GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 623706
drop grid mode window picker
Last modified: 2010-12-04 01:31:22 UTC
I'm not sure the benefit of having grid mode is clear anymore. It is visually pretty ugly and I don't really know a good way to fix that and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be worth the effort. There may be some value in having a way to "zoom out again" in the overview to see all workspaces but I don't think it will be a window-picker in the same way that the current one is supposed to be. We should probably take the hard decision and axe it since it isn't at the right level of quality or usability.
I use the grid mode exclusively when I want multiple workspaces (admittedly, I don't use multiple workspaces that much) - So I can move stuff between workspaces without bumping across multiple boundaries - So I get an overview of where things are I also always start in grid mode when demo'ing the shell, because otherwise it's really hard for people to know what's going on. While the animations help a bit, they aren't obvious enough for people to pick up when someone else is driving.
Yeah those two goals are different from "window picker" which is basically what I said above. As for demos, you should start with one workspace.
The moving part is different. The "get an overview part" is all about figuring where I want to go next. I don't want to have to drag a scrollbar around to go to some window I have on a different workspace. I do start with one workspace for demos. It's the transition from 1 => 2 where I want to be in grid mode. (Of course, the fact that it's *easier* to understand a demo in grid mode doesn't say much other than it's easier to demo in grid mode. Demoing in linear mode would just take more care, more advance setup about "here's what's going to happen, etc.)
(In reply to comment #1) > I use the grid mode exclusively when I want multiple workspaces You aren't a representative user. ;-P
I'm also a fan of the grid view. I normally use one workspace, and only add a second one when I am doing two independent tasks and want to separate out the windows. I want it to be lightweight in that case - no using of the scrollbar, dragging across borders and having to move back manually to drag other windows, or having to click multiple times to get to a window. Also, the right click on the application icon in the application well that shows all the windows of this application doesn't work well in the linear mode. Right now, it doesn't give you any indication that some of the windows are on a different workspace or do anything when you mouse over the title of the window from a different workspace. We should fix this regardless, but it is another feature that is most convenient in the grid mode and, conversely, makes the grid mode that has smaller window previews convenient to use.
It seems many users are using multiple workspaces (I tend to move each tasks in its workspace, one for email, one for web, one for irc, one for terminal, etc..) and grid view is currently very useful to get an real overview of the various applications. I've tried to use linear view but this forces me to scroll over the various workspaces and is not very convenient.
Also a fan of grid view, I think that if it is going to be discontinued, there should be some way to expose all windows opened and pick one of them. This is achieved now by going to applications hot corner and one-clicking one of the windows in grid view. Smooth and simple. Something like this would be great: http://live.gnome.org/GnomeShell/Design/Whiteboards/LauncherDND (but not restricted to DNDing new applications, also as a way of interacting with windows). I am not an expert but in fact this is the most interesting way of interacting with windows I have come across. I should say it is addictive and now I miss it when working with other systems. Just one click and you're done! Anyway, great work!
one possible solution (which was used by Metisse on its bird eye view) could be to use scroll wheel to "zoom" out from linear to grid view.