--- title: Ubuntu Desktop – GNOME Extensions poll results description: Recently, with the help from our friends at OMG! Ubuntu, we ran a poll to collect data on usefulness of some GNOME Shell extensions. We limited the poll to a select group of extensions based on popularity on https://extensions.gnome.org as well as how they changed the user experience. The poll was done with Google forms, […] url: https://canonical.com/blog/ubuntu-desktop-gnome-extensions-poll-results?format=md --- 1. [Blog](https://canonical.com/blog) 2. Article --- [Ken VanDine](https://canonical.com/blog/author/ken-vandine "More about Ken VanDine") 12 June 2017 # Ubuntu Desktop – GNOME Extensions poll results [GNOME](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/gnome) [Ubuntu Desktop](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/ubuntu-desktop) --- Share the article Recently, with the help from our friends at [OMG! Ubuntu](http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk), we ran a [poll](http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/05/ubuntu-desktop-gnome-extensions-survey-1710) to collect data on usefulness of some GNOME Shell extensions. We limited the poll to a select group of extensions based on popularity on as well as how they changed the user experience. The poll was done with Google forms, requiring the user to be logged in, which helped to prevent the poll from being abused. However it was anonymous and we did not collect any identifying information. We ended the poll with an incredible 18,330 responses. You can see the numbers below. We’ll use this data to understand features Ubuntu users care about, not just which extensions. For example, Dash to Dock’s popularity doesn’t necessarily mean we should ship Dash to Dock as an extension by default, but rather it shows us our users would like the dock to be visible at all times or shown/hidden automatically as opposed to only shown in the activities view. Understanding this data will help us decide the best way to provide our users with the experience they need. Perhaps we work with upstream GNOME to provide a setting we could override which shows the dash outside of just the activities view. These are discussions we need to have both within the Ubuntu Desktop team and with the GNOME designers and developers. ### Understanding the poll Each extension was an optional vote, so the total responses for each one will vary. Votes were a range, 1 for not very useful and 5 for very useful. We also polled our users for opinions on where to place the window controls. In Unity we had window controls placed on the top left, however it probably makes sense to follow GNOME more closely here especially considering how some apps take advantage of the GTK Header Bar. Our poll showed that users are split nearly down the middle on this, slightly favoring the right. Now that we’ve collected all this useful data, we need to discuss the best means to accommodate our users while still having a desktop we can properly maintain and support.  We’ve already started the discussions with the GNOME design team and gnome-shell maintainers.  Stay tuned here, we’ll be sure to keep you updated from time to time on our progress. ## Sign up for our newsletter Get the latest Canonical news and updates in your inbox. Work email: \*I agree to receive information about Canonical's products and services. By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/dataprivacy). Sign up ## Share on --- ## Related posts [### Arduino® VENTUNO™ Q is available for pre-order with Ubuntu pre-installed](https://canonical.com/blog/arduino-ventuno-q-is-available-for-pre-order-with-ubuntu-pre-installed) London, UK – August 25, 2026 – Following our initial collaboration announcement in March 2026, Canonical and Arduino (a subsidiary of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.) are excited... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 25 August 2026 [### AI with AMD ROCm on Ubuntu: your questions answered](https://canonical.com/blog/amd-rocm-on-ubuntu) AMD ROCm is now available in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. Learn what how to make the best of it, and find out what this will mean in the coming years for development in Ubuntu. [Kevin Cazabon](https://canonical.com/blog/author/kcazabon) 3 June 2026 [### Canonical releases Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon](https://canonical.com/blog/canonical-releases-ubuntu-26-04-lts-resolute-raccoon) The 11th long-term supported release of Ubuntu delivers deep silicon optimization and state-of-the-art security for enterprise workloads. [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 23 April 2026 [### How to manage Ubuntu fleets using on-premises Active Directory and ADSys](https://canonical.com/blog/manage-ubuntu-fleets-active-directory) The “hybrid fleet” is today’s reality: organizations diversify operating systems while Microsoft Active Directory (AD) remains the dominant identity “source of truth.” IT... [Massimiliano Gori](https://canonical.com/blog/author/massigori) 31 March 2026