https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=425950
Bug ID: 425950
Summary: Proposal to make it easier to launch recently used
applications in Application Dashboard
Product: kdeplasma-addons
Version: 5.18.5
Platform: Ubuntu Packages
OS: Linux
Status: REPORTED
Severity: normal
Priority: NOR
Component: Application Dashboard
Assignee: h...@kde.org
Reporter: jan.rathm...@gmx.de
CC: plasma-b...@kde.org
Target Milestone: ---
Created attachment 131263
--> https://bugs.kde.org/attachment.cgi?id=131263&action=edit
Mock-up of how Applicaton Dashboard with swapped appmenu/favourites woul look
like
Hello,
I would like to propose a possible usability enhancement for the Application
Dashboard.
When using the dashboard I noticed that I often want to open one of the
recently used applications (which are displayed in the middle of the dashboard
view). I often use just the keyboard (no mouse) to control the dashboard, but
with the current configuration it feels rather hard for me to reach the most
recently used application(s) by keyboard:
* If I press the left left arrow key after opening the dashboard, keyboard
focus switches to the _least_ recently used application - but practically every
time what I want to use is one of the _most_ recently used applications! But
those are far away - I need to press the left arrow key 5-8 times to get to
them, what feels too "exhausting" to me.
* I can press 'Tab' four times to select the most recently used application.
Also, pressing 'Shift + Tab' once does the same. This works better for me but I
still find it to be a bit cumbersome.
The following two alternatives how to improve this came to my mind:
1. Give keyboard focus to the most recently used app when opening the dashboard
(instead of the application menu). I managed to change this for me by hacking
around a bit in DashboardRepresentation.qml and after having worked with this
modifcation for a few weeks it feels great to me!
This behaviour (most recently used app gets keyboard focus) is also the same as
Unity did within its "Hud", which I really liked in terms of usability at that
time.
2. Swap "Favourites" with the application menu: Place the application menu on
the left side of the dashboard view and move "Favourites" to the right side
instead. (I have attached a mock-up of how this would look like.)
In this case, the current behaviour that the application menu gets keyboard
focus on dashboard opening could stay the same - and you would just need to
press the right arrow key one time to focus the most recently used app (-->
seems a lot easier to me).
Beside that, it also feels more logical to me when the menu is placed on left
side instead of on the right, since menu entries as I know usually display
their content/submenus to their right side (with current dashboard setup this
is inverse!).
It would be interesting to know what others think about this and if other
people feel such a change is feasible.
Kind regards,
Jan
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