Gnome Panel User Switch

Gnome-shell extension to easily switch between connected users using an icon on the panel which lists the users currently logged in. It is similar to using Ctrl+Alt+Fn but the extension will identify and list the associated Virtual terminal for each user and provides the ability to do it directly from the gnome panel.

Note that is a user is not logged in, its name will not appear. You can then use the "Login Screen" option to go to the login screen and log this user in.

This is loosely inspired by the now discontinued https://github.com/HROMANO/fastuserswitch in terms of functionality but switches Virtual Terminals by activating the target session through loginctl.

Install

1. To install the extension locally (ie ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/): ./install.sh
2. Restart gnome-shell, using Alt+F2 then r+Enter with Xorg or logout/login with Wayland.
3. Enable the extension through your extensions manager or by running gnome-extensions enable easyuserswitch@batwam.corp

Alternative Install

• Enable an extension for all users (system-wide) run sudo ./install.sh --system

Testing and Develipment

• Open the logs directly for testing purposes (recommended to use Debug Mode on in the Preferences): run ./install.sh --debug.Alternatively, run directly journalctl --follow -o cat /usr/bin/gnome-shell GNOME_SHELL_EXTENSION_UUID="easyuserswitch@batwam.corp" or journalctl -f | grep easy-user-switch
• To recompile the schemas (regenerates gscemas.compiled if the xml file is being modifiled) run ./install.sh --compile

Uninstall Extension

• Disable the extension gnome-extensions disable easyuserswitch@batwam.corp

Delete the installed files either manually or by using the following commands:

• For Local installation: rm -rf "$HOME/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/easyuserswitch@batwam.corp
• For System wide installation: sudo rm -rf /usr/share/gnome-shell/extensions/easyuserswitch@batwam.corp

Restart gnome-shell, using Alt+F2 then r+Enter with Xorg or logout/login with Wayland.

Extras

Recommended system settings can be set in the Settings panel for the extension accessible through right/left click on the icon or your extension manager. This includes:

• An option is included to Enable/Disable the screen lock due to inactivity (Default = true). This is a built-in gnome option which is only included in the Preferences for convenience. Disabling it allows to be able to swith back and forth between session without requiring password (assuming automatic locking is disabled)
• An option to lock the session when switching (Default = false). If enabled, the session will be locked before switching and requie password to switching back to the original session.
• An option to turn on DEBUG mode this will add debug information in the console (see above regarding --debug option)