StatusNotifierItem: Standard Non-Standards Tear Linux Desktops Apart
10 months ago
- #Linux
- #DesktopEnvironments
- #Standards
- Linux GUI applications lack consistent standards despite Freedesktop's documentation.
- StatusNotifierItem spec for system tray icons is a de facto standard but controversial.
- Gnome and some Linux DEs oppose system tray icons, unlike KDE which supports them.
- Freedesktop lists StatusNotifierItem under 'Draft specifications', causing debate.
- Linux Standard Base (LSB) effort's demise is lamented for lack of desktop standardization.
- Users and developers desire predictable desktop environments without surprises.
- Freedom of choice in DEs is valued over enforced standards by some users.
- Package management fragmentation (Apt, RPM, Snap, Flatpak) complicates software distribution.
- X11 vs. Wayland transition is criticized for unnecessary complexity and lack of consensus.
- GNOME's design decisions, like removing type-ahead in file explorer, frustrate users.