Ubuntu – How to make alt-tab diplay names of the program/window title

You can revert back to the older style of window switcher by enabling the Static Application Switcher plugin in CompizConfig Settings Manager:

• Warning: What are some of the issues with CCSM and why would I want to avoid it?

Steps:

1. CompizConfig Manager is gotten through sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager (thanks to @donbright)

2. sudo apt-get install compiz-plugins to get the static application switcher to show up. (thanks to @Milimetric)

3. CompizConfig Manager is started by typing ccsm in terminal (thanks to @donbright)

4. Disable the keyboard shortcuts for Unity's switcher by unchecking CompizConfig Settings Manager ▸ Desktop ▸ Ubuntu Unity Plugin ▸ Switcher ▸ Key to start the switcher ▸ Enabled and Key to start the switcher in reverse ▸ Enabled

5. Enable the Static Application Switcher by checking CompizConfig Settings Manager ▸ Window Management ▸ Static Application Switcher ▸ Enable Static Application Switcher

Unfortunately this is not configurable, but you can easily get this back manually compiling the unity source (please, file a bug to ask to add an option, btw).

As I was saying, you can get this back editing the file BamfLauncherIcon.cpp changing the line: bool only_top_win = !any_urgent; to bool only_top_win = true;

I know this is not the best solution, but since this has been a late change we had not the time to introduce a new ccsm option.