Anytime I install Linux I have to customize it how I like it. This includes adding little “widgets”, as most people would call them, on the desktop. I usually would start off with opening a terminal (gnome-terminal) and customizing it so it is transparent and without a border or frame. Then I would have a terminal right on the desktop to use whenever I needed.

This is where Yakuake comes in. I’m not sure how I found it. Currently, the developer doesn’t keep the website up-to-date, but you can go here to a page that has information about it and a link to download.

Yakuake is like having a terminal that’s out of the way and shows up only when you need it. You can also customize it to look how you want, using Konsole’s settings.

It was very easy to install. I’d recommend changing Kerry Beagle Search’s F12 shortcut to something else though, because the terminal uses that to open up. When I changed it, I had to restart before it would work. But now, I hit F12 and I have a terminal on demand.

Click the preview on the right to view the full image.