Desktop Icons NG steals keyboard focus from apps after workspace switch

[Sergey Ivanov]

Steps to reproduce:

1) Setup at least two workspaces.

2) open at least one GUI application on one of them. Another one is focused and no application opened.

3) switch workspaces from 'empty' to 'with application'

Expected result: last focused GUI application from the new focused workspace will be auto-focused again. And all shortcuts right after the switch will be applicable to a given application.

Actual result: application is not focused, all shortcuts are applicable to desktop only.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 22.04
Package: gnome-shell 42.0-2ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.15.0-25.25-generic 5.15.30
Uname: Linux 5.15.0-25-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu82
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Wed Apr 20 12:17:48 2022
DisplayManager: gdm3
RelatedPackageVersions: mutter-common 42.0-3ubuntu2
SourcePackage: gnome-shell
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

This might have the same root cause as bug 1928317.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

I can't seem to reproduce the problem myself...

Please try disabling the 'Desktop Icons NG' extension in the Extensions app (may require logging in again) and then tell us if the bug persists.

[Joolz (joolz)]

@daniel thanks for the tip!

Disabling seems to solve the focus issue, but now there's no more desktop icons (duh :) )

Personally I use the desktop icons all the time, anything that needs immediate attention goes to the desktop, disabling that would (for me) not be a workaround, but a choice between two evils.

If 'Desktop Icons NG' is the root of the issue, maybe the ticket should be filed there?

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Sounds like a tricky problem because Desktop Icons NG is itself an application that is allowed to take focus (when appropriate).

[Joolz (joolz)]

Then somehow in between 21.10 and 22.04 there was a change in the behaviour of Desktop Icons NG, as in: when is grabbing focus appropriate.

If the new behaviour is preferred by the author, it would be nice for the end-user to have the option to toggle between the old and the new behaviour.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

I doubt the new behaviour is preferred by the author or anyone. Seems like a mistake. Please report it to: https://gitlab.com/rastersoft/desktop-icons-ng/-/issues

[Joolz (joolz)]

@daniel: thanks for the link, bug filed: https://gitlab.com/rastersoft/desktop-icons-ng/-/issues/235