Bug 513436 - Large Icons task switcher cuts off icons when many apps are open
Summary: Large Icons task switcher cuts off icons when many apps are open
Status: ASSIGNED
Alias: None
Product: kwin
Classification: Plasma
Component: tabbox (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: 6.5.2
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: KWin default assignee
URL:
Keywords: usability
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-12-16 13:24 UTC by twisst
Modified: 2025-12-19 12:57 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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


Attachments
main.qml for the big icons task switcher that makes icon size dynamic. (5.74 KB, text/plain)
2025-12-16 13:24 UTC, twisst
Details

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Description twisst 2025-12-16 13:24:06 UTC
Created attachment 187698 [details]
main.qml for the big icons task switcher that makes icon size dynamic.

The Large Icons task switcher scrolls the icons when there are too many to fit the screen. This happens when there are a lot of windows open. It is hiding the icons, which is making this task switcher much less useful.


STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Set task switcher visualization to 'Large Icons'.
2. Open a lot of applications.
3. Alt+Tab.

OBSERVED RESULT
Icons that do not fit the horizontal row are out of view.

EXPECTED RESULT
It should be scaling the icons down to keep them all in view. (This is how a certain other OS is doing it.)

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: 6.14.0-117036-tuxedo (64-bit)
KDE Plasma Version: 6.5.2 
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.19.0
Qt Version: 6.9.2

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
I applied a fix to the task switcher to change the behaviour on my machine. (I also took out the label with the application name and made the height of the panel dynamic as well so it wraps the scaled-down icons nicely.) I was looking where to offer it as a pull request but the original version in my distro (/usr/share/kwin/tabbox/big_icons/contents/ui/main.qml) does not match the one I found in the repository so that is why I attach the file here as an attachment so others may use it.
Comment 1 Nate Graham 2025-12-18 21:58:48 UTC
Wrapping to the next line would probably be better than scrolling here. That way everything is always in view.
Comment 2 Bug Janitor Service 2025-12-19 12:57:26 UTC
A possibly relevant merge request was started @ https://invent.kde.org/plasma/kdeplasma-addons/-/merge_requests/962