How to switch window controls to the left (Gnome Shell)?

Is there a way to the switch gnome-shell window buttons to the left? I've gotten so used to them being on the left that them being on the right has thrown me way off.

(gnome shell has them defaulted to the right corner)

For Ubuntu 12.04 and newer

You will need dconf-editor, which is part of the dconf-tools package. Install it first:

dconf-tools

Start dconf-editor:

Alt+F2 → dconf-editor

Go to org → gnome → shell → overrides → button layout. Change it to close,minimize,maximize:

No need to restart the shell.

Note: This also changes the cancel button in the overlay mode.

For 13.10 and higher

As per a few users, it may require a shell restart. Thank you all for pointing that out.

For 15.10 and higher

The schema is now org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences as per this comment.

While technically not gnome-shell, if you're using gnome-flashback or gnome-flashback-no-effects the key is located at:

org -> gnome -> desktop -> wm -> preferences -> button-layout  

Changing it to:

close,minimize,maximize:  

should give you what you want.

You can use the command:

gsettings set  org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences button-layout 'close,minimize,maximize:'

to get this done quicker.

For 10.10

The more simple way to do that is: Alt+F2 → gconf-editor

Navigate to apps → metacity → general, and double click on the entry: button_layout, then enter close,minimize,maximize:. You can also use spacer at some point to add a space.

For 11.04 and 11.10

Alt+F2 → gconf-editor

Navigate to desktop → gnome → shell → windows, and double click on the entry: button_layout, then enter close,minimize,maximize:. You can also use spacer at some point to add a space.