| Summary: | [UX] No feedback on launch failure for non-executable applications | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product: | [Frameworks and Libraries] frameworks-kio | Reporter: | Daniil <lenchikov.daniil> |
| Component: | general | Assignee: | KIO Bugs <kio-bugs-null> |
| Status: | CONFIRMED --- | ||
| Severity: | minor | CC: | kdelibs-bugs-null, mikel5764, nate, noahadvs |
| Priority: | NOR | Keywords: | usability |
| Version First Reported In: | 6.19.0 | ||
| Target Milestone: | --- | ||
| Platform: | Fedora RPMs | ||
| OS: | Linux | ||
| Latest Commit: | Version Fixed/Implemented In: | ||
| Sentry Crash Report: | |||
STEPS TO REPRODUCE 1. Place an application executable in a any directory (e.g., download an binary file and move it to /opt). 2. Using Dolphin, navigate to the executable file, open its Properties, and go to the Permissions tab. 3. Ensure the "Is executable" checkbox is unchecked. This is the default state for many downloaded files. 4. Right-click the Application Launcher icon and select "Edit Applications..." to open the KDE Menu Editor. 5. In the Menu Editor, create a new item. Set its "Command" to the path of the executable file from step 1 and save it. 6. Open the Application Launcher, find the newly created entry, and click it. OBSERVED RESULT The Application Launcher closes, but the application does not start. There is no feedback, error message, or notification. The system fails silently, leaving the user to guess what went wrong. EXPECTED RESULT Ideally, an error notification should appear with clear, actionable feedback. For example: "Could not launch [Application Name]. The file is not marked as executable." However, even a more generic notification would be a vast improvement. A simple message like "Launch failed: Permission denied" would inform the user that the action failed and provide a crucial clue for troubleshooting. SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS Operating System: Fedora Linux 42 KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.5 KDE Frameworks Version: 6.19.0 Qt Version: 6.9.3 Kernel Version: 6.17.5-200.fc42.x86_64 (64-bit) Graphics Platform: Wayland ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This issue occurs during a very common workflow for users who install software manually. When a launcher is created using the official KDE Menu Editor, the user expects it to either work or provide a clear error if it cannot. The current silent failure is a significant UX issue that can be mistaken for a system bug. Providing feedback for this case would be a major quality-of-life improvement.