Bug 511921 - Feature request: add custom mapping in .desktop file for audio stream
Summary: Feature request: add custom mapping in .desktop file for audio stream
Status: CONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: plasmashell
Classification: Plasma
Component: Task Manager and Icons-Only Task Manager widgets (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: 6.5.1
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR wishlist
Target Milestone: 1.0
Assignee: Plasma Bugs List
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-11-10 15:43 UTC by Christian (Fuchs)
Modified: 2025-11-17 23:01 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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Description Christian (Fuchs) 2025-11-10 15:43:17 UTC
SUMMARY
The task manager allows to show a volume control (and, less important for me, a mute icon) for applications that are playing back sound. However, this only works if the audio stream in pulse/pipewire matches the application name. For some applications this isn't the case, the first example coming to mind are mpd frontends such as cantata. 
For these it would be nice if a line could be added in the .desktop file to add a match string so these could be matched up. Something like

X-KDE-Audiooutputname=blob

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1.  (It's just an example, but a working one)   Install cantata, for the sake of simplicity use the integrated mpd
2.  Start the application and play some music
3.  Try to control the volume via the task manager

OBSERVED RESULT
You can't, as it doesn't match the audio playback to that app

EXPECTED RESULT
You can


Note: this is _NOT_ a bug in applications such as cantata and can't be fixed there. Basically any app that separates the control / frontend from the backend has this issue, so please don't suggest fixing it there.
Comment 1 Bug Janitor Service 2025-11-10 16:33:46 UTC
Thank you for the bug report!

However Plasma 6.3.0 no longer receives updates or maintenance from KDE; active versions are 6.4 or newer. Please upgrade to an active version as soon as your distribution makes it available to you. Plasma is a fast-moving project, and bugs in one version are often fixed in the next one.

If you need help with Plasma 6.3.0, please contact your distribution, who bears the responsibility of providing help for older releases that are no longer receiving updates from KDE.

If you can reproduce the issue after upgrading to an active version, feel free to re-open this bug report.
Comment 2 TraceyC 2025-11-17 23:01:28 UTC
This seems worth considering.