Web application interfaces have already been ruined for desktop users by trying to serve both mobile/touch and desktop/mouse. It would be a real shame if other native software followed suit.
A new wave of Linux applications
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Re: A new wave of Linux applications
#42Earlier quoted context omitted.
I feel like partially the movement happened because some themes made the apps unusable and then instead of blaming the theming, users blamed thee app developers instead.
In some cases badly designed themes (like dark gray labels on black backgrounds) are the culprit, but most often it’s a result of the app developers hard coding colors in their UI elements assuming all users will be using a similar theme. That’s not only bad for custom theme users, it’s bad for accessibility since there’s no way for increased contrast modes to modify the hard coded colors. Apps really just shouldn’t…
Agreed, definitely. OS should provide basic colorsheets that the apps use, and those sheets should be freely modifiable.
Which is why I really like KDE.
Re: A new wave of Linux applications
#43Strange that electron isn't mentioned here. I develop a desktop application that targets macos, windows and linux, so it is a full-fledged linux app — but without such an effective cross-platform toolkit I don't think we would have resources to support Linux at all.
Re: A new wave of Linux applications
#44I have to say I just don't like Gnome's design. The shift away from text and towards more and more abstract icons, the "don't theme my app movement", removing features I consider pretty essential like typeahead.... Maybe mobile is where their weird (to me) design choices will finally shine though. Also looking forward to what KDE can accomplish in this space.
Agreed. Visually, it is... fine, I don't care that much and the iconization of everything is probably just trend chasing. And personally I don't care too much about theming, but either it should be supported, or not. But it is so dumbed-down now that I find it pointless as a desktop. I try it out every time I rebuild, and become frustrated with how it doesn't do any number of perfectly reasonable things to want from…
> and the iconization of everything is probably just trend chasing
Icons work better as touch targets due to their uniform shape. So I think the change is driven by ergonomics as well, in a context where touch support is already expected.
Re: A new wave of Linux applications
#45No post body was provided.
Re: A new wave of Linux applications
#46Web application interfaces have already been ruined for desktop users by trying to serve both mobile/touch and desktop/mouse. It would be a real shame if other native software followed suit.
It can also be done well, see videos here: https://puri.sm/posts/converging-on-convergence-pureos-is-co....
Re: A new wave of Linux applications
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
I still dislike the gnome3 title bar with the icons. As you say, unlabelled mystery meat and hamburger menus. I'll admit, part of my dislike for the new title bars is probably irrationally rooted in just wanting things to stay like they were on windows 98 when I first became familiar with computers, forever, and never to diverge too much from that. But those unlabelled icons, they really do puzzle and frustrate me. O…
> I still dislike the gnome3 title bar with the icons. It's a key part of touch readiness. There's even a Windows-like theme for Gtk3+ that looks really close to the original, you might like it better than the default look.
They could at the very least put labels under or next to the icons.
In regards to touch-readiness: TBH I've had a laptop with a touchscreen, and I never once used the touchscreen on it productively in any way. On a tablet it's a different story of course, but no one is forcing them to do a one-size-fits-all approach. But yeah, my main complaint is really just that stuff isn't labelled. Everything else I can begrudgingly understand somewhat
Re: A new wave of Linux applications
#48> An example is Flathub, where new applications using the most modern toolkits and UX strategy appear every day, providing "just works" alternatives to complex older FOSS software I go to Flathub. Click the first app I see.
What app was it?
Re: A new wave of Linux applications
#49These applications look really pretty and all, but for my selfish purposes, I just really want real goddamn scrollbars back. I use a mouse that doesn't have a scroll wheel, but for the life of me I've been unable to figure out how to make applications like Firefox just give me a real scroll bar on the side of the window that's thick enough to grab without fiddly pixel-hunting.
Why do you use a mouse without a scrollwheel?
Re: A new wave of Linux applications
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Also looking forward to what KDE can accomplish in this space. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DLQWv8P5Hw
It's cool they have this (mostly) working on mobile, but those gestures are pretty clearly all copied from Android and not a result of KDE Desktop's design decisions.
That's fine, if the Android gestures work well they can feel free to adopt them. GUI toolkits getting not-invented-here syndrome is terrible.