probono · @probono
467 followers · 375 posts · Server fosstodon.org

The HIG is actively watering down what once was a desktop environment made exclusively for pixel precise pointing devices (a.k.a. the mouse) to the least common denominator (a.k.a. fat fingers). Who are they designing for? Tablet users? Not professional *nix workstation users doing real work, it seems.

#gnome #linuxusability

Last updated 1 year ago

probono · @probono
467 followers · 373 posts · Server fosstodon.org

: It is not a proper desktop if you can't FREELY position items ANYWHERE... Why don't most desktop environments get spatial orientation right?-- In we will follow principles laid out by @siracusa. At the moment I am rewriting the Filer from scratch: github.com/probonopd/Filer/

#linuxusability #helloSystem

Last updated 1 year ago

probono · @probono
467 followers · 368 posts · Server fosstodon.org

Spatial orientation means that every item in the filesystem has one (and only one) location (pixel coordinates) on the screen, and you can logically group and visually arrange things. It is suprising how few (any?) open source file managers get this right, to this day.

#linuxusability #helloSystem

Last updated 1 year ago

probono · @probono
464 followers · 362 posts · Server fosstodon.org

What makes a desktop environment a "desktop" environment? For me: Mouse (not touch) centric operation. Icons on the desktop. Trash can on the desktop. (Global) menu bar. Small applets in the menu bar (e.g., for volume, time, etc.). Drag and drop. Application files with application icons. File associations (ideally with creator codes, so that the application which created a document also opens it by default). Now: How much of this does actually support? Almost none of it.

#gnome #linuxusability

Last updated 1 year ago

probono · @probono
447 followers · 316 posts · Server fosstodon.org

Am I the only one who thinks file associations are handled terribly bad in XDG compliant file managers? Just because these are all .stl files, it doesn't automatically mean that I want to open them all with the same application. And I want the icon to reflect which application gets to open a file.

#linuxusability

Last updated 1 year ago

probono · @probono
311 followers · 211 posts · Server fosstodon.org

In the example with no title bar, how do I know that it is Telegram I am looking at? Giant step backwards. Window title bars have been around since 1984, and they are serving a specific purpose. Don't mess with them.

More on : medium.com/@probonopd/make-it-

#linuxusability

Last updated 2 years ago

probono · @probono
311 followers · 211 posts · Server fosstodon.org

First they crippled menus, then they crippled window decorations, now GNOME designers want to cripple window title bars, even in non-GNOME applications? They are there for a reason.
Don't let GNOME design ideas pollute the application landscape. Enough is enough.
wiki.gnome.org/Initiatives/CSD

#linuxusability

Last updated 2 years ago

probono · @probono
287 followers · 204 posts · Server fosstodon.org

@nathand In fact, was born out of frustration with the state of , and to address everything that is discussed in the article series.

#helloSystem #linuxusability

Last updated 2 years ago

probono · @probono
287 followers · 204 posts · Server fosstodon.org

@nathand Me too! I have written a 6-part series on where those pesky hamburger menus are featured prominently as a negative example medium.com/@probonopd/make-it-

#linuxusability

Last updated 2 years ago