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0e1f616
(Get the code!)
When Alt+Tab is presented as an application switcher, it MUST ACT AS AN APPLICATION SWITCHER. /steam from ears
This is how I, Andreas, and I assume most people new to Unity understand the Alt+Tab and Alt+` behaviour:
"Alt+Tab switches to the previously open application. Alt+` switches to the previously open windows within the current application. Multiple invocations of either will switch to the second, third, etc. most recent application / window."
The behaviour you are advocating sounds something like this:
"Alt+Tab switches to the previously open application. Unless your previous window* is from your current application, in which case it will switch to that. If you press Alt+Tab twice it you will switch to your second most recent application, unless your previous windows is from your current application, in which case it will switch to your most recent application, no matter what your second most recent window was. Alt+` switches to the previous window..."
* Alt+Tab is an application switcher, not a window switcher.
It is utterly bizarre and the cognitive load associated with tracking how many presses needed to get to each window is ridiculous (and totally unnecessary). Like Andreas, I was convinced that my setup was exhibiting some strange bug that I couldn't reproduce that caused Alt+Tab to fail on unspecified occasions. I've come here today, after years of enduring it, because it still frustrates me.
This Ask Ubuntu question[1] indicates that ~16000 people are also surprised by the current behaviour. Over the years, how many of those visitors do you think saw the only viable answer "don't use Unity switcher" and had positive thoughts about Unity? It looks unpolished and lazy and I'm astounded that there is no change 2 years on, while the alternatives fall out of the defaults.
(Collective) you must absolutely change the default behaviour and I implore you to make the change a top priority.
[1] http://
P.S. I'm sorry Marco, that it means breaking your workflow but simplicity must prevail. What you want is a window switcher, not an application switcher. Your exact workflow can remain supported through non-default settings though I put to you that unless the behaviour can be fully explained in one concise sentence, then it doesn't even deserve a place in the GUI.