Bug 506500

Summary: Application's description is different in app list and search
Product: [Plasma] plasmashell Reporter: equeim
Component: Application Launcher (Kickoff) widgetAssignee: Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status: RESOLVED INTENTIONAL    
Severity: normal CC: john.kde, mikel5764, nate, niccolo, noahadvs, postix
Priority: NOR    
Version First Reported In: 6.4.1   
Target Milestone: 1.0   
Platform: Other   
OS: Linux   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments: Application list
Search

Description equeim 2025-07-02 20:10:00 UTC 
Created attachment 182875 [details]
Application list

SUMMARY
The description of an app when shown in the application list is taken from Comment key if it's present, otherwise from GenericName key. When search it's the opposite, GenericName is chosen if it's present and different from name, otherwise Comment.


STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Install an application that has both GenericName (which is different from Name) and Comment keys in its desktop entry (many applications have this, including KDE ones like NeoChat)
2. Find manually in the application list
3. Find it using search

OBSERVED RESULT
The description of application in the list is different when searching and when browsing the applications.

EXPECTED RESULT
The description is the same

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: openSUSE Tumbleweed
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.1
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.15.0
Qt Version: 6.9.1

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Relevant code:

Application list:
https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-workspace/-/blob/d15ee13d37ce11e6294f18876a171e7a7124f031/applets/kicker/appentry.cpp#L155

Search:
https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-workspace/-/blob/d15ee13d37ce11e6294f18876a171e7a7124f031/runners/services/servicerunner.cpp#L165
Comment 1 equeim 2025-07-02 20:10:13 UTC 
Created attachment 182876 [details]
Search
Comment 2 Nate Graham 2025-07-05 16:42:08 UTC 
See also https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-workspace/-/issues/164
Comment 3 Niccolò Venerandi 2025-10-21 08:36:06 UTC 
Though this looks weird, I think it's the correct approach and it will no longer look weird when https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-desktop/-/merge_requests/3251#note_1327101 lands; on search places, such as Krunner, we don't have much space for each search result, so we prefer to go with the GenericName instead of the Comment, which is usually compact enough to be shown in-line next to the application name. Kickoff currently has a custom search result implementation which would give it enough space, but we still prefer to use GenericName as all other search results use that one. Soon (hopefully!) the above MR will land and Kickoff will use exactly the same component as Krunner, which will have less space for each result (but will be able to show more results) and GenericName will be fully justified.