How can I install Ubuntu messaging menu on Mint?

Question

One thing I like about Ubuntu is the messaging menu. Can I add the ubuntu messaging menu to Mint 12?

Answer 1

Installing software on Mint is relativity identical to most Debian based distributions. I have not really used Mint, but I did test its ability to install Ubuntu packages in the past. I'm sure its not exactly recommended to replace any critical packages, but it did work as expected. From what I understand Linux Mint 12 is compatible with Ubuntu 11.10.

The package your referring to is called, indicator-applet. It has been recently ported from Gnome2 to Gnome3, so it's not officially available for a release or two. You can still install the package from a PPA, in this case the port developer runs a solid one.

Add the custom PPA, which has a copy of the new gnome3 indicator-applet.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jconti/gnome3
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install indicator-applet indicator-applet-complete indicator-applet-session

If you also want the Global Menu indicator applet, for Gnome3 Classic, run this from terminal.

sudo apt-get install indicator-applet-appmenu

Here is a good link, for adding the applet, in Gnome3 Classic. http://www.webupd8.org/2011/11/indicator-applet-ported-to-gnome-3-can.html

I'm not sure if Mint includes, python-software-properties, which provides add-apt-repository. If not you need to dpkg -i a downloaded package from Ubuntu 11.10. This was needed many releases ago, but I suspect Mint added PPA support by now.