Bug 504395

Since this change: https://invent.kde.org/plasma/kwin/-/commit/a136a159f92a41cce749eb96b5f4e8c61265c1c3

there is now this text in KCM: 

"Some legacy X11 apps require the ability to read keystrokes typed in other apps for certain features, such as handling global keyboard shortcuts. This is allowed by default. However other features may require the ability to read all keys, and this is disabled by default for security reasons. If you need to use such apps, you can choose your preferred balance of security and functionality here."

It can be seen deployed in the UI here: https://blogs.kde.org/2025/05/17/this-week-in-plasma-hdr-calibration-wizard/xwayland-app-keyboard-and-pointer-control-option.png

I read the text three times and had to dig up the commit that added it to understand what was going on. How do global shortcuts differ from all keys? What is allowed by default? (you can argue that you see what is default, but imagine a scenario when you change th default, forget about it and then come accross this settings page years later.)

A better version would be:
"Some legacy X11 apps need to read keystrokes typed in other apps for certain features, such as handling global keyboard shortcuts that use modifier keys like Control, Alt, Meta or Shift. This is allowed by default. However other features may require the ability to read everything, even single keystrokes. This is disabled by default for security reasons. If you need to use such apps, you can choose your preferred balance of security and functionality here."

Also, there are two options:

1) Only Meta, Control, Alt and Shift keys
2) As above, plus any key typed while the Control, Alt, or Meta keys are pressed

Do I get it right that when 1) is checked, only pressing Meta/Control/Alt/Shift is send to the X application and that when 2) is checked, additionally things like CTRL+A or Meta+D or CTRL+ALT+Backspace are passed but not for example "SHIFT+A"? If so, then maybe the second name should be

"As above, plus any key typed while the Control, Alt, or Meta keys (but not Shift) are pressed"

Now it is ambigious if Shift is not mentioned in 2) intentionally or if it is an omission.