How to configure my system so that all windows start maximized?

Install maximus from the Software Center or from the Terminal:

sudo apt-get install maximus

Then run this command from the Terminal:

maximus

All the new windows will be maximized with that.

Finally, just like in the screen shot at the 5th point in Isaiah's answer, add an entry in the Startup Applications. The name can be whatever you want, and the command will be simply maximus.

1. Install devilspie.

   sudo apt-get install devilspie
   

   Devil's Pie is:

   A window-matching utility, inspired by Sawfish's "Matched Windows" option and the lack of the functionality in Metacity. Metacity lacking window matching is not a bad thing — Metacity is a lean window manager, and window matching does not have to be a window manager task.

   Devil's Pie can be configured to detect windows as they are created, and match the window to a set of rules. If the window matches the rules, it can perform a series of actions on that window. For example, I can make all windows created by X-Chat appear on all workspaces, and the main Gkrellm1 window does not appear in the pager or task list.

2. Create the directory ~/.devilspie if it doesn't already exist:

   mkdir -p ~/.devilspie
   

3. Now we'll create the script that will maximize all windows:

   gedit ~/.devilspie/maximize.ds
   

   Paste the following code into maximize.ds:

   (begin
       (maximize)(focus)
   )               
   

   

4. Run the following command from a terminal:

   devilspie       
   

5. All your windows should now be maximized. Now add devilspie to your Startup Applications so you won't have to run it manually every time you login:

   • System ➜ Preferences ➜ Startup Applications

   • Click Add and enter Devil's Pie for the Name and /usr/bin/devilspie for the Command.

   • Click Add and close Startup Applications.

   

For regular Inkscape users which get annoyed by that problem there is a solution.

1. Start up Inkscape.
2. Maximize it.
3. Go to File ➜ Inkscape Preferences ➜ Windows.

4. Select Remember and use last window's geometry.

   

5. Always close it in maximized mode.

Now every time you fire up Inkscape it will load up with its saved geometry.

1. Install CompizConfig-Settings-Manager,

2. Open Alt + F2 and type ccsm and hit Enter,

3. Go to "Place Windows"
   

4. Select "Fixed Window Placement" > "Window with fixed placement mode" > "New"
   

5. At "Windows" paste: type=Normal

6. At "Mode" select: "Maximize".
   

If you are using Compiz, go to "Window Management" (under categories or scroll down in the main window) and do the next:

DO NOT ENABLE WINDOWS RULES YET!

1. Open "Window Rules".

2. In the "Matches" tab, find "Maximized" and write class=

3. Then enable Window Rules. (Check box on left or in main window)

Now, all your windows (and I mean: ALL) will ALWAYS open Maximized.

WARNING! This will also include dialogs, normal windows, and every window will act as you requested. This was your wish, right? always be sure that you really wish what you wish. :)

You can also do several things, which includes (but not limited to):

• Enabling a single program to open maximized, by clicking the "plus" icon in the right side and pressing the "Grab" button in order to choose the window of the program. which should be running in order to do this, you can also write the title, role, type, name, etc.
• Exclude a single program to not observe this feature by doing the last steps and making sure you enable the "Invert" button in the dialog box.
• Use other windows rules, like:

Skip taskbar: in order to the windows won't appear in the task bar. Skip pager: this way the windows won't appear when you change an application by using [Alt][Tab] or [Super][Tab] Above: the windows will always stay above the rest of the windows keeping the focus always. Below: Useful when you wish an application, like the terminal, to be as "embedded" into the desktop. Fullscreen: doesn't need explanation. Non movable, Non resizable, Non minimizable, Non maxibizable, Non closable, Non focus: does what it says.

A screenshot is placed here for you to see this plugin's in action:

HOW TO OVERRIDE THIS WINDOWS BEHAVIOUR:

You will be in the need to gain access to compiz, and disable the "Window Rules" plugin.

If you did something that don't allow you to see compiz, (something like: making a window to stay "above" of the other and maximized or fullscreen), open a terminal and disable compiz by running: metacity --replace.

Good Luck!

The uppercase are just to emphasize important text. Can be edited and changed by anyone if needed. Thank you.

I you are using compiz you can also:

1. install ccsm from software center or sudo apt-get install ccsm. It's a compiz configurator

2. launch it from dash or from terminal

3. select windows placement and in the general tab change the positioning mode to maximized

I found this works quite well.

What concerns Gnome 3, I can say that usually when you close any application, it remembers the size, and next time, when it opens again.

So all you need to do is to maximize it before exit.