Bug 507734

Summary:	Add inertial scrolling for touchpads (scrollable desktop mode)
Product:	[Plasma] plasmashell	Reporter:	Fernando M. Muniz <fernandommuniz>
Component:	Desktop icons & Folder View widget	Assignee:	Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status:	RESOLVED INTENTIONAL
Severity:	wishlist	CC:	hein, kdedev, nate, plasma-bugs-null
Priority:	NOR	Keywords:	usability
Version First Reported In:	6.4.3
Target Milestone:	1.0
Platform:	Arch Linux
OS:	Linux
See Also:	https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=507733
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Fernando M. Muniz 2025-08-01 10:55:06 UTC

+++ This bug was initially created as a clone of Bug #507733 +++

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Have an scrollable desktop, by having items beyond the screen size.
2. Quickly and strongly swipe the touchpad over the items off screen.

OBSERVED RESULT
The scrolling stops when the fingers leave the touchpad, regardless of speed.

EXPECTED RESULT
Due to how touchpad works, letting it go after swiping should have an artificial inertia effect (smooth scrolling).

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: Arch Linux 
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.3
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.16.0
Qt Version: 6.9.1
Kernel Version: 6.15.8-arch1-2 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland
Processors: 8 × 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-11300H @ 3.10GHz
Memory: 9 GB of RAM (8.1 GB usable)
Graphics Processor 1: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
Graphics Processor 2: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Manufacturer: LENOVO
Product Name: 82MG
System Version: IdeaPad Gaming 3 15IHU6

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
I guess it's fine as is for mouses.

Comment 1 TraceyC 2025-08-05 20:22:34 UTC

I'm not sure this needs to be done separately from bug 507733, it might be done at the input level rather than for each settings area, but the developers will determine that

Comment 2 Fernando M. Muniz 2025-08-14 05:37:31 UTC

(In reply to TraceyC from comment #1)
> I'm not sure this needs to be done separately from bug 507733, it might be
> done at the input level rather than for each settings area, but the
> developers will determine that

It seems like it was done separately. In 6.4.4 System Settings has smooth scrolling, but the Desktop's scrollbar remains being abnormally slow and without inertia/smooth scrolling.

Comment 3 Nate Graham 2025-08-14 14:59:26 UTC

What you're asking for is inertial scrolling, not smooth scrolling. See https://community.kde.org/Get_Involved/Design/Frequently_Discussed_Topics#Names_of_different_scrolling_effects

Regardless, we're planning to remove the "scrollable desktop" feature as it causes an endless set of bugs and UX issues, so I don't see us adding new functionality to it, sorry.

Comment 4 Fernando M. Muniz 2025-08-14 15:03:33 UTC

(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #3)
> What you're asking for is inertial scrolling, not smooth scrolling. See
> https://community.kde.org/Get_Involved/Design/
> Frequently_Discussed_Topics#Names_of_different_scrolling_effects
> 
> Regardless, we're planning to remove the "scrollable desktop" feature as it
> causes an endless set of bugs and UX issues, so I don't see us adding new
> functionality to it, sorry.

It doesn't seem to mention the line-by-line scrolling that is done on Konsole.

Comment 5 Nate Graham 2025-08-14 15:12:37 UTC

That's the absence of smooth scrolling.