Bug 489480 - Main window should be convergent for devices with limited screen resolutions
Summary: Main window should be convergent for devices with limited screen resolutions
Status: CONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: systemsettings
Classification: Applications
Component: general (show other bugs)
Version: 6.1.1
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR wishlist
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Plasma Bugs List
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2024-06-30 08:54 UTC by Ellie
Modified: 2024-07-22 19:15 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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


Attachments
KDE System Settings after opening them, they don't fit on the screen (297.38 KB, image/jpeg)
2024-06-30 08:54 UTC, Ellie
Details

Note You need to log in before you can comment on or make changes to this bug.
Description Ellie 2024-06-30 08:54:44 UTC
Created attachment 171197 [details]
KDE System Settings after opening them, they don't fit on the screen

SUMMARY

It appears to be the case that on some touch screens, the settings window opens up too large and cannot be moved around. See attached photo, the tile bar isn't even visible. Since this makes it kind of hard to use, it would be nice if it spawned at a proper size that fit the screen to start with, especially since resizing windows doesn't seem to work with touch screens either.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE

1. Install a regular desktop distribution on a Steam Deck, for example. Or any other touch device with a smaller screen
2. Launch settings

OBSERVED RESULT

Settings window launches larger than screen. You will most likely be unable to move it around. Resizing windows generally doesnt seem to work as a plasma issue, so that way it's not fixable either (although I legit don't know if it would even allow resizing to a smaller size, but it should).

EXPECTED RESULT

Settings window makes better use of scrollbars and doesn't launch too large.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS

Windows: 
macOS: 
Linux/KDE Plasma: postmarketOS Edge
(available in About System)
KDE Plasma Version: 6.1.1
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.3.0
Qt Version: 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Comment 1 Nate Graham 2024-07-02 20:44:01 UTC
Looks like you're running a Steam Deck with a 3rd-party distro that defaults to Wayland, and it auto-detected a scale factor that was inappropriately high for this device. That caused the effective resolution to be too small.
Comment 2 Ellie 2024-07-02 20:52:01 UTC
I tried a smaller scale factor but that makes it really hard to hit anything. So I think given the screen size, the scale factor is appropriate. Can I change the bug title back? IMHO the proper fix for this would be to make KDE System Settings work with smaller sizes, since I didn't see any content area in it that couldn't in theory just make better use of scrollbars.
Comment 3 Ellie 2024-07-02 20:56:08 UTC Comment hidden (spam)
Comment 4 Ellie 2024-07-02 20:57:30 UTC Comment hidden (spam)
Comment 5 Nate Graham 2024-07-02 21:16:51 UTC
Steam Deck's Desktop Mode has that name for a reason; it's designed to be used in a desktop configuration with desktop apps. Desktop apps are big and dense, and aren't all optimized for convergence (in fact, most aren't).

Ideally this wouldn't be the case and every app would be perfectly convergent. However we and the rest of the FOSS ecosystem are unfortunately very far from that platonic ideal.
Comment 6 Ellie 2024-07-02 22:03:13 UTC
Most desktop apps I use fit this screen size, so it would be nice if KDE System Settings could eventually get there as well. However, I understand this is low priority.

The thing is that the Steam Deck is just about too large for a phone interface to makes sense, but a regular tinier desktop scaler also doesn't work well for hitting things with your finger (for a mouse it would be fine, but I feel like the Steam Deck really wants you to use the touch screen). So the device sits in an awkward middle spot, where maybe just scaling the regular desktop apps a little better might be the best approach.

As for SteamOS and its desktop mode, I don't really like it for various reasons. It doesn't feel to me like it has had a lot of thought put into it for real world use, which I understand given the Steam Deck's priorities, but that means it's not the greatest point of inspiration here if you ask me.
Comment 7 Ellie 2024-07-03 20:34:01 UTC
I tried to change the title to something that sort of unifies both of the points brought up above. I hope that's okay and productive.