strange window focus across multiple workspaces

[Steve Langasek]

On my system, I use multiple workspaces across multiple monitors. (I don't at this point remember how I configured multiple workspaces; I know it's not in the default gnome-settings UI anymore, I thought I had configured it via gnome-tweaks but I also don't find it in gnome-tweaks today.)

In kinetic, the behavior was that when switching between workspaces, only windows on the primary display would swap; windows on the secondary display would persist across workspaces. Weird, unexpected, but ok I adapted and made use of it.

In lunar, the behavior is the same *except* that when switching workspaces, instead of the window focus returning to whichever window was previously in the foreground on that workspace, the focus jumps to the window on the secondary display. This is unexpected and unhelpful.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 23.04
Package: gnome-shell 44.0-2ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.2.0-20.20-generic 6.2.6
Uname: Linux 6.2.0-20-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: zfs zunicode zavl icp zcommon znvpair
ApportVersion: 2.26.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Fri May 26 22:20:02 2023
DisplayManager: gdm3
InstallationDate: Installed on 2019-12-23 (1250 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine" - Release amd64 (20191017)
RebootRequiredPkgs: Error: path contained symlinks.
RelatedPackageVersions: mutter-common 44.0-2ubuntu4
SourcePackage: gnome-shell
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to lunar on 2023-05-11 (15 days ago)

[Jeremy Bícha (jbicha)]

The settings you are looking for may be in the Settings app (gnome-control-center) on the Multitasking page.

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

Thanks, had no idea the 'multitasking' tab was there (and seems a non-obvious name for this stuff).

Even if I select the option for 'Workspaces on all displays' option, or choose the "Include apps from the current workspace only" option under "App Switching", the problem with window focus when switching workspaces persists.

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

(By which I mean - when switching workspaces, the previously-foregrounded window is not focused; wherever the focus is, it's not on any window I expect.)

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Try disabling the Desktop Icons NG extension (bug 1969598), although the attached config suggests you already did?

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng/+bug/1969598/comments/4 says to disable it "in the Extensions app". What is the Extensions app?

I find there is a 'gnome-shell-extensions-tool' which I can run from the commandline, but it doesn't let me *list* extensions so I have no idea what argument it takes.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Usually:

  apt install gnome-shell-extension-prefs

to install the GUI (see also bug 2015049). The CLI equivalent should be:

  gnome-extensions list --enabled

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

On Mon, May 29, 2023 at 07:10:53AM -0000, Daniel van Vugt wrote:
> Usually:

> apt install gnome-shell-extension-prefs

> to install the GUI (see also bug 2015049). The CLI equivalent should be:

> gnome-extensions list --enabled

$ gnome-extensions list --enabled
<email address hidden>
<email address hidden>
<email address hidden>
$

Doesn't seem to have any mention of Icons NG

--
Steve Langasek Give me a lever long enough and a Free OS
Debian Developer to set it on, and I can move the world.
Ubuntu Developer https://www.debian.org/
<email address hidden> <email address hidden>

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

It's this one -> <email address hidden>

So try disabling that to confirm this is bug 1969598.

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

Confirmed, 'gnome-extensions disable <email address hidden>' resolves it.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Alright, moving to bug 1969598 then.

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

The problem has recurred, and according to 'gnome-extensions list', <email address hidden> is enabled again. Running 'gnome-extensions disable <email address hidden>' again does not remove it from the list. What's going on here?

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Was that with:

  gnome-extensions list --enabled

or just:

  gnome-extensions list

which will list even disabled extensions?

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

On Wed, May 31, 2023 at 04:02:16AM -0000, Daniel van Vugt wrote:
> *** This bug is a duplicate of bug 1969598 ***
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1969598

> Was that with:

> gnome-extensions list --enabled

> or just:

> gnome-extensions list

> which will list even disabled extensions?

The latter.

Confirmed that it does not appear in the output of

    gnome-extensions list --enabled

However, I'm still seeing the buggy behavior when switching workspaces.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Fair enough. It's likely mutter stealing the focus for whatever is getting the focus. And somehow I only just noticed that bug 2020672 describes the same.