diff --git a/desktop-env.sh b/desktop-env.sh
index 4e6da18..e8645cc 100644
--- a/desktop-env.sh
+++ b/desktop-env.sh
@@ -20,14 +20,25 @@ gsettings set org.cinnamon.desktop.wm.preferences mouse-button-modifier "'<Super
 
 # hide annoying super menu icons
 
-# set up taskbar
-
 # startup programs - artha
 mkdir -p $HOME/.config/autostart
 cp ./utils/artha-autostart.desktop $HOME/.config/autostart/artha.desktop
 chmod 755 $HOME/.config/autostart/artha.desktop
 
 # disable calendar widget showing events too
-FP="$HOME/.config/cinnamon/spices/calendar@cinnamon.org/13.json" # why is this 13? doesn't seem very robust
-cat $FP | jq '.["show-events"].value = false' | tee $FP
+# 13.json corresponds to the numerical (zero-indexed) position in the
+# enabled-applets section of `dconf dump /org/cinnamon/`
+FP="$HOME/.config/cinnamon/spices/calendar@cinnamon.org/13.json"
+cat $FP | jq '.["show-events"].value = false' | tee tmp.json && mv tmp.json "$FP"
+
+# set up taskbar (grouped-window-list widget)
+FP="$HOME/.config/cinnamon/spices/grouped-window-list@cinnamon.org/2.json"
+TASKBAR_LAYOUT='[
+    "nemo.desktop",
+    "org.gnome.Terminal.desktop",
+    "brave-browser.desktop",
+    "discord.desktop",
+    "code.desktop"
+]'
+cat $FP | jq --argjson layout "$TASKBAR_LAYOUT" '.["pinned-apps"]["value"] = $layout' | tee tmp.json && mv tmp.json "$FP"