Bug 465091 - Closing last Kate doesn't do anything
Summary: Closing last Kate doesn't do anything
Status: RESOLVED NOT A BUG
Alias: None
Product: kate
Classification: Applications
Component: application (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: unspecified
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: KWrite Developers
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2023-01-31 21:12 UTC by Thomas-Luke Duffin
Modified: 2023-02-01 05:39 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:


Attachments
VSCode 'no tab' state (153.76 KB, image/png)
2023-01-31 21:12 UTC, Thomas-Luke Duffin
Details

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Description Thomas-Luke Duffin 2023-01-31 21:12:42 UTC
Created attachment 155834 [details]
VSCode 'no tab' state

SUMMARY
In web browsers and tabbed text editors such as VSCode, closing the last tab usually closes the whole app. In the case of VSCode, closing the last open tab leaves a handful of helpful keyboard shortcuts in place of where the tab view is normally shown. I've left a screenshot for this particular case.

Currently, Kate's tab offers a "Close" button, but trying to click it just makes the tab flicker and remain open. It introduces a minor amount of jank to the end user since a close button should usually allow for some kind of "close" behaviour. Doing nothing in this case feels confusing when using Kate as a new user.

There's a few ideal solutions here. As I'm quite new to KDE I'm not sure what meets your HIG best:
1. Close the tab, showing some basic "get started" content where the tabbed content would normally be (like VSCode)
2. Close the whole app (like most modern browsers)
3. Remove the close control on the last tab entirely (feels like this may be an annoying UX choice)
4. Close the tab, and replace it with the welcome/get started tab that cannot be closed.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Open Kate
2. Attempt to close all of the open tabs

OBSERVED RESULT
Tab flickers a little bit, but ultimately does nothing

EXPECTED RESULT
Does *something*

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Attached screenshot of VSCode's 'no tab' state for reference.
Comment 1 Justin Zobel 2023-02-01 05:39:18 UTC
This is just the default behaviour. If you want it to close when the last tab is closed, change the option in Settings > Session > Enable "Close the application entirely when the last file is closed"