Why do some apps look different in other distros?

[chrimy]

Hi there,

I make my first steps in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and have also Debian 10.4 stable installed on the same computer. Every time I switch between both distros I wonder why some apps look different (with same GNOME standard theme "Adwaita" enabled). Even very basic apps like for example Grsync:

Grsync on Ubuntu 20.4 LTS (X11)


Grsyn on Debian 10.4 (Wayland)


Look for the margins (space) around the control elements. To my eyes this app looks in Debian more polished / more like the developer could have meant it. What is the reason for the different appearance? Do the different window managers display apps differently (X11 vs Wayland)? Or is there an other reason? If it's the latter - is it possible in Ubuntu to display programs like in Debian? How to do that?

[Frogs Hair]

It could be the way apps are displayed in Wayland vs X11. Have you looked at the app in the Wayland session on Ubuntu?

[&KyT$0P#]

It looks like different icon themes, different fonts, and either different font size or different DPI setting?