Desktop management. - Discussions topics proposal.

PaweÅ‚ Kubik <[email protected]> Tue, 7 Feb 2012 23:46:53 +0100
Newsgroups gmane.comp.gnome.usability
Message-ID <CAJtGEB2cQVmomMu=N6cQne=ibxo+TWbkJi=yuWRUWuSJGA7s1g@mail.gmail.com>
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//I am afraid that my foreword might be found boring and is actually even
longer then main idea. I have marked it as some kind of attachment. Skip to
the 4th paragraph if you find the previous part too boring to continue.

When I do some basic work I usually use about two windows. I think it's
quite common. Programmer has to have some documentation along with IDE, or
terminal along with text editor. Writer often need a dictionary when he
write something in a text processor.
I used to have few windows maximised and kept on different desktops. I
could have a glance at the docs while writing a program via hotkeys
(SuperKey+<numbers> were perfect). I must admit that it was the most
efficient I ever used.

Let's answer a simple question. Why do we need virtual desktops? Why
haven't they been implemented in Windows, for example?
When I have started my linux adventure I have treated virtual desktops as
some kind of sessions. I was using only one desktop until I decided to take
a break and do something completely different. It took some time until I
have worked my way to use them efficiently. Finding a way to manage
workspaces is difficult, although experienced user may not expect that.

The linux gives us total freedom in organising our environment. We could
develop new features in Gnome to fulfil all potential needs but where would
we get then? To KDE or Compiz. Heavy, large and difficult to set up. The
heaven for newcomers who want to have some fun (if not large number of
bugs). But we already have it (as entire FOSS community).

//(SKIP HERE) :)
I think that we should create The Gnome Usage Solutions. We should collect
some patterns of situations and find the most comfortable and effectively
way to act.
For example the mentioned problem of using only two windows with a need of
having a glance on the second one while being focused on the first.
Classical mouse clicking fails without discussion. We could use two
desktops and switch via hotkeys but then desktop switching image covers
some screen for a while. Another way is to resize both windows to halves of
their sizes and keep them both visible. I'm sure you see what I mean.

Why should we do such discussions? Some of you might say that solving such
problems is an individual matter. I wouldn't like to force anyone to do
something specific way. I'd like to simply create some public database.
When someone will propose any feature, others may not imagine their use.
Even if he would came with an example it's hard to analyse it properly on
fly. It might also be the source of ideas itself. For example one of
solutions I gave in the previous example has disadvantage of image which
covers some screen when you switch the desktops via hotkeys (press
LCTRL+LALT+DOWN_ARROW to see it). It automatically brings us simple idea to
change it.

Don't think "I think that I wasn't working efficiently last time. What
could be introduced to change it?", but instead ask us what could you do to
make it easier. First think about the problem, then try to solve it using
methods you have. Think about changes at the end.

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<span style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)">//I am afraid that my foreword might=
 be found boring and is actually even longer then main idea. I have marked =
it as some kind of attachment. Skip to the 4th paragraph if you find the pr=
evious part too boring to continue.</span><br style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,15=
3)">
<br style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)"><span style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)"=
>When I do some basic work I usually use about two windows. I think it&#39;=
s quite common. Programmer has to have some documentation along with IDE, o=
r terminal along with text editor. Writer often need a dictionary when he w=
rite something in a text processor.</span><br style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,15=
3)">
<span style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)">I used to have few windows maximised=
 and kept on different desktops. I could have a glance at the docs while wr=
iting a program via hotkeys (SuperKey+&lt;numbers&gt; were perfect). I must=
 admit that it was the most efficient I ever used.</span><br style=3D"color=
:rgb(153,153,153)">
<br style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)"><span style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)"=
>Let&#39;s answer a simple question. Why do we need virtual desktops? Why h=
aven&#39;t they been implemented in Windows, for example? </span><br style=
=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)">
<span style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)">When I have started my linux adventu=
re I have treated virtual desktops as some kind of sessions. I was using on=
ly one desktop until I decided to take a break and do something completely =
different. It took some time until I have worked my way to use them efficie=
ntly. Finding a way to manage workspaces is difficult, although experienced=
 user may not expect that.</span><br style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)">
<br style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)"><span style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)"=
>The linux gives us total freedom in organising our environment. We could d=
evelop new features in Gnome to fulfil all potential needs but where would =
we get then? To KDE or Compiz. Heavy, large and difficult to set up. The he=
aven for newcomers who want to have some fun (if not large number of bugs).=
 But we already have it (as entire FOSS community).</span><br style=3D"colo=
r:rgb(153,153,153)">
<br style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)"><span style=3D"color:rgb(153,153,153)"=
>//(SKIP HERE) :)</span><br>I think that we should create The Gnome Usage S=
olutions. We should collect some patterns of situations and find the most c=
omfortable and effectively way to act. <br>
For example the mentioned problem of using only two windows with a need of =
having a glance on the second one while being focused on the first. Classic=
al mouse clicking fails without discussion. We could use two desktops and s=
witch via hotkeys but then desktop switching image covers some screen for a=
 while. Another way is to resize both windows to halves of their sizes and =
keep them both visible. I&#39;m sure you see what I mean.<br>
<br>Why should we do such discussions? Some of you might say that solving s=
uch problems is an individual matter. I wouldn&#39;t like to force anyone t=
o do something specific way. I&#39;d like to simply create some public data=
base. When someone will propose any feature, others may not imagine their u=
se. Even if he would came with an example it&#39;s hard to analyse it prope=
rly on fly. It might also be the source of ideas itself. For example one of=
 solutions I gave in the previous example has disadvantage of image which c=
overs some screen when you switch the desktops via hotkeys (press LCTRL+LAL=
T+DOWN_ARROW to see it). It automatically brings us simple idea to change i=
t.<br>
<br>Don&#39;t think &quot;I think that I wasn&#39;t working efficiently las=
t time. What could be introduced to change it?&quot;, but instead ask us wh=
at could you do to make it easier. First think about the problem, then try =
to solve it using methods you have. Think about changes at the end.<br>
<br> =20

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