For me it is a non-living. Ok, I won't exaggerate, but it is annoying. It is all easier for those who always stay on the same operating system, be it Windows, macOS or a distribution of Linux specifically, but when you sometimes touch Windows, you may touch macOS and you are always trying different distributions, that the minimize, maximize and close buttons can be on the left or the right gets dizzy.
The story goes long, at least mine, which is partly what this article is based on. I had already touched Windows 3.11, 95 and 98 before I got my first PC, and everything had the buttons to the right. Before I had that PC (512mb of RAM, 120GB and I don't even remember which Pentium), I already knew that Linux existed. I had come to try Mandrake, and I felt a couple of things: the first, greater fluidity; the second, that the sound did work (something had happened on that PC and Windows XP? didn't sound). But the buttons had not moved.
Linux does not impose, for better or for worse
Already in 2009, thinking that I was going to be the next James Hetfield, I bought a Mac, tired of the sound doing what it wanted depending on the program I launched in Ubuntu. I knew that it was used a lot for audio editing, and I decided to take the plunge. That's where my personal nightmare began: the buttons were on the left. Later, I think in 2010 (can be tested on DistroSea), Ubuntu passed them to the left, and I'm super happy: whether I was using my 10″ laptop running Ubuntu or my iMac running Mac OS X 10.6, the buttons were on the same side.
Later there was one of the first Canonical moves that I can remember, which made users angry: they started using Unity, and equipment that used to work decently stopped doing so. Therefore, she had to do distro hopping. I don't remember the details very well, but I do remember that whenever possible I moved the buttons to the left, because I had gotten used to it.
The bad thing comes when, for work or whatever, you have to play many different systems. Until recently I kept changing the buttons to the left, but sometimes I have to touch equipment that is not mine, and those come with Windows. Besides, most Linux distributions have decided to put them on the right, so I said to myself "let's see: get used to it, you're almost always going to use Linux or Windows", and now I have them on the right.
Unity and macOS-based desktops move buttons to the left
The problem would be less if there were no software that has its own window. For example, Telegram has it, but it allows you to use the native one of the operating system and it changes rather little. On the other hand, Visual Studio Code does have a top bar with a text box to search or launch commands, and to the right the buttons to add panels or open the terminal. If we use the native window of the operating system, all that is lost.
Although we refer to Linux as operating systems, or worse, a general system, it is actually the kernel, and complete systems with a graphical interface are GNU/Linux. Those systems are built around the kernel, and companies and developers are free to choose what they integrate and how. Each one has his own preferences.
Although most Linux distributions have chosen to put them on the right, there are still themes that are based on macOS, and those themes usually put the buttons on the left. This doesn't just happen on desktops; it also happens in applications. If there is one that by default has a Mac-like design, the buttons will be the colored balls and to the left, so one has to keep guessing where that is that is used to close the windows.
Cider with buttons on the left.
Linux puts you in control
From the moment I got my iMac, everything changed in this regard. I think that I have never gone to close any window as directly as before that moment. Now that I put them to the right I usually hit more, but when I try something that puts them on the other side it causes me a small short circuit.
I end the article with some questions: Should there be more consensus in the Linux community and, for example, Unity should also have them on the right? Which side did you prefer?
Hello, the great thing about Gnu/linux systems is being able to choose, even remove them. With keyboard shortcuts it is faster. Greetings
I use i3wm so I don't have that kind of dilemma, nothing is minimized and maximized and closed with two keyboard shortcuts and that's it. But I do remember that back in the 2000s with the compiz fever and the super recharged desktops I disguised my ubuntu with Mac themes and if it short-circuited my brain having the colored icons and more on the left. But he was the coolest kid in my house. XD