Bug 314998 - Please explain the meaning of vsync in the config gui
Summary: Please explain the meaning of vsync in the config gui
Status: RESOLVED FIXED
Alias: None
Product: kwin
Classification: Plasma
Component: scene-opengl (show other bugs)
Version: 4.10.0
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR wishlist
Target Milestone: 4.11
Assignee: KWin default assignee
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2013-02-12 14:46 UTC by Murph Finnicum
Modified: 2013-05-18 18:41 UTC (History)
0 users

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Description Murph Finnicum 2013-02-12 14:46:04 UTC
A lot of the options on this tab could use some explanation. Maybe on the page, or by tooltip, or on the help page.

For example, "Compositing type: OpenGL or XRender". Why would I choose one or the other. Is there a guideline like "Option X is best if it works"?

Ditto for Qt Graphics System.

Under OpenGL options, "Use OpenGL 2 Shaders" is pretty ambiguous. Wikipedia tells me OpenGL 4.3 is out. Does this mean you'd use OpenGL 1 shaders if I had it unchecked? Or openGL 3 or 4 shaders? Am I forcing it to always use OpenGL 2 or allowing it to run effects that require OpenGL 2?

Use VSync: I know what VSync is .. but why would I care? Will it affect something noticible?

Reproducible: Always
Comment 1 Thomas Lübking 2013-02-12 15:14:47 UTC
(In reply to comment #1)

> Ditto for Qt Graphics System.
There /is/ a tooltip - it also mentiones GL compositing being the default.
 
> Under OpenGL options, "Use OpenGL 2 Shaders" is pretty ambiguous.
There /is/ a tooltip.

> Use VSync: I know what VSync is .. but why would I care? Will it affect
> something noticible?
Currently not. vsync is in a way conceptually broken in kwin.

Leaving the ebkac errors out the required information is on "should i use xrender or gl and why" and "what does vertical synchronisation mean"

VSync could have a mention about "tearless but lags a frame" notice once it actually works correctly, but the choice about the backend requires a WP/techbase entry. That cannot be reasonably judged or explained in a GUI - no way.
Comment 2 Murph Finnicum 2013-02-12 15:33:10 UTC
I'm sorry. I apparently had opened the drop-down to view the choices, and the tooltip doesn't display while it's opened.

Maybe I could suggest adding a little ? icon next to items with tooltips? I know some programs do that. It might make things more obvious for users who don't use a mouse, too.
Comment 3 Martin Flöser 2013-02-12 15:43:55 UTC
Personal opionion: that tab is called "Advanced" for a good reason. If you don't know what it means, don't change there anything.

I don't think it's possible to explain these stuff in a way that would allow users to properly understand it. E.g. the difference between XRender and OpenGL. If I would describe it properly it would end in something that users would think XRender is the better choice.

All I could think of is adding a warning: do not change unless you know what you are doing. Going the GNOME way is no solution as I need that advanced dialog for development ;-)
Comment 4 Murph Finnicum 2013-02-12 16:04:25 UTC
The tooltip on the "qt graphics system" dropdown is actually a pretty good explanation, if it was more noticeable.

There's no default for the Qt Graphics System, it just stays on whichever value I last selected. I tried to just revert my settings to default, but couldn't figure out what default was. That's why I started trying to figure out what I wanted.
Comment 5 Martin Flöser 2013-05-18 18:41:50 UTC
The VSync UI has been reworked for 4.11.