Bug 483248 - Empty task switcher widget when no application windows
Summary: Empty task switcher widget when no application windows
Status: RESOLVED INTENTIONAL
Alias: None
Product: kwin
Classification: Plasma
Component: general (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: 6.0.1
Platform: Arch Linux Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: KWin default assignee
URL:
Keywords: qt6
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2024-03-11 14:57 UTC by Juris
Modified: 2024-03-12 15:38 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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


Attachments
Screenshot showing an empty task switcher widget (280.31 KB, image/png)
2024-03-11 14:57 UTC, Juris
Details
Show desktop setting (97.54 KB, image/png)
2024-03-12 15:36 UTC, Juris
Details

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Description Juris 2024-03-11 14:57:00 UTC
Created attachment 166960 [details]
Screenshot showing an empty task switcher widget

SUMMARY

After an upgrade to Plasma 6 I noticed that on an empty desktop e.g. no application windows, when triggering task switcher with Alt+Tab, an empty widget appears. I recall that it was not the case with Plasma 5.27. IIRC there were no empty widgets, to user it looked like no-op if no windows to show in task switcher.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Make sure to have an empy workspace/desktop, there should be no applications runnig e.g. no application windows.
2. Trigger task switcher via keyboard shortcut Alt+Tab.

OBSERVED RESULT
Notice an "empty widget popping up"

EXPECTED RESULT
There should be no empty widgets. If there are no windows to switch - there should be no indication to the user as it was in Plasma 5.27.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: Arch Linux 
KDE Plasma Version: 6.0.1
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.0.0
Qt Version: 6.6.2
Kernel Version: 6.7.9-arch1-1 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland
Processors: 12 × AMD Ryzen 5 5600G with Radeon Graphics
Memory: 15,5 GiB of RAM
Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
See attached screenshot.I have not tested all task switches, but this behavior is present at least for default "Compact" switcher, "Thumbnail Grid", "Large Icons".
Comment 1 Zamundaaa 2024-03-11 15:09:34 UTC
This is intentional, nothing happening when you press the shortcut is weird. It should maybe show something nice instead of an empty rectangle though
Comment 2 Juris 2024-03-11 15:58:37 UTC
(In reply to Zamundaaa from comment #1)
> This is intentional, nothing happening when you press the shortcut is weird.
> It should maybe show something nice instead of an empty rectangle though

I am not a UX expert. I can agree that perhaps "nothing happening" may be a frustrating experience. At the same time I think Plasma 5.27 had different behavior, I cannot verify it right now, I have no machine with plasma 5.27 around. Maybe it used to be that a "desktop" icon/thumbnail was used in the case of no windows so as not to have empty widget.
In any case, current Plasma 6 take is weird and I would say behavior has been degraded. Especially when "Compact" task switcher is used, you get a "sausage" empty widget.
Comment 3 Nate Graham 2024-03-11 19:23:38 UTC
This is an intentional change in Plasma 6. In 6.1, it will look nicer, with a message in the empty box saying "no windows open" or something like that.
Comment 4 Juris 2024-03-12 15:36:43 UTC
Created attachment 167045 [details]
Show desktop setting
Comment 5 Juris 2024-03-12 15:38:26 UTC
For time being, I enabled "show desktop" setting for task switcher. I prefer one more element in task switcher rather than an ugly incomplete widget.