@fossfreedom](#):
>
> > [@qumeqa](#):
> >
> > The background of the login window (when the PC is turned on) is visible only when the background itself is in /usr/share/backgrounds. If the background is in /home/username/Pictures, only the selected background color is displayed. I think that those who do not know this may have problems.
> 
> The picture is only visible if the folder containing the picture is accessible via lightdm. The default home folder permissions will prevent that.

Ideally the « personal » backgrounds pictures should sit in **$HOME/.local/share/backgrounds**  
You may create a symlink to that folder in **$HOME/Pictures/** named **‘My Backgrounds’** for convenience.

The whole path to **$HOME/.local/share/backgrounds/** \* ( and so its content ) should show _rwxr-x-r-x_ permissions in order for _lightdm_ accessing _your_ pictures. Something like :

```auto
chmod -Rc o+rX $HOME/.local/share/backgrounds/*

```

should do the trick.

Or maybe easier add the ( system ) user _lightdm_ to the group of your own user :

```auto
sudo adduser lightdm $USER

```

which also should do the trick.  
I’d say that second method is safer - since it does not modify the permissions on folders and files in your $HOME.

```auto
ln -s $HOME/.local/share/backgrounds $HOME/Pictures/'My Backgrounds'

```

will create a **visible** _symlink_ in your « Pictures » folder, to the **hidden** « backgrounds » folder .

Both ( adduser + symlink ) to be done in each session, if many ( human ) users involved.  
In other sessions, just use same commands, thanks to the $VARIABLES 😉

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609/7 "2023-04-15T22:29:49Z")

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> [@fossfreedom](#):
>
> The picture is only visible if the folder containing the picture is accessible via lightdm. The default home folder permissions will prevent that.

Maybe the _lightdm-screen graphical utility_ should automatically add user _lightdm_ to $USER’s group once « display user’s background » option is enabled ?  
This utility is run as _admin_ so it should be able to do that.

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 12:14am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609/8 "2023-04-16T00:14:36Z")

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That sounds from a security point of view not a good idea. Changing someones security posture should be a conscious decision by the user not a hidden fact. Multiple users with the same rights is a security attack vector

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 11:08pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609/9 "2023-04-16T23:08:10Z")

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So, in case you want to use the « display user’s desktop » offered by _lightdm_, what is the safest way ?

I mean this particular option is what makes _lightdm_ more interesting than other session managers.

1⋅ put pictures in **/usr/share/backgrounds** can’t be the answer since that particular option of _lightdm_ aims at showing the user’s background picture which is actually set in user’s session most often through **$HOME/.local/share/backgrounds** ( depending on how the user set his⋅her background picture, budgie-control-center or else ) ;

2⋅ by default since 21.10 or 22.04, $HOME and its content is _rwxr-x—_ which prevents any other user from reading, hence _lightdm_ with that particular option won’t show anything but the background color.  
One possibility is to _chmod 755_ the whole path to the personal background pictures, but then _anyone_ might access those files ;

3⋅ other possibility is to add _lightdm_ to $USER’s group without modifying modes on personal files. Only $USER and _lightdm_ ( as group member of $USER ) will access the needed files to display as backgrounds. No one else. And _lightdm_ being a system-user run at start I can’t see when it’s unsafe ?

**So 3⋅ sounds much safer to me than 2⋅ which « opens » access to any user**.  
3⋅ is not at all :

> [@fossfreedom](#):
>
> Multiple users with the same rights

… it’s only $USER ( as owner and group ) accessing righteously his⋅her own files.  
2⋅ is « Multiple users with the same rights » since 755 means the whole world can read.

During the Unity era which used _lightdm_ $HOME was then in 755 so _lightdm_ was able to access personal background pictures.

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 12:03am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609/10 "2023-04-17T00:03:44Z")

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Probably lightdm will need to support something like xdg-desktop-portal which sandboxed apps like flatpaks and snaps use to securely obtain user based data.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 12:38pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/suggestions-for-improving-budgie/6609/11 "2023-04-17T12:38:15Z")

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Why needing complexity ?

What am I missing here ? What is the factual / predictable danger of method 3⋅ ?