Gnome vs Cinnamon, Should I switch?

Big Cinnamon fan here. I've been happy with the customization options, but it depends on what you want to do. I'd say it has fewer actively developed extensions than Gnome, but it needs fewer because it has saner defaults (just my opinion) and a good amount of customization available without requiring you to install extensions first. In particular, it has a very nice dock setup, with lots of customization options. The dock gives it a Windows-like feel, though I'm sure you could go for a different feel.

When I was just getting started, I coded up my own applet (extension for putting something on the dock) by combining two existing applets--from what I've seen, this is easier in Cinnamon than in most DEs, but you still have to get your hands dirty (it uses javascript). (EDIT: For the record, I wanted an applet to support a 2D grid of workspaces, which already exists, but I wanted to be able to see the shape of the windows in each workspace, which was available in a different applet. Good luck setting up any kind of 2d workspace grid in Gnome.)

Gnome has better gesture controls than Cinnamon, although Cinnamon has improved in this area and may fully catch up in an update or two. And Gnome has Wayland, if that's a priority for you--Cinnamon Wayland support is coming maybe next year. I'd say those could be the reasons _not_ to use Cinnamon. Personally I don't feel the need to use Wayland in 2024.

If you're really looking for customisation, I'd use Plasma (although the move to 6 and Wayland has screwed up some setups, especially if you're using Nvidia).

You can install them both at the same time and choose at the login screen. Very easy to try different desktops.

Why do you ask us?, try them both and see what you like, we can't tell you what you like, what feels right for you

Don't know why people think Cinnamon isn't very customizable. But I do think Plasma is way too customizable and just fucks things up.

I wouldn't be wasting my time on Reddit - I'll just create a new user and play around with that to see how it goes.

I wouldn't switch using the same account - clean is best, keep 'em separate.

And there's me thinking people shouldn't use Arch unless they have some experience and ability to work out basic stuff...

However, Gnome vs Cinnamon for customisation is like choosing Chocolate vs Toffee because you want a change from sweet foods...

Plasma's the one with more rabbit holes than Watership Down for customisations and alternative ways of doing things.

I think Cinnamon felt a little more customizable than Gnome, although these days I think I like the "feel" of Gnome more. I'm using Awesome on my desktop, Gnome on my laptop, and don't currently have a Cinnamon install. I think Cinnamon is probably best used with Linux Mint to get the complete experience. It probably wouldn't be on my radar for an Arch install.

Like other people said, KDE / Plasma might be worth a shot because it's super customizable out of the box. I think that might be the sauce you're looking for unless you want to get into tiling WMs, ricing, and doing r/unixporn things.

I love Cinnamon. It's based on Gnome with all the wonderful functionality that brings but it's way easier on resources.

KDE Plasma, Cinnamon, XFCE... anything would be better that Gnome if you have any desire of doing any customisation.