Ubuntu is set to embrace a more streamlined aesthetic that aligns closely with upstream GNOME in its upcoming 26.04 LTS release. The Yaru theme team is undertaking a significant refactor of its GNOME Shell theme, shifting from a fully customized stylesheet to a more straightforward approach that directly incorporates the Adwaita style, supplemented by minimal Ubuntu-specific adjustments.
The current Yaru theme, which includes GTK elements, icons, sounds, and GNOME Shell elements, is based on Adwaita but has maintained a custom structure. This means that the Yaru team has been keeping its own source code separate and manually syncing changes every six months. The new strategy focuses on using symlinks to refer directly to the default Adwaita style files, altering the Yaru GNOME Shell theme from a complex derivative to a simple customization of the upstream theme.
These adjustments will retain familiar Ubuntu elements such as typography, sizing, and colors, ensuring that the interface still reflects the brand. However, many design elements, like the radii of panel applets and button spacing, will conform more to the original GNOME design principles, similar to those seen in the Fedora Workstation.
The motivation behind these changes is to lessen the maintenance workload for the community and project developers managing the Yaru theme. By streamlining the process, Ubuntu can deliver a more consistent user experience that aligns with GNOME’s vision, while still applying thoughtful and targeted Ubuntu-specific customizations where necessary.
For additional details, check out the Yaru GitHub pull request.