setting up fresh ubuntu desktop gui -- pointers!!

[bruce]

Hi

Setting up a fresh Ubuntu, and I need to figure out how to mod the GUI
to fit my goals.

Appears, ubuntu/gnome has the concept of "extensions", which may or
may not work, depending on the skill of the dev!!

I'm looking to have a setup similar to what I had on an older version of centos.

The screen layout was based on predefined "menus/groups" as well as
top/bottom horz meneus

------------------------------------------------------
top menu                           term/etc.. | clock/cal
-------------------------------------------------------
 dropdown menu/child menus

 diff groups in the menu
.
.
.
etc..




------------------------------------------------------
bottom menu   "able to have icons of minimized apps"  -- as well as
multiple desktop icns tc.. |desk1|desk2//..|
-------------------------------------------------------




I think I could start with using Gnome-claasic as a base, and then
extensions..  But I'd be out of depth.

At the same time, how  does on have mutiple copies of a minmized "app"
like multiple copies of "gedit".

Each with a diff file.

Been looking over vids/sites/etc, think I might be overthinking it, or not

thanks

-bruce