Overhauling the Apps View

The design page for this project can be found here: https://live.gnome.org/GnomeShell/Design/AppPickerRefresh This contains the most details on the entire redesign.

Original Proposal

1. Remove Mode Switch

Current State

Currently, the overview of GNOME Shell features two modes: the Windows mode, which gives an overview of all currently opened windows, and an Applications mode, which lists all applications installed on the device.

Proposal

The original idea was that it might be nice if the overview would have a larger set of modes, including one for displaying contacts, and another for listing documents. However, it has been found this would do more harm than good, primarily by adding unnecessary clutter to the overview. Therefore it has been proposed to remove these modes from the overview altogether , still showing all opened windows by default but removing the Windows and Applications buttons floating in the top left of the overview. A view of all installed apps would be available through clicking an icon in the dash.

2. Make Apps View Paginated

Current State

In the current state, the applications overview lists all installed apps alphabetically, and displays the categories on the right-hand side. This allows for browsing apps by category.

Proposal

It has been proposed to paginate the apps view . The benefit of the pagination over continuous scrolling would be spatial memory of where launchers are. That would imply a fixed order defined by the user, so no automatic reordering. Easier operation for touch-controlled devices is also mentioned as one of the benefits.

3. Add Keyboard Navigation to Windows and Apps Views

Current State

The windows view an apps view currently aren’t keyboard navigable.

Proposal

It has been requested that the windows and apps view be made navigable by keyboard. This would increase the speed at which users can traverse these views, and has even been listed as starred bug on the Every Detail Matters page.