Post-4.4: Appfinder

[Jannis Pohlmann]

On Mon, 15 Jan 2007 11:50:44 +0100, Benedikt Meurer wrote:

> Jannis Pohlmann wrote:
> > Hey guys,
> >
> > yesterday I was told that Benny has written an application browser
> > based on FrapMenu and has posted it on the ML at the beginning of
> > this month. So I took a look at it yesterday and I really like it.
> > It's clean, fast and already quite usable.
> >
> > It might be reasonable to replace xfce4-appfinder with this
> > application in the future (after Xfce 4.4). If nobody disagrees, I
> > will import it into libfrap/appfinder and continue developing it
> > there as long as 4.4 isn't out yet.
> >
> > What do you think?
>
> Go ahead.
>
> Tho, as mentioned in the original post, that's mainly for JPs config
> stuff (to avoid crippeling Thunar). A real appbrowser should look
> better and offer some nice features.

Ok, perhaps we should discuss these features before. The appbrowser as
you posted it for JP already provides all features of xfce4-appfinder
except: detailed program information, drag-and-drop (e.g. to the panel)
and list view.

I was really impressed by the concept of the appbrowser Novell
introduced lately:

  http://www.ossblog.it/uploads/nld_new_gnome_application_browser.jpg

I wouldn't mind to copy its style and general behaviour (though this
might mean to write yet another multicolumn icon view - this time with
groups). Here are some features I have in mind for our appbrowser:

  * filter, categories and items (similar to the screenshot above)
  * context menu with extension support similar to the Thunar
    UCA-plugin and several basic features already implemented:
      - starting apps
      - adding apps to the favorites [1]
     (- adding apps as launchers to the panel [2])
 (* edit applications by copying the desktop file to
    XDG_DATA_HOME/applications/, preserving the desktop-file id and
    editing the desktop file using a simple UI)

There might be more useful features which I have forgotten to mention.
Feel free to add them to the list above. But you're right: The more I
think of it, the appbrowser becomes different to your mockup.

  - Jannis


[1] I have some vague plans for a menu panel plugin based on FrapMenu,
    which will also feature favorites and recently used programs.

[2] This is just an idea that came to my mind suddenly. Since creating
    launchers by dropping appfinder items on the panel is too difficult
    to implement according to Jasper, what if the panel offered a D-BUS
    API for adding launchers? This could work like this:
      1. You click on 'Add to panel...' in the appbrowser context menu
      2. The app item details (e.g. name, icon, command) are send to the
         panel using the D-BUS API.
      3. The panel displays a list of panels on the current screen and
         after you select one of them, a launcher is added to it.
    Sounds weird? Yes!
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