[Under consideration] Fast application launcher like quicksilver/gnome do (Sandbox)

[mece]

Here is the brainstorm:
http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/fast_application_launcher_like_quicksilver-gnome_do/


As a gnome user I've become addicted to gnome do, and I think that a similar program would be awesome for the N900. Ctrl-space and win!

Anyway I looked into it a little bit and even though there is some old port of mono for maemo I concluded that it's not the way to go.

I found another launcher called Kupfer http://kaizer.se/wiki/kupfer/ that does not require mono and is pretty similar. After some tinkering and compiling of libraries (namely python-gobject_2.16 to get gio) I actually got it compiled on the sdk. It ran, but didn't actually work.

I'm wondering if there are any python coders who would be interested in porting or helping to port kupfer to fremantle?

Another option would be to create an application from scratch. It doesn't seem like a particularly demanding app to make, but it might still be more efficient to port an existing one.

[timsamoff]

I was going on and on about needing something like Quicksilver during the Summit... Please add this to the Brainstorm (http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/).

Thanks,
Tim

[mece]

Here is the brainstorm:
http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/fast_application_launcher_like_quicksilver-gnome_do/

[allnameswereout]

I actually got it compiled on the sdk. It ran, but didn't actually work.Run it like this $ kupfer --debug

After I fired it up the welcome screen says on left side in an icon: 'Searching Catalog...' and on the right side in an icon 'No action' so I assumed it was parsing my *.desktop metadata or whatever, in any case, took quite a while, so I thought the thing was crapping out. Then I started to read the manual by typing man kupfer (a requirement for a GUI application which tries to simplify workflow!). Clicking on anything does nothing. Instead, one has to type, and the UI gives no feedback about that. Because normally you cannot simply start typing in a UI as presented. Then, once you typed the application, you have to press <enter> to launch it. Hmm, ok. I do like the concept, but usability wise this needs improvements, even on desktop. When I press (or touch) launch it should launch the application. May be a bug though.

Many of the plugins are useless on Maemo, and some stuff has to be changed e.g. to support Maemo Browser.

[mece]

Hm I couldn't get it to launch anything. There is however feedback, it's just out of view. I can see the top pixels of the text.

Did you get it to spawn with ctrl-space?

I don't have the device and ctrl doesn't work as it should in sdk for me.

[allnameswereout]

Did you get it to spawn with ctrl-space?(I changed the order of quotes due to attached screenshot.)

Yes, ctrl-space puts the application in foreground (or background). Although I used the tray icon (in GNOME). It does not have a minimize button either, and it looks weird with window decoration IMO.

I don't have the device and ctrl doesn't work as it should in sdk for me.You can change bind by manually changing value of keybinding in ~/.config/kupfer/kupfer.cfg

Hm I couldn't get it to launch anything. There is however feedback, it's just out of view. I can see the top pixels of the text.What I meant is that when you launch the application it does not tell you how to interact with it. Instead you see 2 big icons both in a different colour (for whatever reason). See attached screenshot. I don't remember this problem from either Quicksilver or GNOME-Do.

After one figured one has to type the application starts to search using its plugins. We already have Tracker as database on Maemo, I'm not sure this application uses that database, but if not maybe instead of double work its better to interact with Tracker directly.

[mrlanrat]

Id like to see something like gnome-do ported (almost the same application)

[jsmanrique]

After one figured one has to type the application starts to search using its plugins. We already have Tracker as database on Maemo, I'm not sure this application uses that database, but if not maybe instead of double work its better to interact with Tracker directly.

Completly agree!!!

I've tried to put an example on the braistorm link about the possibilities...

[HangLoose]

Id like to see something like gnome-do ported (almost the same application)
+1
I, for one, being heavily dependent on gnome-do

[mece]

Oh right right. I thought you launched it in maemo 5 sdk :D

[mece]

What I meant is that when you launch the application it does not tell you how to interact with it. Instead you see 2 big icons both in a different colour (for whatever reason). See attached screenshot. I don't remember this problem from either Quicksilver or GNOME-Do.
It's pretty much identical to gnome do, except that in gnome it says "type to search". Well, after using it once, that text is redundant, so that doesn't really affect anything imo. Still, you could change the text displayed.


After one figured one has to type the application starts to search using its plugins. We already have Tracker as database on Maemo, I'm not sure this application uses that database, but if not maybe instead of double work its better to interact with Tracker directly.
I suppose we could just use a tracker plugin if we can get kupfer to work on maemo without too much modifications.

It did run atleast, but it didn't find anything to launch.

[lcuk]

here is a quick overview of the liqbase search functionality.
it might surprise one or two people.
perhaps we could push for this kind of capability in hildon instead of just contacts search.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CtynM36kxY

[mece]

here is a quick overview of the liqbase search functionality.
it might surprise one or two people.
perhaps we could push for this kind of capability in hildon instead of just contacts search.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CtynM36kxY

It would be really cool to have the contact search feature be able to launch applications and whatnot. Great idea!


I haven't actually understood how to use liqbase yet, but based on your videos It's so awesome that it makes my head explode!

[mece]

I just read in the developer device queue (http://wiki.maemo.org/Fremantle_Developer_Device_Queue) That everaldo is working on Mono for fremantle, so I guess we could have gnome-do after all :)

[mece]

Added another solution.
http://maemo.org/community/brainstorm/view/fast_application_launcher_like_quicksilver-gnome_do/?solution=extend_the_contact_search_dialogue

#5. I guess that would be the most integrated solution and the most efficient for the processor, battery and whatnot, since no separate application would need to be running.

What do you think?

[cb474]

Clicking on anything does nothing. Instead, one has to type, and the UI gives no feedback about that. Because normally you cannot simply start typing in a UI as presented. Then, once you typed the application, you have to press <enter> to launch it. Hmm, ok. I do like the concept, but usability wise this needs improvements, even on desktop. When I press (or touch) launch it should launch the application. May be a bug though.

The whole concept of Gnome-Do is that it is entirely keyboard driven. This actually makes it simpler and requires less steps to use. To me having to use the mouse to interact with it would be a regression. I may as well just be clicking icons in a panel. Using the mouse would undermine the simplicity and elegance of Gnome-Do (or any similar launcher). And I really never found Gnome-Do confusing to use.

[twoboxen]

A while ago I wrote a cross-platform, python-based alternative to gnome-do/quicksilver. It easily supports plugins and multiple front-ends. You could take a look at getting that working on fremantle.

http://pylotlight.sourceforge.net/

[mivoligo]

Any news on this front?

[fr33dom]

nop. no news for three years. guess maemo is not as exciting anymore?