13 ms·

I don't see the authors point. Use the menu for discoverability if you even need that, any of the options work. For launching just partially type the applicat

I don't see the authors point. Use the menu for discoverability if you even need that, any of the options work. For launching just partially type the application's name and press enter. Don't even need a menu, just use KRunner (Alt+F2, there are equivalents in all desktops). My SO isn't confused by menus despite having little to no experience with desktop computers, and neither am I, but I don't even have a full blown "menu" because I don't need one; I just have dmenu installed.

mjevans 9y ago
I mostly agree, but think the main issue is /discoverability/. I had no idea I could get back to a traditional menu mode (in KDE Plasma) if I wanted (I'm unsure if I do). The menu doesn't educate me what the 'short command' for a program is, so it can't teach me how to find it or launch it directly by typing in that shorter name (but searching for the literal executable name does work if you happened to know it). The tasks and other features are things I haven't noticed. Maybe a built in 'demo / training' application could show me the intended workflow, and then ask me to replicate it within a test 'desktop window'?
- SubiculumCode 9y ago
  I agree that it would be nice to see what the command line entry would be for an application.
  - digi_owl 9y ago
    That would not be a problem except that the DEs seems to want to wrap their specific named binaries in generic sounding .desktop files...
superobserver 9y ago
Right. Quick accessibility with a keyboard shortcut and partial name typing is the way to go. The trick is ensuring you have the right name (so a slight learning curve).
- ams6110 9y ago
  In fact my desktop has no menus at all. I start everything from a terminal (I launch terminals with a keyboard shortcut).
eat_veggies 9y ago
Can you make dmenu sort by most used? I want to switch over due to it's awesome minimalism but that's a feature from rofi I can't go without, mostly because to open my browser I can just go mod-d enter
- mixedCase 9y ago
  I'd say stick with Rofi. I had considered moving to it but dmenu2 just works well enough for what I want it to do to bother switching. If I was certain I wanted more features, I'd go with Rofi.
- fiddlerwoaroof 9y ago
  yeganesh (http://dmwit.com/yeganesh/ http://dmwit.com/yeganesh/) is a tool that works with dmenu to produce the "most used" functionality. It works really well for what I need.
- jmontano 9y ago
  Dmenu's patched versions can sort by use. Manjaro-i3 uses dmenu_recency
slowmovintarget 9y ago
This entry just seemed like an elaborate, well-written, well-documented complaint. I've been reading so many articles lately that say "Stuff's on fire, yo." But they don't go into why, they don't mention alternative solutions, or who is trying to do something about it. They are the journalistic equivalent of a tweet saying "Hey, my nose itches." Don't keep me in suspense, did you develop a new means of itching said nose? Have you interviewed other itchees to find out if there's a new trend? There's an entire half of this article missing where discussion of alternative methods of computer interaction are offered up. Voice launch, context-sensitive palettes, random launch lottery with an I'm Feeling Lucky button... But it's not there, just an "I hate menus" kvetch. Sigh. Tell me a story, while you're complaining, and make sure you have an ending. Otherwise it's just a far-too-long bumper sticker.

mjevans 9y ago

I mostly agree, but think the main issue is /discoverability/. I had no idea I could get back to a traditional menu mode (in KDE Plasma) if I wanted (I'm unsure if I do). The menu doesn't educate me what the 'short command' for a program is, so it can't teach me how to find it or launch it directly by typing in that shorter name (but searching for the literal executable name does work if you happened to know it). The tasks and other features are things I haven't noticed. Maybe a built in 'demo / training' application could show me the intended workflow, and then ask me to replicate it within a test 'desktop window'?

SubiculumCode 9y ago
I agree that it would be nice to see what the command line entry would be for an application.
- digi_owl 9y ago
  That would not be a problem except that the DEs seems to want to wrap their specific named binaries in generic sounding .desktop files...

superobserver 9y ago

Right. Quick accessibility with a keyboard shortcut and partial name typing is the way to go. The trick is ensuring you have the right name (so a slight learning curve).

ams6110 9y ago
In fact my desktop has no menus at all. I start everything from a terminal (I launch terminals with a keyboard shortcut).

eat_veggies 9y ago

Can you make dmenu sort by most used? I want to switch over due to it's awesome minimalism but that's a feature from rofi I can't go without, mostly because to open my browser I can just go mod-d enter

mixedCase 9y ago
I'd say stick with Rofi. I had considered moving to it but dmenu2 just works well enough for what I want it to do to bother switching. If I was certain I wanted more features, I'd go with Rofi.
fiddlerwoaroof 9y ago
yeganesh (http://dmwit.com/yeganesh/ http://dmwit.com/yeganesh/) is a tool that works with dmenu to produce the "most used" functionality. It works really well for what I need.
jmontano 9y ago
Dmenu's patched versions can sort by use. Manjaro-i3 uses dmenu_recency

slowmovintarget 9y ago

This entry just seemed like an elaborate, well-written, well-documented complaint. I've been reading so many articles lately that say "Stuff's on fire, yo." But they don't go into why, they don't mention alternative solutions, or who is trying to do something about it. They are the journalistic equivalent of a tweet saying "Hey, my nose itches." Don't keep me in suspense, did you develop a new means of itching said nose? Have you interviewed other itchees to find out if there's a new trend? There's an entire half of this article missing where discussion of alternative methods of computer interaction are offered up. Voice launch, context-sensitive palettes, random launch lottery with an I'm Feeling Lucky button... But it's not there, just an "I hate menus" kvetch. Sigh. Tell me a story, while you're complaining, and make sure you have an ending. Otherwise it's just a far-too-long bumper sticker.