Wishlist: Improve Unity Dash's search algorithm
Affects | Status | Importance | Assigned to | Milestone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ayatana Design |
Incomplete
|
Undecided
|
Unassigned | ||
Unity |
Opinion
|
Wishlist
|
Unassigned | ||
unity (Ubuntu) |
Opinion
|
Wishlist
|
Unassigned |
Bug Description
Unity Dash as far as I can tell uses a rather primitive instant search algorithm that only matches the beginnings of words and doesn't prioritize based on use. I think that this needs serious improvement as sometimes you are forced to start over or type as many as 7 or 8 characters to get the right match using only the keyboard. Since the Dash is one of the primary features in Unity, I think that this algorithm needs to be improved.
Another problem with the Dash's algorithm is that it appears to use lots of invisible material, probably some kind of application description, in making matches, which creates unexpected matches that I doubt people are often very interested in. The search algorithm should be transparent about what it is searching, and I think that just searching the names, or at least giving automatic priority to entries with matches in the names, is going to end up with better results.
As a model for a new algorithm my personal recommndation would be more like Gnome Do's.
Gnome-do's search algorithm allows you to skip characters instead of finding an exact match. For example:
a) 'ww' would likely open World of Warcraft
b) 'fox' would probably open firefox (well, actually f will open firefox since it prioritizes frequently used options)
c) 'out' will run log out (observe that log will not in general as many things start with log!)
Gnome Do is transparent about how it works because it highlights the characters you type in its matches, and you catch on very quickly. For keyboard oriented users this algorithm would is a clear improvement, and for mouse oriented users it certainly doesn't do any damage.
Gnome Do also prioritizes results based on frequency of use, which Dash also ought to do better. I'm not proposing making the Dash into some kind of Gnome Do clone, particularly since the Dash unlike Gnome Do has nice features for mouse oriented users, but the instant search algorithm in Gnome Do is unequivocally better. You pick it up in minutes of use and it's the number one reason so many people like Gnome Do. It gets faster matches and you don't have to worry as much about mistakes.
So I'd propose that Unity Dash incorporates the following changes:
1) Allow characters to be skipped in potential matches
2) Highlight the characters in the matches that match the search term
3) Prioritize matches based on frequency of use
4) Only search application names, not descriptions
Changed in unity (Ubuntu): | |
importance: | Undecided → Wishlist |
status: | New → Incomplete |
Changed in unity: | |
status: | New → Incomplete |
tags: | added: needs-design |
Changed in unity: | |
status: | Expired → Opinion |
Changed in unity (Ubuntu): | |
status: | Expired → Opinion |
Note: this bug is based on my brainstorm idea
http:// brainstorm. ubuntu. com/idea/ 27530/