Bug 444007

Summary:	Swap layout when Kickoff launched in upper position
Product:	[Plasma] plasmashell	Reporter:	gudvinr+kde
Component:	Application Launcher (Kickoff) widget	Assignee:	David Edmundson <kde>
Status:	RESOLVED INTENTIONAL
Severity:	normal	CC:	mat.mueller, mikel5764, nate, plasma-bugs-null
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	5.23.0
Target Milestone:	1.0
Platform:	Other
OS:	Linux
See Also:	https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=442981
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description gudvinr+kde 2021-10-19 00:38:57 UTC

SUMMARY

In Plasma 5.23 Kickoff buttons were moved to the bottom. While it might be a good solution for default panel placement, it was convenient to use when Kickoff is opened sticked to the top.
Now instead of making less movement you need to make more.

I suggest to either swap switchers when Kickoff at the top or make it configurable.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Open Kickoff at the top left corner

OBSERVED RESULT

Observe layout inconvenient to use in this position

EXPECTED RESULT

Layout more useful in this position

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: Arch Linux
KDE Plasma Version: 5.23.0
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.87.0
Qt Version: 5.15.2
Kernel Version: 5.14.12-arch1-1 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11

Comment 1 Nate Graham 2021-10-19 02:19:50 UTC

We considered doing this, but we had complaints about the reversed layout, and ultimately we couldn't reverse *everything*; un-reversed search results were important for example. And hacing the header" at the bottom did look a bit weird. In the end we decided to do away with the dynamism and just use the same layout in all cases for simplicity's sake.

Comment 2 gudvinr+kde 2021-10-19 09:36:34 UTC

It really sucks.

While I don't use power/session controls very often, I use application/places switcher quite a lot.
Given that user indicator is completely useless compared to that switcher this change is very distracting and makes me irrationally angry.

Comment 3 Nate Graham 2021-10-19 13:39:26 UTC

I'm sorry you feel that way. Hopefully you can get used to it over time.

Comment 4 gudvinr+kde 2021-10-19 14:24:25 UTC

Nope, I don't think so. New Kickoff was good because it was usable when you place it on top. Old version was painful to use in a same way it's now.

Most common task that I use Kickoff for is to open "Places" and jump into commonly used directories. And now again it requires to move mouse to the bottom after several months of great launcher experience.

Please, make it possible to at least swap username and application/places switcher using configuration menu.
User avatar and name is non functional in any meaningful way compared to that switcher.

Searchbar location doesn't matter at all because you can start typing and it's as fast as it was to access search results. It can be left where it is for all I care.

Comment 5 Nate Graham 2021-10-19 14:38:54 UTC

Yeah, excessive difficulty to reach recents is a valid complaint. That's being tracked in Bug 442981; let's continue there.

We may end up reconsidering this.

Comment 6 Nate Graham 2021-10-26 14:15:48 UTC

*** Bug 444424 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***