XDG application desktop launcher & configuration cleanup #246
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arcticicestudio
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There were `.desktop` files for applications that are not used anymore for some time now as well as applications that don't require a user-level launcher file anymore. >> Desktop Launchers - `atom.desktop` - Atom [1] was not used anymore since at least February 23 2019 and was replaced by Visual Studio Code [2] in GH-179. - `evolution.desktop` - The usage of Evolution [3] was only temporary and for test purposes regarding the compatibility with different protocols that could be used through opt-in extensions, but it was never the plan to replace the fantasic Thunderbird [4] as main mail application. - `gpick.desktop` - The main reason for a user-level launcher was the missing `MimeType` entry for `application/x-gpick-palette` which has already been patched in the upstream [5]. Anyway, Gpick is also not used anymore since most design related applications include tools to pick colors, like e.g. Firefox's Eyedropper [6] or of course GIMP [7]. - `gtkhash.desktop` - GTKHash [8] is also not used anymore, the user-level launcher was introduced back then to add more keywords for supported hash algorithms. - `jetbrains-ide.desktop` - The user-level launcher was introduced because the used icon name `intellij-idea-ultimate-edition` was not provided by the used icon the ("Numix Circle") so it was changed to the available `idea` icon. Anyway, a symlink was added a long time ago in the icon theme upstream and therefore the custom launcher is not required anymore. - `org.gnome.gedit.desktop` - The user-level launcher was introduced to add more _MIME_ types that should be handled by Gedit [9], this was then resolved shortly afterwards using the correct way through XDG MIME type handling [10]. - `shotwell-viewer.desktop` - The user-level launcher was introduced in order to hide the `shotwell-viewer` application, that is not intended to be called as standalone application, using the `NoDisplay` attribute. Anyway, the launcher is now hidden by default in the upstream [11] and therefore doesn't require a custom launcher anymore. >> XDG Autostart - `dropbox.desktop` - Dropbox [12] was only used for testing purposes and has been replaced by the fantastic and advanced Syncthing [13] and Seafile [14] projects. >> XDG Configurations The `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gtk-*/bookmarks` file was never really useful since it only support absolute file/directory paths using the `file://` protocol but doesn't resolve environment variables. It also takes less than a minute to manually create the bookmarks using either Nautilus UI or any other GTK application that support the `GtkPlacesSidebar` API [15]. This also allows to dynamically add or remove bookmarks based on the current requirements. Therefore the file has been removed at all. [1]: https://atom.io [2]: https://code.visualstudio.com [3]: https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evolution [4]: https://www.thunderbird.net [5]: https://github.com/thezbyg/gpick/blob/6adcd1337416e11959a7bc64829ac63459086416/share/applications/gpick.desktop#L10 [6]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Tools/Eyedropper [7]: https://www.gimp.org [8]: https://github.com/tristanheaven/gtkhash [9]: https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Gedit [10]: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/XDG_MIME_Applications [11]: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/shotwell/-/blob/ca03ce2f8e70670d43be00e9f381f9cd22afbceb/data/org.gnome.Shotwell-Viewer.desktop.in#L9 [12]: https://www.dropbox.com [13]: https://syncthing.net [14]: https://www.seafile.com [15]: https://developer.gnome.org/gtk3/stable/GtkPlacesSidebar.html GH-246
arcticicestudio
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Apr 15, 2020
There were `.desktop` files for applications that are not used anymore for some time now as well as applications that don't require a user-level launcher file anymore. >> Desktop Launchers - `atom.desktop` - Atom [1] was not used anymore since at least February 23 2019 and was replaced by Visual Studio Code [2] in GH-179. - `evolution.desktop` - The usage of Evolution [3] was only temporary and for test purposes regarding the compatibility with different protocols that could be used through opt-in extensions, but it was never the plan to replace the fantasic Thunderbird [4] as main mail application. - `gpick.desktop` - The main reason for a user-level launcher was the missing `MimeType` entry for `application/x-gpick-palette` which has already been patched in the upstream [5]. Anyway, Gpick is also