Thoughts on quitting and window controls
Brandon Kuczenski
brandon.kuczenski at 301south.net
Thu Apr 8 23:28:59 UTC 2010
Derek Broughton wrote:
> John McCabe-Dansted wrote:
>
>> Maybe. But the paradigm isn't really that pressing the Close
>> button minimizes the window to the systray.
>
> I beg to differ. Think as a user, not a developer. I submit that _users_
> do not generally understand a difference between minimizing to the tray or
> the task bar - except that they know something minimized to the task bar is
> taking up more space.
>
>> The paradigm is that closing a
>> window closes that window *and* that closing a window never closes a
>> service.
>
> Again, I disagree. Users think "close" and don't stop to think...
>
>> I think most people would be confused if e.g. clicking close on
>> the main sound preferences dialog stopped the sound server.
>
> ...what closing a sound server means. I think most people are confused by
> _any_ change to their system. [I'm confused by the fact that Firefox now
> has the ability to hang my entire machine, which it only started to do with
> the last upgrade] Yes, making the close button shut down a server and the
> minimize button minimize to either the task bar or the system tray _would_
> be initially confusing but imo is more logical, and would be more intuitive.
>
I think it's unwise to try to imagine a 'typical' user. There are
[apparently] a great many people who like the way mac handles the
desktop environment- I have never been able to fathom it, but that's why
I don't use it. (among other reasons :P ) Mac users and Windows users
coming to Ubuntu will expect different things- but Ubuntu is something
else entirely and shouldn't aspire to the whims of thoughtless windows
and mac users. A 'thoughtful' ubuntu user will quickly realize that
some programs don't exit when you close the window. There's nothing
wrong with that. Sometimes the change should happen on the other side
of the display.
For my part, I find the argument that "the close button on a window
closes the window" compelling. By the same token, "minimize should
minimize to the panel", where it can later be restored, remembering its
position and size and other window-related things. these are window
controls. Minimize to tray, where the window seems to disappear, breaks
the windowing metaphor.
As for the question of how to deal with applications that persist as
services, it seems like it's a quarrel with the application and not with
the desktop environment. Maybe they need to notify the user more
clearly that they continue to run-- maybe the icons in the notification
area can bounce up and down when their windows are closed :) (unless
it infringes on a patent). Better, the user should be notified when
the program *starts* that a service has been started as well.
If it is controversial, as it seems to be with rhythmbox, it should be a
preference setting. But don't change the law to fight a parking ticket.
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