Bug 471824 - Search in start menu no longer finds original app names only localized one
Summary: Search in start menu no longer finds original app names only localized one
Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME
Alias: None
Product: krunner
Classification: Plasma
Component: general (show other bugs)
Version: 5.27.6
Platform: Manjaro Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Plasma Bugs List
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2023-07-01 08:57 UTC by Michał Dybczak
Modified: 2025-02-12 03:46 UTC (History)
4 users (show)

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Description Michał Dybczak 2023-07-01 08:57:49 UTC
SUMMARY
***
I'm not sure if it was introduced in this update or another one. In krunner pop-up window it works fine. I heard that search in start menu should be equal to krunner, but it isn't.

When I was looking for Discover in start menu, I was always typing "disco..." and that was it, the app was found. It is no longer true. Even typing full "discover" doesn't find it, only when I used localized name, which is "Odkrywca". I am used to an English name, and the Polish translation of this name feels weird to me.
Anyway, the regression is that previously search was finding the app by using English and localized name, now it's only localized. This creates a lot of issues, for example:i
Someone is looking for an app and finds a site in English. He/she installs the app, wants to launch it and... it becomes non-findable if there are many apps on the system. How do we know what localized name is used? The original name should be sacred and be strongly searchable, no matter what system language you use.
***


STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Use Plasma in non-English language, preferably in Polish one (the bug may not be happening on other languages)
2. Have/install Discover
3. Try to search for discover in the start menu or krunner

OBSERVED RESULT
Start menu doesn't find Discover by its English name

EXPECTED RESULT
Start menu should find Discover by its English name as well (as it was previously).


SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: Manjaro Linux 
KDE Plasma Version: 5.27.6
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.107.0
Qt Version: 5.15.10
Kernel Version: 6.4.0-1-MANJARO (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Processors: 8 × Intel® Core™ i7-6700HQ CPU @ 2.60GHz
Memory: 7.6 GiB of RAM
Graphics Processor: Mesa Intel® HD Graphics 530
Manufacturer: Alienware
Product Name: Alienware 17 R3
System Version: 1.13.1

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Comment 1 Nate Graham 2023-09-14 18:58:21 UTC
> I heard that search in start menu should be equal to krunner, but it isn't.
That's only in Plasma 6; in 5, it's different. I do recall some change surrounding matching search results in English when using another language but am unable to locate information on it. Do you remember, Alexander or Natalie?
Comment 2 Michał Dybczak 2023-09-14 19:36:41 UTC
Check in Plasma 5.27.8 and the issue is still there.

While some localized names are fine, others are just plain weird and we wouldn't use them. The original, English name is better in many cases. Just as you won't translate people's names in many books, the same applies for app names. Although, some translators do try to localize names, but it rarely comes out good. For the most part, it's awkward and sounds stupid.

Basically, to use a translated name, there has to some precedence or a history of using that localized name for a long time, so it was engraved in a community. However, even old programs are named originally. No one translates Firefox or Thunderbird, or Steam. It would be an unthinkable thing to do.

While I can still accept those awkward translations in the system, what is completely bonkers is that the system cannot find them when looking for their original names. It worked fine in the past, and now it's broken, so it feels like a regression, because a huge part of functionality is gone. Most likely, one won't remember the localized name and simply won't be able to find the app at all, so this is serious.
Comment 3 postix 2025-01-13 13:24:47 UTC
Can you still reproduce this bug? When I search for "Addressbook" it finds "Adressbuch" (KDE contact manager) in kicker on Plasma 6.2.5 for me. So is this report only valid for certain apps?
Comment 4 Michał Dybczak 2025-01-13 14:50:30 UTC
When I search for "Książka adresowa" (Addressbook) it finds one from Thunderbird, but Thunderbird is localized and there is no problem with that.

Discover name was changed into Discover, so it's no longer weirdly translated into Polish. Is there any other app that may have localized name to check? Only then the bug can be confirmed or not. Since most names of the apps are not translated (as it should be), it's hard to test it now ;). The biggest utility problem was with Discover, but since they reverted the translation, it's no longer valid. However, despite Discover being a localization offender in the past, showed the underlying concern that when someone decides to localize the app's name, it may no longer be findable by its original name, which is a problem, because originals are mostly known.
Comment 5 Michał Dybczak 2025-01-13 14:59:30 UTC
On a quick search:
Konsole -> Konsola (PL), no problem, but the names are too similar.
Kpat -> Pasjans (PL), doesn't find app, only shows options to run "kpat" as command, so that may indicate that the problem is still there. If I search for "solitaire", it doesn't find anything. So clearly, search has problems with translations.

Pamac app in Manjaro is showed as "Add or remove apps" and when searched by "pamac" it doesn't find anything.

I guess, the .desktop file should have an original name and sometimes localized ones, so the search should catch all of them. If it doesn't, it's very limited.

All issues in start/launch menu are the same when using Krunner. I assume both searches are basically the same, only in different places in UI?
Comment 6 Bug Janitor Service 2025-01-28 03:47:18 UTC
🐛🧹 ⚠️ This bug has been in NEEDSINFO status with no change for at least 15 days. Please provide the requested information, then set the bug status to REPORTED. If there is no change for at least 30 days, it will be automatically closed as RESOLVED WORKSFORME.

For more information about our bug triaging procedures, please read https://community.kde.org/Guidelines_and_HOWTOs/Bug_triaging.

Thank you for helping us make KDE software even better for everyone!
Comment 7 Bug Janitor Service 2025-02-12 03:46:50 UTC
🐛🧹 This bug has been in NEEDSINFO status with no change for at least 30 days. Closing as RESOLVED WORKSFORME.