What Ubuntu tweaks, hacks or modifications do you find indispensable? It could be Gnome2 or Gnome3 based Ubuntu.
Rules:
I use a script that does a lot of tweaks, configuration and modifications for me.
Many of these can be made by hand, but with a script its easier than stumbling through menus and windows.
# Enable the firewall
sudo ufw enable
# Get some codecs to play media
sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg
# Add third-party PPA repositories
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa
# Get some software I like
sudo apt-get install synaptic gnome-session-fallback blender chromium-browser gimp lm-sensors php5-cli stjerm wine1.3 xchat
# Get rid of annoying suggestions to buy music from the store
sudo apt-get remove unity-scope-musicstores
# Ignore HIG, we want a classic black terminal
gconftool-2 --set --type bool /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/use_theme_colors false
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/background_color '#000000000000'
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/foreground_color '#FFFFFFFFFFFF'
# Save space by hiding my name from the me-menu, I already know my name, tyvm
gsettings set com.canonical.indicator.session show-real-name-on-panel false
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface show-input-method-menu false
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface show-unicode-menu false
# I need alt+click for apps and games, so lets use WinKey instead
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/metacity/general/mouse_button_modifier '<Super>'
# Use WinKey instead of Alt for the window management hotkeys (Metacity)
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/metacity/window_keybindings/begin_move '<Super>F7'
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/metacity/window_keybindings/begin_resize '<Super>F8'
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/metacity/window_keybindings/maximize '<Super>F10'
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/metacity/window_keybindings/minimize '<Super>F9'
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/metacity/window_keybindings/unmaximize '<Super>F5'
# Use WinKey instead of Alt for the window management hotkeys (Compiz)
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/compiz-1/plugins/core/screen0/options/maximize_window_key '<Super>F10'
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/compiz-1/plugins/core/screen0/options/minimize_window_key '<Super>F9'
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/compiz-1/plugins/core/screen0/options/unmaximize_window_key '<Super>F5'
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/compiz-1/plugins/move/screen0/options/initiate_key '<Super>F7'
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/compiz-1/plugins/resize/screen0/options/initiate_key '<Super>F8'
# Settings for the civilized world
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/panel3-applets/clock/format '24-hour'
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/panel3-applets/clock/speed_unit 'm/s'
gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/panel3-applets/clock/temperature_unit 'C'
Stuff for Firefox in about:config
privacy.donottrackheader.enabled;true
browser.tabs.closeButtons;3
