4 ms·

I have no experience with Mate, but the feature I miss the most in the traditional desktops is starting programs by hitting the super (Windows) key and typing t

I have no experience with Mate, but the feature I miss the most in the traditional desktops is starting programs by hitting the super (Windows) key and typing the programs. I know that you can use Alt+F2 for this, but using super is much more ingrained for me since I've seen Windows Vista (I am using Linux at home and Windows systems at work)

laumars 8y ago
KDE works that way on my Arch install without any additional tweaking. And I'm pretty sure you could configure the launcher in any DE to work that way if you looked at its hotkey settings (they're usually re-definable in my experience)
- brusch64 8y ago
  The last time I've really tried out KDE (many years ago, in the KDE4 era) it didn't work and I had to install an extension (that didn't quite work for me) to get that to work. But I've heard that they've changed it later. After some configuration I've installed XFCE on this PC and was much happier. I even found a menu and a configuration for XFCE that worked like I wanted it to work.
  - majewsky 8y ago
    I specifically remember that the input handling code in KDE was adjusted a few years ago to handle single-key shortcuts where the single key is a modifier, esp. the Windows key.
genpfault 8y ago
> I miss the most in the traditional desktops is starting programs by hitting the super (Windows) key and typing the programs. Brisk Menu. It binds to the Windows key by default and still somehow allows shortcuts like Win+R to work. https://github.com/solus-project/brisk-menu https://github.com/solus-project/brisk-menu
- keyle 8y ago
  Ah thank you, I was wondering if there was such thing :)
diffeomorphism 8y ago
You can use https://github.com/alols/xcape https://github.com/alols/xcape or https://github.com/hanschen/ksuperkey https://github.com/hanschen/ksuperkey for that. The windows key is a modifier like shift, alt or ctrl and hence at first it seems like a really, really bad idea to use it a shortcut by itself. The above programs hence implement the same behind-the-scences workarounds other desktop environments and windows use: treat pressing and releasing win alone as special. You can of course also use this for other keys, for example caps alone-> Esc caps+c -> ctrl+c Alternatively, I win+space instead of just win also is quite natural shortcut.
- brusch64 8y ago
  I know about all these problems, but if you are used to it is so convenient. For me it became the most important feature of a window manager / desktop.
ricree 8y ago
Linux Mint with Mate does this fairly well by default.
Maken 8y ago
>hitting the super (Windows) key and typing the programs That's how Unity (Ubuntu's default DE) worked, until they transitioned to GNOME.
- dreamer_ 8y ago
  Gnome also works like that
  - gkya 8y ago
    Yes but it has to replace your desktop with a checkerboard of launchers, which might be a thing whose effect ranges from unnecessary but harmless to annoying and confusing, especially when it lags.
    - brusch64 8y ago
      In this case you can install https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/6/applications-menu/ https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/6/applications-menu/ to get something similar in gnome (but I have to admit that I've never used unity)
- andrewaylett 8y ago
  It works in Gnome too!
  - IronBacon 8y ago
    Exactly, so I'm puzzled why the OP said it missed that behaviour (and I suppose others miss that too as someone downvoted you ^__^;). I'm not familiar with recent Windos but pressing the "Super" key on Gnome opens the "overview" screen (or what's called) with a big "Type to search..." text box that can be used to search files to open or programs to launch. P.S. I prefer to use shortcuts to launch the common programs, using an extension that mimics Ubuntu Unity style Super + number_key, according to the order in the "Favorites".

laumars 8y ago

KDE works that way on my Arch install without any additional tweaking. And I'm pretty sure you could configure the launcher in any DE to work that way if you looked at its hotkey settings (they're usually re-definable in my experience)

brusch64 8y ago
The last time I've really tried out KDE (many years ago, in the KDE4 era) it didn't work and I had to install an extension (that didn't quite work for me) to get that to work. But I've heard that they've changed it later. After some configuration I've installed XFCE on this PC and was much happier. I even found a menu and a configuration for XFCE that worked like I wanted it to work.
- majewsky 8y ago
  I specifically remember that the input handling code in KDE was adjusted a few years ago to handle single-key shortcuts where the single key is a modifier, esp. the Windows key.

genpfault 8y ago

> I miss the most in the traditional desktops is starting programs by hitting the super (Windows) key and typing the programs. Brisk Menu. It binds to the Windows key by default and still somehow allows shortcuts like Win+R to work. https://github.com/solus-project/brisk-menu https://github.com/solus-project/brisk-menu

keyle 8y ago
Ah thank you, I was wondering if there was such thing :)

diffeomorphism 8y ago

You can use https://github.com/alols/xcape https://github.com/alols/xcape or https://github.com/hanschen/ksuperkey https://github.com/hanschen/ksuperkey for that. The windows key is a modifier like shift, alt or ctrl and hence at first it seems like a really, really bad idea to use it a shortcut by itself. The above programs hence implement the same behind-the-scences workarounds other desktop environments and windows use: treat pressing and releasing win alone as special. You can of course also use this for other keys, for example caps alone-> Esc caps+c -> ctrl+c Alternatively, I win+space instead of just win also is quite natural shortcut.

brusch64 8y ago
I know about all these problems, but if you are used to it is so convenient. For me it became the most important feature of a window manager / desktop.

ricree 8y ago

Linux Mint with Mate does this fairly well by default.

Maken 8y ago

>hitting the super (Windows) key and typing the programs That's how Unity (Ubuntu's default DE) worked, until they transitioned to GNOME.

dreamer_ 8y ago
Gnome also works like that
- gkya 8y ago
  Yes but it has to replace your desktop with a checkerboard of launchers, which might be a thing whose effect ranges from unnecessary but harmless to annoying and confusing, especially when it lags.
  - brusch64 8y ago
    In this case you can install https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/6/applications-menu/ https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/6/applications-menu/ to get something similar in gnome (but I have to admit that I've never used unity)
andrewaylett 8y ago
It works in Gnome too!
- IronBacon 8y ago
  Exactly, so I'm puzzled why the OP said it missed that behaviour (and I suppose others miss that too as someone downvoted you ^__^;). I'm not familiar with recent Windos but pressing the "Super" key on Gnome opens the "overview" screen (or what's called) with a big "Type to search..." text box that can be used to search files to open or programs to launch. P.S. I prefer to use shortcuts to launch the common programs, using an extension that mimics Ubuntu Unity style Super + number_key, according to the order in the "Favorites".