Application Name Guidelines

The goal here is to provide useful guidance for the proper use of application names in GNOME 3.

Discussion

Guidelines

General

  • Window titles should not duplicate the application name - GNOME 3 displays it in the top bar.
  • The desktop entry Name value, application menu (for GNOME shell), window titlebar (for GNOME 2.x), documentation, and about dialog should all use the same name
  • The desktop entry Name value should be the brand name unless the application is a simple (single purpose), core GNOME built-in and does not have an established external brand identity (web site, online help, etc)
  • Brand names should be considered carefully but can’t be relied on to indicate functionality in many languages
  • Application icons should supplement names of all kinds and are critical to recognizing already known applications

.Desktop Files

  • The Name field should be the application name
  • When the Name field is the same as the GenericName field, the GenericName should be removed

  • If there is no GenericName field, leave alone

  • If the Name field include both the application name and the generic name
    • Add an X-GNOME-FullName field, with what was in Name

    • Set the Name field to the application name only

Examples

General

  • It doesn’t make sense for Dictionary or Calculator (GNOME is implied) to be separately branded.
  • It is fairly clear that something like Firefox or Rhythmbox is branded.
  • Totem which actually do bit more than the generic name implies (It is a little strange that Movie Player plays songs and youtube – according to the description) but the name isn’t known outside of GNOME for the most part.
  • gedit is tough because the name doesn’t “read” well and it is a pretty core component. However, it does have an external presence and the authors feel it should be called gedit. Even though I disagree with it.

.Desktop Files

Example 1: ''Rhythmbox''

[Desktop Entry]
_Name=Rhythmbox Music Player
_GenericName=Music Player

the goal would be to have:

[Desktop Entry]
_Name=Rhythmbox
_GenericName=Music Player
_X-GNOME-FullName=Rhythmbox Music Player

Example 2: When Name == GenericName is better to remove GenericName

[Desktop Entry]
_Name=Music Player
_GenericName=Music Player

the goal would be to have:

[Desktop Entry]
_Name=Music Player

See Also

Design/HIG/ApplicationName (last edited 2014-07-09 12:45:48 by OliverPropst)