Beta XFWM4/tasklist behaviour

[Erik Harrison]

On 8/15/06, Olivier Fourdan <fourdan at xfce.org> wrote:
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> Hi Erik,
>
> Erik Harrison wrote:
> > Anyway, with Beta 2, if I have a window marked urgent (Gaim window,
> > for example) it appears suddenly in all workspace. Once switching to
> > that window, my workspace switches to the workspace I left the window
> > on.
> >
> > I can see how this will be helpful behaviour, but I can't see how to
> > disable it in either the WM settings or tweaks
>
> Well, the WM has nothing to do with that.

I wasn't sure, just hopped to where I thought the settings might be.
Is this is netk_tasklist?

BTW, I don't think we should
> make just about everything user configurable.

I agree. If it's simply the behaviour we choose, then there is no need
for a knob to adjust it. But if there -was- a knob, and I was missed
it....

 At least, it was the goal
> with xfce 4.0, and even if we've lost that from sight along the time, I
> still believe the programmer has some responsibility in how the software
> works.

He or she does. And I don't believe we've lost sight of it. Xfce is a
fairly successful software project. That means as soon as you change a
behaviour, even correctly, a vocal minority who already likes the way
their desktop works is going to clamour for a knob to turn it back. I
think overall, the judicious decisions have been made. It's not
perfect, but no software is.

>
> In other words, I do think it's the correct behavior and I don't see the
> need for an option for that.
>

I respect that. I'm going to make an argument that it isn't the
correct behaviour, and if you disagree, say so, and I'll shut up about
it. I'm not asking for an option. I'm asking to either remove the
behaviour or replace it with something else (non optional) that works
more smoothly.

The whole reason I use workspaces is to seperate out tasks or groups
of tasks. If a window from workspace 2 can "invade" workspace 1, then
there isn't much of a gain to moving low priority windows to workspace
2.

Frankly, if I'm in the middle of reviewing a code sample on workspace
1 with my coworkers, then the fact my wife wants to say hi over Jabber
is an interruption. So I move Gaim over to workspace 2. But with this
new behaviour she blinks in. 80% of the time, I click on urgent
windows in the tasklist out of instinct, and suddenly, rather than
bringing a window to the front, my desktop changes. This is
disorienting.

The only remaining recourse is to turn of setting the Urgent hint in
Gaim. We haven't reduced the number of options the user experiences at
all! We've now put one in every application....

I would argue that the WORKSPACE in the switcher should blink,
indicating which workspace wants attention, if anything.

Also, as long as we're on the topic, I'd like to  propose that this
blinking (either workspace or window) stop after a short period of
time, but stay highlighted. If I know it's my wife asking about
dinner, and I choose to ignore it, it shouldn't continue to draw my
attention. After a few blinks, the button should stay in highlighted
state until the Urgent hint is removed. Is this behaviour reasonable?

> Cheers,
> Olivier.
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-- 
Erik

"If Beethoven had been killed in a plane crash at the age of 22, it
would have changed the history of music... and of aviation."