[ubuntu-studio-devel] gnome vs kde (regarding: The problem with gnome)

Len Ovens len at ovenwerks.net
Tue May 15 16:51:04 UTC 2018


On Tue, 15 May 2018, Aleksander Pusz wrote:

> I'd like to share my thoughts regarding your post about gnome CSD area 
> development. Please take a look at my bugreport (feature req) here:
> https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=791262#c8
>
> However KDE is not saint also, take a look at those two, IMO really important 
> topics secondary being task switcher inconsistency:
> https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=378200#c6
> https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=377722

Thank you for pointing these things out. I know that I have blind spots 
because of my personal workflow. I do not use shortcuts that much except 
in the terminal I use for remote login where I use screen and any local 
shortcut means I can't run screen/irssi correctly. However, many (most?) 
people who use an application for very long find shortcuts the fastest way 
to work.

I was surprised by the comment that gimp "should be run full screen". I 
never run it that way. In my opinion, an application is allowed to run 
either full screen or not because people find both useful. Having tool 
boxes use part of my work area when they could be on a separate screen 
shows a lack of understanding.

> Maybe it's possible to push KDE into fixing those two issues, I wasn't able 
> to do this myself... With those two fixed it would be possible to set KDE 
> into very simple and non-interfering interface perfectly suited for

Or maybe we can preset some of the settings. I have not found _any_ DE 
developers willing to fix things even when presented with a pr or diff. 
Even if they are one line solutions. The open source world is full of 
religious zealots... I probably can't prove I am not one myself :)

> productive workflow. I only somehow miss overview screen from gnome... but 
> hey you can't have it all.

I will say kde does try to make as many things possible as can be 
imaginable. gnome tends to tell you "this is whats good for you eat it."

> As side note I'd like to add, that KDE allows both full-screen switch and 
> this neat option:
> https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=383833
> It also allows such extreme settings:
> https://forum.kde.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=141479

The last in interesting, but for me it would break my workflow as I depend 
on the Tilebars of my apps to tell me which window is in focus:
 	I use focus follows mouse (having had trouble getting focus
 		follows mind working)
 	I do not use raise on focus, I frequently enter text without being
 		able to see the whole window so I can see what the result
 		is on another window I don't want blocked.
 	it is not unusual for me to have as many as ten windows in front
 		of me on two screens

In the end I want a DE that is focused on the applications it runs first. 
I want to get work done, not play with the desktop. I understand (as a 
developer) how one's own corner of influence tends to become the most 
important thing.

I personally like the window decorations from Motif, fvwm, etc where the 
whole frame/border of the window changes colour for the window that has 
focus, each border handle is well deliniated so I can see where a corner 
handle ends and a side handle begins. These window decorations may not be 
pretty, but they are designed to show function for good workflow rather 
than hide the bits that hold things together. While I am not suggesting we 
go backwards, I am suggesting that desktop design seems to have "lost it's 
way" in some places. Gnome would be good for kiosk use where the user 
should only press this part of the screen to get directions to the 
washrooms and not be able to play with the system. However, as happens, I 
already know my way to the washroom, thank you.

> Hopefully this is useful! Please feel free to share this info.

Yes it is. It has felt very much like I have been picking a DE. I like to 
get responses even if they are to the effect that my head must be full of 
rocks.

I do want to add that I can see how KDE/plasma could very easily be 
configured into a desktop where I would be lost. Gnome tends to start 
there and is hard to get to a place where work can be done. It is not a 
bad thing that I could be lost so long as the user feels that things fit.

Speaking of window borders, I am not suggesting we set Studio up this way, 
but does anyone know how to change the border colours depending on focus?


--
Len Ovens
www.ovenwerks.net




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