Post by enigma9o7 on Apr 13, 2021 21:08:25 GMT
I recently decided to try using Bodhi's "Everything Starter" to see how well it could be used as a launcher. I had previously used it with keyboard for searching for an app or using the calculator, but I hadn't really used it much with a mouse as an applications menu replacement. Most things work as expected with keyboard (tab for additional options, backspace for back, etc), but have learned it's not so great with mouse and only offers basic usability, not at all optimized for mouse usage.
The first issue is, it cannot be resized with mouse (or maximized) and for long time I didn't know it could be resized at all, but the settings panel does allow some limited resizing.
The next issue was the text under the icons was always truncated at higher scales, often seemingly unnecessarily, for example ellipses instead of two letters. I was recently taught ctrl+3 increases size, and that works to get the full text displayed! And, štefan has added a new feature to Moksha that adds a user control to set that permanently, which I've built for testing and expect will come to Bodhi in next Moksha update.
With geometry bumped up to 800x400, two rows of 6 icons fit with the scale up-sized one step. When up-sized two steps (which fits all text on default screen), 800x600 works for three rows, with 4x4 icons fitting at 800x800 but displaying an unnecessary scrollbar. Note 800x800 is the maximum size, which seems an arbitrary restriction. There are 13 icons displayed by default under categories and what seems to be an ever increasing number on the all tab and I don't see how restrict this. Due to the width restriction, I cannot make 7 fit when up-sized even one step, so cannot fit all 13 icons two rows.
1360x768 800x400 quicklanch scale+1 -vs- 1920x1080 800x800 quicklaunch +2
Biggest annoyance is, some actions require double click. I looked thru the settings but don't think I am missing an option to change behavior, am I? The tabs at the top and bottom respond to single click, but opening application categories and launching applications requires double click. This is unlike the behavior of start menu and ibar that launch with single click, or desktop icons that have a setting for single or double click.
On a slow computer this is especially annoying because, being used to single click launches on start menu and ibar, and also used to being patient after clicking before doing anything else, sometimes single click by habit and not realize until quite a while the reason the program still hasn't started is because it required double click, not single, and wasn't even launched.
I've also taught my kids don't click things twice, just once then be patient; this does not apply to this launcher!
I guess requiring double click for launching was to allow left click to select then another left click to select alternative actions at the top, but I think everyone has 2 button mouse these days and the one person that doesn't could just keyboard arrows and tab key:
I suggest use left click to open/launch, right click for the alternative actions tab.
The first issue is, it cannot be resized with mouse (or maximized) and for long time I didn't know it could be resized at all, but the settings panel does allow some limited resizing.
The next issue was the text under the icons was always truncated at higher scales, often seemingly unnecessarily, for example ellipses instead of two letters. I was recently taught ctrl+3 increases size, and that works to get the full text displayed! And, štefan has added a new feature to Moksha that adds a user control to set that permanently, which I've built for testing and expect will come to Bodhi in next Moksha update.
With geometry bumped up to 800x400, two rows of 6 icons fit with the scale up-sized one step. When up-sized two steps (which fits all text on default screen), 800x600 works for three rows, with 4x4 icons fitting at 800x800 but displaying an unnecessary scrollbar. Note 800x800 is the maximum size, which seems an arbitrary restriction. There are 13 icons displayed by default under categories and what seems to be an ever increasing number on the all tab and I don't see how restrict this. Due to the width restriction, I cannot make 7 fit when up-sized even one step, so cannot fit all 13 icons two rows.
Use as an Application Launcher
1360x768 800x400 quicklanch scale+1 -vs- 1920x1080 800x800 quicklaunch +2
Biggest annoyance is, some actions require double click. I looked thru the settings but don't think I am missing an option to change behavior, am I? The tabs at the top and bottom respond to single click, but opening application categories and launching applications requires double click. This is unlike the behavior of start menu and ibar that launch with single click, or desktop icons that have a setting for single or double click.
On a slow computer this is especially annoying because, being used to single click launches on start menu and ibar, and also used to being patient after clicking before doing anything else, sometimes single click by habit and not realize until quite a while the reason the program still hasn't started is because it required double click, not single, and wasn't even launched.
I've also taught my kids don't click things twice, just once then be patient; this does not apply to this launcher!
I guess requiring double click for launching was to allow left click to select then another left click to select alternative actions at the top, but I think everyone has 2 button mouse these days and the one person that doesn't could just keyboard arrows and tab key:
I suggest use left click to open/launch, right click for the alternative actions tab.
I believe this qualifies as an enhancement request for thewaiter ylee unless someone else steps up, but I think would be a nice improvement to Bodhi if implemented.
Additionally to make it even easier to use, (on 5 button mice) the mouse back button should go back, so user doesn't have to click the on-screen back tab when navigating with mouse. I automatically keep trying this and it never seems to work. Keep the back button there for people with 1-3 button mice tho. Keyboarder users have backspace which works already, as do most expected keyboard commands.
Use as Task Bar Replacement
Additionally to make it even easier to use, (on 5 button mice) the mouse back button should go back, so user doesn't have to click the on-screen back tab when navigating with mouse. I automatically keep trying this and it never seems to work. Keep the back button there for people with 1-3 button mice tho. Keyboarder users have backspace which works already, as do most expected keyboard commands.
Use as Task Bar Replacement
The Windows tab is similar to applications menu in regards to some double clicks required. I suggest left click to switch to window, right click for the window actions tab to be included with the above mentioned enhancement.
The issue I found with using it as a task bar replacement is the window actions tab is quite limited. I would like to see all the possibilities as if I right clicked on taskbar or clicked on the window icon, things like kill maximize restore borderless etc. It only has launch, iconify (minimize), and close, not living up to the "everything" in it's name!
I imagine that is more complicated and probably not as easy as making single click work everywhere, which by itself when combined with new geometry settings, makes it easier to launch and switch tasks with mouse, even without additional window actions, so this is completely separate issue, and not as important to me or I imagine other users.
Use as Start Menu Replacement
The issue I found with using it as a task bar replacement is the window actions tab is quite limited. I would like to see all the possibilities as if I right clicked on taskbar or clicked on the window icon, things like kill maximize restore borderless etc. It only has launch, iconify (minimize), and close, not living up to the "everything" in it's name!
I imagine that is more complicated and probably not as easy as making single click work everywhere, which by itself when combined with new geometry settings, makes it easier to launch and switch tasks with mouse, even without additional window actions, so this is completely separate issue, and not as important to me or I imagine other users.
Use as Start Menu Replacement
If it was good enough to use to remove start menu and remove taskbar modules, then the only thing I don't see another way in Moksha to launch without the start menu is the "About Operating System" Entry. I know there is a keyboard shortcut for restart moksha, but unless I'm already typing I tend to go thru start menu for that. So I guess to truly be an everything starter, need a way to get to that About OS stuff, or I still need a start menu. Maybe that's already possible, its configuration stuff in settings panel looks complicated and I dont understand it.