Integrate with system settings manager in Ubuntu

[VisionInit]

I installed Ubuntu Tweak and noticed that it made a new entry in the System Settings area for Ubuntu. I think screenlets should do this too.

[Märt Põder (boamaod)]

I think Screenlets used to do it in GNOME 2, using Unity it's just application indicator.

However, it's not completely clear if Screenlets Manager should show up among indicators, be in system settings or act as a regular program. Technically Screenlets Manager does not indicate much, it's just a launcher, which is not encouraged as an application indicator (see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/CustomStatusMenuDesignGuidelines). The same question rises if we think about the system settings dialog, there's no need to clutter it with semi-settings (as often happened in GNOME 2).

Having Screenlets as an application indicator seems to be kind of intuitive though. Additional entry in desktop popup menu would be better though (maybe), but I'm not aware if I can tweak it.

So it's an open question.

[VisionInit (visioninit)]

> However, it's not completely clear if Screenlets Manager should show up among indicators, be in system settings or act as a regular program.

indicators is configurable, and indicators and system settings both in use is not mutually exclusive or awkward. And running as a regular program? Why? I think Screenlets has the chance to become the 'desktop' of the future along side Unity in others used in combination with them. Look at it as a configurable option of the OS, and integrate from there..

Also, my indicator bar is starting to fill up. I have tor, owncloud, dayfolder, screenlets, wifi, bluetooth, sound..time..name.. power..kitchen sink :) I am starting to try to find ways to remove the indicators, even though I like usign them.

It might be possible to make a first go just a launcher from the manager as well..and then integrate further as time permits.

So the question I ask now is if there is a compromise where just a link that launches the manager could be added to the settings section.

[VisionInit (visioninit)]

If there was a question of what type of application this is, look at integration of widgets on android, for example. It is a core functionality.

I'm looking at Ubuntu 12.04, and making suggestions here as to what I think will bring Screenlets into the Ubuntu flow of things. A goal should be to be installed on Ubuntu desktop by default. But the polish and resources to get there will take some work..

[Märt Põder (boamaod)]

I don't believe there is much chance to have Screenlets installed to Ubuntu by default, but I certainly welcome your enthusiasm.

Only distro which includes Screenlets by default is Estobuntu, and there I added it myself (see http://www.upload.ee/image/1793333/Screenshot_at_2011-10-22_17_44_50.png and http://juhend.estobuntu.org/), although not all users welcome it. Even Pinguy OS which has lots of bling, has only Conky. I tend to think that Screenlets demands too much resources for universal distro like Ubuntu, even distros like Pinguy avoid it.

See also some quite old Ubuntu brainstorm entries:

Add Screenlets by default http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/392
Screenlets or Widgets need development http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/19443/

I am quite sure that Ubuntu desktop team has discussed Screenlets or whatever other desktop widgets and decided to concentrate on Lenses etc in Unity and try to get rid of the old cluttered desktop. I think I have read that kind of discussions couple of times.

[Märt Põder (boamaod)]

I add that I personally I'm not against adding Screenlets Manager launcher to system settings. It could fit under section "Personal". If you can provide patch for it or refer to appropriate documentation we could try it.

[VisionInit (visioninit)]

It is kind of interesting that both of the screenlets posts you point to do seem to say what I am saying. There is demand out there for screenlets to just have some development and polish.

I agree that in its current state, it is not ready for default install and would frustrate many people. I do have a lot of enthusiasm, and I'm buying into the hopes that eventually

1) Any gtk app can be wrapped into a screenlet (in the works but a ways off)
2) Screenlet resizing on the desktop is a drag and drop affair (in the works)
3) Overhaul the screenlet configuration page (I may provide some mockups for discussion)
4) Start enouraging or contributing screenlets that can be bundled with applications (similarly to how android lets you put a recent emails widget on your mobile desktop in conjunction with mail)

Ubuntu of all distros is worth aiming for, they are doing a ton of experimentation and are not afraid to take things a different direction on the desktop. Of course if this doesn't happen, there is no reason to be disappointed - but it is a worthwhile effort.

[VisionInit (visioninit)]

http://blog.fpmurphy.com/2011/03/customizing-the-gnome-3-shell.html

What if I want the GNOME Shell to display a different icon for the GNOME Tweak Tool? There are two places you need to modify. The first is /usr/share/applications/gnome-tweak-tool.desktop:

I found this, will look into it later to see if it works.

Justin

[Märt Põder (boamaod)]

Hey, Justin, I think there is some special field inside this .desktop file to say it should be included in System Settings panel.

About broader topics... Of course there is demand for desktop widgets, but I think the demand is not strong enough to give rise to a good widgets framework for GNOME. Screenlets is actually not very well designed framework, if we compare it to KDE Plasmoids for example, which has data and presentation clearly separated etc. I think even GDesklets is better designed in this respect (if we don't think of some other flaws). Screenlets has lived for a long time and is been criticized a lot, there was an initiative to redesign it as https://launchpad.net/universal-applets but this was never finished. Some people work on GDesklets because they think it is better... I personally have tried to convince some devs to unite efforts to create a good widgets framework for GNOME (and modify GNOME itself to make it easier to provide widgets), but nobody has been interested enough. That's why about two years ago I took up responsibility to keep Screenlets working in latest Ubuntu versions. That's the main thing I have been doing and I personally don't have plans to engage myself in massive rewriting of Screenlets. I'd say porting Plasmoids framework could be even better idea. But I welcome everybody willing to try to enhance the situation and I can help a bit.