[kde] [Bug 457401] New: (re)using CDE-inspired aspects (inspired by Windows 3)?

[David Chmelik]

https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=457401

            Bug ID: 457401
           Summary: (re)using CDE-inspired aspects (inspired by Windows
                    3)?
           Product: kde
           Version: unspecified
          Platform: Other
                OS: Android 10.x
            Status: REPORTED
          Severity: normal
          Priority: NOR
         Component: general
          Assignee: unassigned-bugs at kde.org
          Reporter: dchmelik at gmail.com
  Target Milestone: ---

SUMMARY
I read KDE's name was inspired by CDE which I know imitated Win3 which I
preferred aspects (but seem absent). 

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Read history KDE name was inspired by CDE.
2. Look for superior CDE usability (Windows 3, Win3-inspired).

OBSERVED RESULT
I read KDE's name was inspired by CDE which I know imitated Win3 which I
preferred aspects. Win3 had program manager/groups which was still usable in
Win95/98 (and WinME?). I always liked program manager/groups but always
abhorred (to this day) Win95 (to Win10) inferior start menu which became
(Ns)CDE & KDEs kmenu/kicker/kickoff.

Win3 program groups show any or all groups of only-related programs wth
large/recognizable icons and could start as many you want in one go from
still-open groups and be reminded what else one might want/need to start (or
optionally minimize). Start & applications menus were regression to
one-at-a-time text & less-reocgnizable small icons: rather than one go you
reopen menu over & over, maybe 10 or 20+ times (typically 20 to 30+ for me and
I know some who use more) let alone mouse slips on very position-sensitive menu
that opens/causes many mistakes and can take many more seconds to reopen than a
still-program group, and when you start a few/couple and are doing another but
then one takes 'current focus' status and closes to draw over start/application
menu (or even doesn't draw over at all but goes to other side but still closes
menu(!))) and in contrast start/application menus can't remain open for
reminder while using other programs.

I'd like back whatever Win3-style KDE program groups--whatever you call
them--may have made inspired by CDE (or do they still exist hidden? Then unhide
them) and might even remove kicker afterwards, because that Win95 aspect always
was--and still is--worst (and has only gotten worse as in its newer-style
imitation reported elsewhere).

Apparently some KDE (and GNOME/Ubuntu/etc.?) people realized Win3 had a good
idea and Win3 start menu was a regression, but maybe mostly weren't win3 users,
because they made almost-similar fullscreen menu/launcher--also inferior to
Win3: can't view all program groups same time as using other programs.

No other UI was as good except classic Apple with sytem menu bar that could
have each application menu bar attached/underneath (as in KDE3, but of course
both lacked superior Win3-style program groups, and Windows always lacked
superior Apple-style top bars).

I was most productive in (Apple &) Win3: I much more quickly saw what I had,
and started all I wanted from all groups in one go, but still saw what else I
may use later, or otherwise minimized, and could come back and do same
repeatedly.

KDE-style launchers were almost as good until I filled half taskbar with 20 or
30+ most-used programs but of course unable to immediately see related
utilities.

EXPECTED RESULT
Allow/add all historical menu/launcher types from where you get your name.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: NetBSD & FreeBSD & Slackware post-2002-4-3 (and maybe
earlier) to current-day
KDE Plasma Version: 3, 4, 5 to 5.25.3
KDE Frameworks Version: 3, 4, 5 to 5.96.0
Qt Version: 3, 4, 5 to 5.18.15

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

-- 
You are receiving this mail because:
You are the assignee for the bug.