Bug 498404

Summary:	Plasma doesn't update applications list properly
Product:	[Plasma] plasmashell	Reporter:	Damglador <vse.stopchanskyi>
Component:	general	Assignee:	Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status:	RESOLVED NOT A BUG
Severity:	major	CC:	aleixpol, kde
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	6.2.4
Target Milestone:	1.0
Platform:	Arch Linux
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Damglador 2025-01-08 23:49:18 UTC

SUMMARY
Sometimes if I add a .desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications/ they don't show up in app launcher or in the "Open with" menu.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Add or edit a proper .desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications
2. Try to find it in application launcher or "Open with" menu
3. If it's there, repeat

OBSERVED RESULT
The entry for the .desktop file is missing or not updated. It updated for me one time when I initially added RML.desktop, but then no files I added to the applications folder showed up in the app launcher or "Open with" menu. 

EXPECTED RESULT
The entry for the .desktop file should be added to applications after it's added in the applications folder. Changes applied to the file should also apply in "Open with" and applications menu

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: Arch Linux
KDE Plasma Version: 6.2.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.9.0
Qt Version: 6.8.1

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Related to https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=465646 and this https://discuss.kde.org/t/is-there-a-cache-of-desktop-files-and-can-it-be-easily-cleared/6350 discussion

Comment 1 Damglador 2025-01-09 01:42:36 UTC

Seems like update-desktop-database does what's needed

Comment 2 Damglador 2025-01-09 01:49:39 UTC

It doesn't update only when files are changed, but I don't think it's reasonable to check for every file change in applications folder to update a random app entry change.