Bug 510039 - fuzzy matching in application search gives nonsensical results for short queries
Summary: fuzzy matching in application search gives nonsensical results for short queries
Status: ASSIGNED
Alias: None
Product: plasmashell
Classification: Plasma
Component: Application Launcher (Kickoff) widget (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: 6.4.80
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: 1.0
Assignee: Plasma Bugs List
URL:
Keywords: regression
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-09-29 08:06 UTC by Nicolas Fella
Modified: 2025-10-01 10:10 UTC (History)
4 users (show)

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

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2025-09-29 08:06 UTC, Nicolas Fella 		Details
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Description Nicolas Fella 2025-09-29 08:06:30 UTC 
Created attachment 185354 [details]
Screenshot

Since the introduction of fuzzy matching in the application search the results have become very poor and unpredictable, particularly with short search terms.

For example:

"ru" gives "Systemmonitor" as first result instead of something sensible like "Ruqola"
"do" gives "Oracle Virtualbox" instead of something sensible like "Dolphin"
"e" gives "Kate" instead of something sensible like "Element"
Comment 1 Bug Janitor Service 2025-09-29 08:22:45 UTC 
A possibly relevant merge request was started @ https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-workspace/-/merge_requests/5871
Comment 2 postix 2025-09-29 12:37:18 UTC 
What about a combination of both: Use the old algorithm for short terms and fuzzy for longer?
Comment 3 Bug Janitor Service 2025-10-01 10:10:44 UTC 
A possibly relevant merge request was started @ https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-workspace/-/merge_requests/5880