In older gnome versions, like the Debian stretch version, gnome tried to keep the concept of the system tray or notification area for status icons of third party apps with the hidden bar which you could display by clicking on the arrow on the bottom left corner.
It's now gone in newer versions of gnome. Nothing to do with it being a Ubuntu or Debian "thing", just the forever changing preferences of gnome devs. Neither is it a hidden native task bar. It's a native notification area, now gone from newer gnome desktop.
You'll need to install 3rd party gnome shell extensions like topicons or topicons plus, and hope your apps work with this extension,if you want a notification area.
MX-18 GNOME question
Re: MX-18 GNOME question
Desktop: Intel i5-4460, 16GB RAM, Intel integrated graphics
Clevo N130WU-based Ultrabook: Intel i7-8550U (Kaby Lake R), 16GB RAM, Intel integrated graphics (UEFI)
ASUS X42D laptop: AMD Phenom II, 6GB RAM, Mobility Radeon HD 5400
Clevo N130WU-based Ultrabook: Intel i7-8550U (Kaby Lake R), 16GB RAM, Intel integrated graphics (UEFI)
ASUS X42D laptop: AMD Phenom II, 6GB RAM, Mobility Radeon HD 5400
Re: MX-18 GNOME question
Thanks asqwerth, I also noticed the task bar was gone when installing gnome 3.30. Topicons for 3.26, and Topicons Plus for 3.30 (didn't test yet). Its handy to have the icon for MX update notification.