Re: Technical objection to KDE double-click default in Debian 13 - Request for corrective action before release

On Wed, Jul 23, 2025 at 4:02=E2=80=AFAM Lucy <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Dear Debian Developers,
>
> With the upcoming release of Debian 13 "Trixie", I want to formally raise=
 a critical technical objection to one of the adopted upstream changes that=
 risks undermining the efficiency,
> consistency, and user trust that Debian has long upheld:
>
> KDE Plasma 6's decision to enforce double-click as the default behavior f=
or file interaction.
>
> This change, introduced by KDE's upstream maintainers and publicly promot=
ed by Nate Graham, is not a neutral adjustment.
> It constitutes a user experience regression that actively degrades workfl=
ow efficiency for advanced users and developers,
> and contradicts Debian's historical role as a distribution that respects =
user autonomy and practicality over cosmetic defaults.
>
> I strongly urge the Debian Desktop Team to consider overriding this defau=
lt or at minimum providing an opt-in mechanism at installation time.
>
> 1. Debian's strength lies in curating, not copying upstream
>
> Debian has always stood apart from downstream-focused distributions by se=
lectively integrating upstream changes with measured technical analysis.
> It is not a passive consumer of upstream ideology, but a quality-assured =
platform chosen by professionals for its predictability, stability, and neu=
trality.
> Blind adoption of upstream defaults - especially those that alter foundat=
ional user interaction - weakens Debian=E2=80=99s credibility and purpose.
>
> 2. The double-click change is functionally regressive
>
> Single-click has been the KDE default for over a decade for good reasons:=
 faster navigation, better alignment with web behavior, fewer repetitive mo=
tions, and improved accessibility.
> These are not stylistic preferences - they are functional enhancements th=
at streamline system interaction and reduce friction, particularly for touc=
hpads, tablets, and users with motor impairments.
>
> By reverting to double-click, KDE imposes a Windows-centric behavior that=
 Linux users specifically chose to escape.
> This move undermines consistency across environments and introduces needl=
ess inefficiencies.
>
> 3. "New user friendliness" is not a Debian design principle
>
> Debian is not a first-time-user distro. It is not designed as a graphical=
 showcase for simplicity. It is trusted by system administrators, developer=
s,
> educators, and research institutions for the exact opposite reason: Debia=
n does not get in the way. It does not presume. It does not hide critical b=
ehavior behind abstraction.
>
> Imposing Windows-like interaction paradigms on users who expect control a=
nd speed is a misreading of Debian's audience.
> Beginners who truly need a guided UI likely use Ubuntu, Mint, or Fedora S=
pins. Debian is where users go once they understand what they want.
>
> 4. Combined with Wayland, this shift further fragments usability
>
> Wayland is now being shipped by default in KDE 6, despite known limitatio=
ns with multi-display, remote workflows, legacy software, and graphical tab=
let support.
> Forcing a double-click interaction model on top of an unproven display st=
ack compounds the frustration for advanced users who depend on muscle memor=
y and low-friction environments.
> The KDE 6 user experience, as it stands, is becoming less deterministic, =
less efficient, and more ideologically driven.
>
> 5. Proposal: restore or prompt for interaction mode
>
> The double-click default should be reverted in the Debian KDE task, or at=
 the very least - users should be prompted during installation to select th=
eir preferred interaction model:
>
>     "Open files/folders with single click" (recommended)
>
>     "Open files/folders with double click" (for compatibility with legacy=
 behavior)
>
> This approach preserves user agency and allows Debian to maintain its pos=
ition as a system of choice, not a system of instruction.
>
> 6. Debian must remain a power-user OS by default
>
> The current KDE direction reflects a trend toward aesthetic conformity, n=
ot technical clarity. By accepting these defaults uncritically,
> Debian signals its willingness to accommodate upstream opinion over downs=
tream needs.
> This undermines the distribution's identity and weakens the confidence of=
 users who expect Debian to stand apart from one-size-fits-all design.
>
> Conclusion
>
> This is not about nostalgia. It is not about UI philosophy. It is about m=
aintaining a distribution that respects user control, offers consistency, a=
nd avoids regressions in fundamental system behavior.
>
> Debian has always been the distribution for people who think before they =
click. The current KDE double-click default is a click without thinking. Pl=
ease act now to correct this before release.
>
> Sincerely,
> Lucy S.

This shows up as being 98% AI-generated according to GPTZero [1]. If
this really matters to you, why are you using an AI slop generator to
write your petition? All this does is waste time and annoy people.

I can see why people would use LLMs for translating emails or for
polishing text, but I wish there was a rule against emails to the
Debian mailing lists in which the meaningful portion of the content is
AI-generated.

(Repost because I accidentally sent this off-list the first time...)

[1] https://gptzero.me/