Default delay time of 200ms for static application switcher is too long

[Ryan Prior]

Binary package hint: unity

While using alt-tab to switch windows and holding tab, waiting for the switcher to appear, 200ms is enough time to wonder whether the keypress was registered. It contributes to a feeling of lethargy on the part of the window manager.

In order to provide a worry-free feel to the static application switcher applet, the delay time should be reduced. I propose 33ms, or about the space of one "frame" in a standard 30FPS video.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: unity 3.8.6-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic x86_64
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,mousepoll,vpswitch,regex,animation,snap,expo,move,compiztoolbox,place,grid,imgpng,gnomecompat,wall,ezoom,workarounds,staticswitcher,resize,fade,unitymtgrabhandles,scale,session,unityshell]
Date: Tue Apr 12 13:44:55 2011
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Beta amd64 (20110330)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_US:en
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Omer Akram (om26er)]

this delay was also set to 0ms for a few days but it turned out it created a few problems in certain cases so was reverted. I have added ayatana-design and setting the status to incomplete for unity bugs as we wait for a response from people involved in the design of the desktop.

[Robert Carr (robertcarr)]

Actually had someone I met at a coffee shop tell me he didn't use Unity because the alt tab switcher felt unresponsive. This is worth fixing, design teaaaaaam?

[pablomme (pablomme)]

Oneiric has a new, more functional, unity-specific Alt-Tab switcher, with a non-configurable delay (it seems to be set to 150ms, judging by the source code). I think this bug is a "wontfix" (since it only affects natty's defaults, and natty was released over 4 months ago), and another one should be filed if anyone thinks that the unity Alt-Tab facility in oneiric needs a shorter delay, and/or that the delay needs to be configurable instead of hard-coded.

[John Lea (johnlea)]

Marked won't fix as this bug is reported against the Natty Alt-tab switcher that is no longer being developed.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for unity because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for unity (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]