Indicator Application N cycle
What do we need to get done for the N cycle with indicator-
Blueprint information
Related branches
Related bugs
Whiteboard
[Copied from Gobby document: ]
== Discussion Notes ==
* Review of the bugs
- technical changes / fixes
* signal when the menu is shown/hidden
* scroll events will be supported as well
Dynamic icons
* we want to require that they be symbolic icons, in order to preserve the consistency of the panel
* problem: 16x16 is required for symbolic icons
* libappindicator (or another related library) could provide an helper to help application developers; would also do the image processing to ensure consistency
Other technical changes: gdbus, gtk3, and other captured in bug reports attached to the blueprint
Issue with the fallback mechnanism (using systray) being triggered where it should not: startup, crashes, etc.
* there is a nasty race condition that is really hard to reproduce
* ted thinks he fixed the issue, but would like to get more testing
* proposing to land the fix as an SRU for Maverick
Proposal to use the running-triangle indicator in the window menu
Discussion on the "service" vs "normal" application
* questions on which applications qualify as "service" applications (like RB)
* how to let the user know about this distinction and prevent the confusion
* think about the difference UI elements that are part of this experience (and also part of the confusion):
* close button (red cross)
* application menu on the panel
* application launchers in the menu (sound, messaging), with the running triangle
* icons on the launcher bar (unity), with the running triangle
* launcher quicklist items related to the "service" nature of the application
Proposal: have a close button with a different color / shape / behavior to give hint to the user that this application is different.
== Q & A ==
Approver
Follow-up on the confusion with the exit vs close menu options
Ability for an application to display a custom icon on the panel, ie an icon that is not part of the system theme, but installed in an application specific path)?
ted: it's supported right now, the developer needs to provide
Work items:
[ted] Land the race condition fix as an SRU for Maverick
Write a helper for dynamic icons and image processing for symbolic icons in libappindicator: TODO
Submit a patch that would remove the 16x16 limitation for symbolic icons (would require an rsvg patch in particular): TODO
[mpt] Write guidelines on closing vs. quitting "service" applications (e.g. Rhythmbox): TODO