[kde] [Bug 506674] New: Provide generic desktop launcher aliases for core apps ("Videos", "Music", "System Monitor", etc.)
treesys
bugzilla_noreply at kde.org
Sun Jul 6 16:12:11 BST 2025
https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=506674
Bug ID: 506674
Summary: Provide generic desktop launcher aliases for core apps
("Videos", "Music", "System Monitor", etc.)
Classification: I don't know
Product: kde
Version First unspecified
Reported In:
Platform: Other
OS: Linux
Status: REPORTED
Severity: normal
Priority: NOR
Component: general
Assignee: unassigned-bugs at kde.org
Reporter: sales at treesys.org
Target Milestone: ---
**Summary:**
Please consider shipping generic `.desktop` launcher aliases for KDE core apps,
using common terms like “Videos”, “Music”, “Photos”, “System Monitor”, etc.
Just like GNOME has “Videos” (Totem), “Music” (Rhythmbox), and “Files”
(Nautilus), KDE should have equivalents pointing to Dragon Player, Elisa,
Dolphin, and so on.
**Why this matters:**
It is *demencial* (and kind of hilarious) that on KDE, typing “Videos” in
KRunner or the app launcher gets you... nothing. Not even a suggestion. Unless
you know Dragon Player by name, good luck. Meanwhile in GNOME, typing "Videos"
Just Works™.
Same with:
- “Music” (no Elisa)
- “Photos” (no Gwenview)
- “Monitor” (you’d better remember 'plasma-systemmonitor' exists)
- “Files” (who’s Dolphin?)
- “Notes”, “Clock”, etc.
Even more absurd: KRunner — our Swiss army knife of power — can’t match "Music"
to Elisa. But if you type “kesto”, it might find your local cheese. 🤷♂️
We have amazing tools in KDE, but discoverability via natural terms is poor by
default.
**Proposal:**
Create a set of `.desktop` files with generic names that alias to core apps.
For example:
| Alias | Target App | Exec |
|-------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
| Videos | Dragon Player / Haruna | `dragon %U` |
| Music | Elisa | `elisa %U` |
| Photos | Gwenview | `gwenview %U` |
| Files | Dolphin | `dolphin` |
| Monitor | Plasma System Monitor | `plasma-systemmonitor` |
| Notes | KNotes / Buho | `knotes` |
| Clock | KClock | `kclock` |
| Settings | System Settings | `systemsettings` |
You could even offer these in a small optional package, or via distro defaults.
**Why now?**
- KDE is *the* desktop environment in the Steam Deck. Users there are casual,
new, or console-first. They expect things to Just Work.
- KDE is gaining traction in Fedora officially — a polished experience is
expected.
- Discoverability is key. People type what they think — not app names from
2007.
- It helps KDE compete with GNOME on UX polish without changing branding.
**Benefits:**
- Improves onboarding massively
- Works well with KRunner, Kickoff, Overview, and voice/dictation-based tools
- Doesn’t interfere with KDE branding — just adds helpful fallback aliases
- Simple to implement, high return in usability
Thanks for your amazing work — let’s help KDE feel more intuitive out of the
box!
--
You are receiving this mail because:
You are the assignee for the bug.
More information about the Unassigned-bugs
mailing list