not used anymore since most design related applications include tools to pick colors, like e.g. Firefox's Eyedropper [6] or of course GIMP [7]. - `gtkhash.desktop` - GTKHash [8] is also not used anymore, the user-level launcher was introduced back then to add more keywords for supported hash algorithms. - `jetbrains-ide.desktop` - The user-level launcher was introduced because the used icon name `intellij-idea-ultimate-edition` was not provided by the used icon the ("Numix Circle") so it was changed to the available `idea` icon. Anyway, a symlink was added a long time ago in the icon theme upstream and therefore the custom launcher is not required anymore. - `org.gnome.gedit.desktop` - The user-level launcher was introduced to add more _MIME_ types that should be handled by Gedit [9], this was then resolved shortly afterwards using the correct way through XDG MIME type handling [10]. - `shotwell-viewer.desktop` - The user-level launcher was introduced in order to hide the `shotwell-viewer` application, that is not intended to be called as standalone application, using the `NoDisplay` attribute. Anyway, the launcher is now hidden by default in the upstream [11] and therefore doesn't require a custom launcher anymore. >> XDG Autostart - `dropbox.desktop` - Dropbox [12] was only used for testing purposes and has been replaced by the fantastic and advanced Syncthing [13] and Seafile [14] projects. >> XDG Configurations The `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gtk-*/bookmarks` file was never really useful since it only support absolute file/directory paths using the `file://` protocol but doesn't resolve environment variables. It also takes less than a minute to manually create the bookmarks using either Nautilus UI or any other GTK application that support the `GtkPlacesSidebar` API [15]. This also allows to dynamically add or remove bookmarks based on the current requirements. Therefore the file has been removed at all. [1]: https://atom.io [2]: https://code.visualstudio.com [3]: https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evolution [4]: https://www.thunderbird.net [5]: https://github.com/thezbyg/gpick/blob/6adcd1337416e11959a7bc64829ac63459086416/share/applications/gpick.desktop#L10 [6]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Tools/Eyedropper [7]: https://www.gimp.org [8]: https://github.com/tristanheaven/gtkhash [9]: https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Gedit [10]: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/XDG_MIME_Applications [11]: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/shotwell/-/blob/ca03ce2f8e70670d43be00e9f381f9cd22afbceb/data/org.gnome.Shotwell-Viewer.desktop.in#L9 [12]: https://www.dropbox.com [13]: https://syncthing.net [14]: https://www.seafile.com [15]: https://developer.gnome.org/gtk3/stable/GtkPlacesSidebar.html GH-246
arcticicestudio
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Apr 15, 2020
There were `.desktop` files for applications that are not used anymore for some time now as well as applications that don't require a user-level launcher file anymore. >> Desktop Launchers - `atom.desktop` - Atom [1] was not used anymore since at least February 23 2019 and was replaced by Visual Studio Code [2] in GH-179. - `evolution.desktop` - The usage of Evolution [3] was only temporary and for test purposes regarding the compatibility with different protocols that could be used through opt-in extensions, but it was never the plan to replace the fantasic Thunderbird [4] as main mail application. - `gpick.desktop` - The main reason for a user-level launcher was the missing `MimeType` entry for `application/x-gpick-palette` which has already been patched in the upstream [5]. Anyway, Gpick is also not used anymore since most design related applications include tools to pick colors, like e.g. Firefox's Eyedropper [6] or of course GIMP [7]. - `gtkhash.desktop` - GTKHash [8] is also not used anymore, the user-level launcher was introduced back then to add more keywords for supported hash algorithms. - `jetbrains-ide.desktop` - The user-level launcher was introduced because the used icon name `intellij-idea-ultimate-edition` was not provided by the used icon the ("Numix Circle") so it was changed to the available `idea` icon. Anyway, a symlink was added a long time ago in the icon theme upstream and therefore the custom launcher is not required anymore. - `org.gnome.gedit.desktop` - The user-level launcher was introduced to add more _MIME_ types that should be handled by Gedit [9], this was then resolved shortly afterwards using the correct way through XDG MIME type handling [10]. - `shotwell-viewer.desktop` - The user-level launcher was introduced in order to hide the `shotwell-viewer` application, that is not intended to be called as standalone application, using the `NoDisplay` attribute. Anyway, the launcher is now hidden by default in the upstream [11] and therefore doesn't require a custom launcher anymore. >> XDG Autostart - `dropbox.desktop` - Dropbox [12] was only used for testing purposes and has been replaced by the fantastic and advanced Syncthing [13] and Seafile [14] projects. >> XDG Configurations The `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gtk-*/bookmarks` file was never really useful since it only support absolute file/directory paths using the `file://` protocol but doesn't resolve environment variables. It also takes less than a minute to manually create the bookmarks using either Nautilus UI or any other GTK application that support the `GtkPlacesSidebar` API [15]. This also allows to dynamically add or remove bookmarks based on the current requirements. Therefore the file has been removed at all. [1]: https://atom.io [2]: https://code.visualstudio.com [3]: https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evolution [4]: https://www.thunderbird.net [5]: https://github.com/thezbyg/gpick/blob/6adcd1337416e11959a7bc64829ac63459086416/share/applications/gpick.desktop#L10 [6]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Tools/Eyedropper [7]: https://www.gimp.org [8]: https://github.com/tristanheaven/gtkhash [9]: https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Gedit [10]: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/XDG_MIME_Applications [11]: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/shotwell/-/blob/ca03ce2f8e70670d43be00e9f381f9cd22afbceb/data/org.gnome.Shotwell-Viewer.desktop.in#L9 [12]: https://www.dropbox.com [13]: https://syncthing.net [14]: https://www.seafile.com [15]: https://developer.gnome.org/gtk3/stable/GtkPlacesSidebar.html Closes GH-246 Co-authored-by: Sven Greb <[email protected]>
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Related to #248
XDG application desktop launcher & configuration cleanup
There are
.desktopfiles for applications that are not used anymore for some time now as well as applications that don't require a user-level launcher file anymore.Desktop Launchers
atom.desktop— Atom is not used anymore since at least February 23 2019 and was replaced by Visual Studio Code in Visual Studio Code #179.evolution.desktop— The usage of Evolution was only temporary and for test purposes regarding the compatibility with different protocols that could be used through opt-in extensions, but it was never the plan to replace the fantastic Thunderbird as main mail application.gpick.desktop— The main reason for a user-level launcher was the missingMimeTypeentry forapplication/x-gpick-palettewhich has already been patched in the upstream. Anyway, Gpick is also not used anymore since most design related applications include tools to pick colors, like e.g. Firefox's Eyedropper or of course GIMP.gtkhash.desktop— GTKHash is also not used anymore, the user-level launcher was introduced back then to add more keywords for supported hash algorithms.jetbrains-ide.desktop— The user-level launcher was introduced because the used icon nameintellij-idea-ultimate-editionwas not provided by the used icon the (Numix Circle) so it was changed to the availableideaicon. Anyway, a symlink was added a long time ago in the icon theme upstream and therefore the custom launcher is not required anymore.org.gnome.gedit.desktop— The user-level launcher was introduced to add more MIME types that should be handled by Gedit, this was then resolved shortly afterwards using the correct way through XDG MIME type handling.shotwell-viewer.desktop— The user-level launcher was introduced in order to hide theshotwell-viewerapplication, that is not intended to be called as standalone application, using theNoDisplayattribute. Anyway, the launcher is now hidden by default in the upstream and therefore doesn't require a custom launcher anymore.XDG Autostart
dropbox.desktop— Dropbox was only used for testing purposes and has been replaced by the fantastic and advanced Syncthing and Seafile projects.XDG Configurations
The
$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gtk-*/bookmarksfile was never really useful since it only support absolute file/directory paths using thefile://protocol but doesn't resolve environment variables. It also takes less than a minute to manually create the bookmarks using either Nautilus UI or any other GTK application that support theGtkPlacesSidebarAPI. This also allows to dynamically add or remove bookmarks based on the current requirements. Therefore the file will be removed at all.The text was updated successfully, but these errors were encountered: