[Panel-devel] The ALI: do we really need or want it?

[Andrey Cherepanov]

11 Jan 2006 01:22, Nicholas Kaye-Smith wrote:
> Picture this...A user has never seen a computer before. He expects all
> areas of the screen to be utilized in an effective way. But even if this
> user sees KDE 4, he'll see the kmenu (the bottom corner) being used for
> more than its worth (even if you take into account fitt's law).
>
> We should not be thinking of the ALI, but rather the whole desktop. Perhaps
> my idea could be implemented as a widget (to replace desktop icons) and the
> kmenu to have a different design. Perhaps. Perhaps you should look here:
> http://www.simplekde.org/node/16
> They have some very interesting designs.
>
> In response to the plasmoid idea... yes I considered that too.
> However, the current desktop evolved. Watch...
> 1) Running multiple plasmoids (tasks) means the user needs to split his
> screen, or have tabs.
I think plasmoid means subtasks and whole (virtual) desktop means task.
As for me, I make translation KDE on Russian. I have several desktops (tasks) 
with unique set of plasmoids. For example, virtual desktop (Translation) 
contains following plasmoids:
1. File folders for stable, trunk and other translation.
2. Mail folders for kde-i18n-doc and kde-russian maillist, mail folder for 
receiving translation.
3. Bookmark for translation statistics, Google
4. Shortcuts for kbabeldict and kdict
5. Probably console...

I should have possibility to undock any group/element to separate plasmoid and 
join plasmoids to one panel. Do I make mockup for show this behaviour if 
anybody isn't understand?

> 2) Wouldn't it be cool if the tabs were down the bottom and more graphical?
> Yeah. Let's do that.
More heterogeneous elements is hell for user IMHO.

> 3) Wouldn't it be great if the user could manage the way his screen is
> split through window management?
Plasmoids split screen. If application functionality move to plasmoids 
application window can be smaller.

> 4) And as the number of tasks grow bigger - it would be great if the user
> had this button in the corner of their screen and then it expanded to show
> the plasmoids to bring up.
I guess concept of virtual desktops as tasks doesn't need to invent the wheel. 
Because plasmoid is window it can be move to any/all desktop(s).

> 5) Oh and lets call these plasmoids programs
Well, I download last plasma playground from SVN and I am not found working 
example of plasmoid (only prototype). I wat for Aaron develop some working 
example. :)

> 6) Not important plasmoids which don't take user input go in the system
> tray.
Good idea. :)

-- 
Andrey Cherepanov
sibskull at mail.ru