dash should sort results (apps, files, ...) by relevance

[grigori]

Binary package hint: unity

this is actually a feature request.

using unity to start apps or to look for files is really quick, because i just need to press 'win' and type the first few letters of the concerning app, and then enter. but it would be even better if it would act like gnome-do ...
by which i mean, if it could sort the apps, files, folders, (and actions?) depending on how often you use them. this would mean, that, in most cases, it would be sufficient to type "win + the_first_letter_of_the_app".

[grigori (gexi-deactivatedaccount)]

maybe i'm looking for something like this: a 'frequently used' section on top. i attached a mockup.

[Andy Clayton (q3aiml)]

There does not seem to be lots of interest in this, but I would also find it useful to have frequency of use influence the scoring/sorting of items. I run into issues fairly often with applications where I wind up launching the wrong one because some obscure application is the first result. For example if I type "update" to try to run Software Updater, I instead get an application that has Update in the title but that I have never intentionally run. Or I often want to type "calc" to get Calculator, but instead wind up with LibreOffice's calc which I also rarely use and don't mind having to click or use more keypresses for the exceptional cases.

Another way to approach it could be to remember that, for me, calc means Calculator rather than LibreOffice Calc. Collect the stats to know that 9 times out of 10 when typing calc I end up launching Calculator, and give me that. That way rather quickly after using the dash users have created their own shortcuts and it does what they want.

[Ferran Basora (fcsonline)]

Totally agree with Andy. Instead of 'frequently used' mockup proposed by grigori, that requires design and other steps to be approved, I think that order by usage is a basic feature. All the launchers have this because is a productivity improvement.

On the other hand, another annoying thing about the launcher is when you search for an application, and then you press the down key to focus it but the launcher focus on the "Applications" header, that is useless.

I think that the Unity launcher will improve so much with these two details.

[Mark Jeronimus (mark-jeronimus)]

The algorithm should use a balance between 'frequency of use' (or maybe even 'duration of use') and *recency* of last use.

For example, I installed an application yesterday and launched it once. Today I want to launch it again but forgot the name, and it's not in any of the 29(!) suggested apps when I type nothing.