Re: saving window states
- From: "Matthias Clasen" <Matthias Clasen poet de>
- To: wm-spec-list gnome org
- Subject: Re: saving window states
- Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 10:00:02 +0200
> > I consider that configuration, because you would typically put
something
> > like the
> > following (for fvwm2) in the wm config file:
> >
> > Style "Mozilla" StartsMaximized, StartsRaised
>
> What I'm trying to achieve is that this happens automatically; if the
> user maximizes mozilla, then it should be maximized next time they
> open it. Or if they put their home directory folder window in a
> or evolution main window in a certain spot, it comes back in that
> spot.
I would be seriously annoyed if the wm would start maximizing all new
mozilla
windows just because I happened to close the last one while it was
maximized.
The functionality you want can already be provided on both sides: the wm
can
add an "Remember to maximize similar windows" item to its frame menu; the
app can add a preference "Start maximized". Just drop the idea that any of
this should happen automatically, it doesn't make sense.
> However, I can't just automatically save state for all windows,
> because in the real world, this means that many applications
> break. Mozilla has the same class on everything. Java sets the class
> based on which widget is used for the toplevel, so a similar thing
> happens. There are too many bugs introduced by enabling
> auto-save-state for all windows based on class.
Another argument for dropping the "automatic" bit. I wonder why you expect
broken apps to pick up your new state saving mechanisms, but not fix the
more
fundamental brokenness of not assigning the proper types to their dialogs.
> Right now many apps already have their own ad hoc code to save/restore
> state. For example Mozilla does. Do we consider that a bug in Mozilla?
> If yes, how will we automatically save/restore state for Mozilla? If
> no, we just need to write in the spec that apps should save/restore
> their own state. If we put that in the spec, how does the user
> request a placement algorithm be used instead?
>
> I think it's clear that app authors consider saved state to be a
> requirement for their apps, thus I would like the spec to specify
> unambiguously how this should be done.
I think your use cases clearly indicate that different apps have vastly
different
expectations about what and how state is to be saved. Thus I think it is
best to let apps maintain such state if they think they need to - of
course, I
think such app authors are seriously confused about the division of labor
between
client and wm.
Regarding the placement algorithm vs. same place question: I think the
best
would be to add an app preference: "Open new windows at the same
position",
which users could just turn off to let windows be placed by whatever
algorithm
their wm uses. I don't think we want to start standardizing placement
algorithms,
do we ?
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