Ship improved default settings?

[stefonarch]

It's discussed already in some other places.

Assuming that many distributions ship LXQt as it is some bad first time experiences could be avoided IMO ("you never get a second chance to make a first impression").

• Panel' taskbar button are very large
• Menu search doesn't reset (By default, clear the menu text search whenever the menu is closed lxqt-panel#1384)
• When choosing xfwm4 as window manager (like people having only xfce installed and giving LXQt a try) the "show desktop shortcut" Alt+Shift+D is conflicting.
• Adding a new user she/he ends up as default with sh as shell, while average users are used to bash when they open a terminal
• Default theme is Frost, default icon set is Oxygen, maybe they are better choices. nowadays

Probably there is more around. I'm aware of the "this a job for distros" argument - but I've seen many of those issues over time also when there are custom wallpapers and themes, and arch ships everything vanilla.

[tsujan]

IMO, your suggestions are mostly good. But

• Resetting the menu search depends on what the user wants. We don't have any meaningful statistics on what most users may prefer. Those who disagree may add a comment but those who agree may not. Not resetting is as valid as resetting. Each user may mistake his/her habit for a rule.
• Any shortcut for "Show Desktop" may be in conflict with some WM. That should be resolved by the distro maintainer or user. WMs can always cause shortcut conflicts.

I didn't understand your point about "default with sh as shell". Do we do it?

[stefonarch]

I didn't understand your point about "default with sh as shell". Do we do it?

I saw that issue in the ubuntu forum once, not sure if it's still valid, but adding a user without making a choice in the "advanced" tab this user ended up with /bin/sh. In manjaro I see now it defaults to bash.

Any shortcut for "Show Desktop" may be in conflict with some WM.

Out there it's mostly openbox, kwin and xfwm4, and afaik the only conflict with the default settings of those is the one mentioned, why not avoid it if possible?

[elviosak]

• Panel' taskbar button are very large
• Menu search doesn't reset (By default, clear the menu text search whenever the menu is closed lxqt-panel#1384)
• Default theme is Frost, default icon set is Oxygen, maybe they are better choices. nowadays

FWIW i always change those.. Along with no grouping for taskbar...

[stefonarch]

The default panel settings are done lxqt/lxqt-panel#1697 .

I'd like to change also the default theme (frost) but have no idea which other one to choose (dark?) - it should have a wallpaper and not all themes have one.

Actually some LXQt-graphics-wallpapers would be nice too :)

One idea I had was about opening simply lxqt-config-appearance at first run (after WM choosing maybe before powermanagement configuring notification) so users could immediately set font size, icons and themes.

[tsujan]

but have no idea which other one to choose

That's the most difficult thing to do. For every choice you make, there are always people who would have a different choice ;)

One idea I had was about opening simply lxqt-config-appearance at first run

It's an interesting idea. Needs more discussion.

[stefonarch]

Just tested the /bin/sh as default bash for a new user in Ubuntu with LXQt 0.17: in "advanced" the dropdown line for bash is empty, the first entry below is /bin/sh and doing nothing this one is selected as default shell.

[stefonarch]

Looks like we agree on breeze as default icon set lxqt/lxqt-session#411
Default theme could be "Light" or "Clearlooks" but both would need a wallpaper.

[stefonarch]

Should pcmanfm.-qt default settings be changed too? Font colors/default wallpaper? Important for dark wallpapers.

[Desktop]
WallpaperMode=stretch
Wallpaper=@LXQT_SHARE_DIR@/themes/frost/lxqt-origami-light.png
BgColor=#000000
FgColor=#ffffff
ShadowColor=#000000

Which setting "wins" the wallpaper? Default theme or pcmanfm-qt?
Maybe the latter shouldn't have even a default wallpaper, if installed alone there will none.

[tsujan]

Which setting "wins" the wallpaper? Default theme or pcmanfm-qt?

The default theme.

[stefonarch]

Which setting "wins" the wallpaper? Default theme or pcmanfm-qt?

The default theme.

No :) With a fresh user wins pcmanfm-qt as I see.

[tsujan]

OK. Didn't check the codes.

[stefonarch]

Ok, thanks, time for testing saved :)
Missing is now only assigning wallpapers to each theme, and one with a logo for the default theme -maybe others will contribute some new designs?

Wallpaper change now is very intuitive:

[tsujan]

I like the dark blue one you made.

[stefonarch]

For the default theme we should take a light one dark one, because of pcmanfm-qt default font colors.

[stefonarch]

Most is done, only issue is panel height (32px, icons 22px) which leads to only the upper line visible in quicklaunch plugin

Drop applications
icons here

A panel default height 44-45px fixes that.

[stefonarch]

.em or .ex just won't work, but I was wrong with the pixel: 15px gives a readable text with panel height 32px.
But not sure if a fixed font-size is a good idea there, now it follows the general font size setting in some strange way. I'm using 13px but it's real on the limit with a panel of 32px in the placeholder, if I use 11px in lxqt-config-appearance it looks the same as with 15px in the stylesheet.

[tsujan]

if I use 11px in lxqt-config-appearance it looks the same as with 15px in the stylesheet.

lxqt-config-appearance shows the point size (pt).

.em or .ex just won't work

Strange! According to Qt doc, they should work.

[stefonarch]

lxqt-config-appearance shows the point size (pt).

I see here that font-size: 11pt; has the same appearance as font-size: 15px; in the placeholder.
But as said: probably better no fixed font anywhere where not really needed.

[tsujan]

But as said: probably better no fixed font anywhere where not really needed.

That's why I suggested em. It's unfortunate that it didn't work.

[tsujan]

Damn! Found this in https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/stylesheet-reference.html: "In this version of Qt, only pt and px metrics are supported."

We have to tolerate fixed font sizes for now.

[libalis]

Just saw the new blog post. I have a suggestion: why don't we use the newly added battery with percentage icon in the standard session? I think the circle battery icon is the only remaining negative standout design element. By the way, thanks for all the amazing updates for 1.1.0. I can't wait to use it.

[stefonarch]

When logging in a new user account there will pop-up the question (only if there is a battery) if you like to configure the power-management.
So

• users can set their preferred icon immediately
• if we ship some configuration this notification will not open (not 100% sure about); it could be done in the code, personally I like the old circle still best.

By the way, thanks for all the amazing updates for 1.1.0. I can't wait to use it.

Thanks for your feedback and ideas!

[libalis]

Actually didn't know that, sorry. Personally I haven't tried the new icon and still use the theme one.The circle is a cool option that should stay, but I don't think there is this design anywhere except in lxqt. All other projects and major operating systems use the rectangular one by now.

[stefonarch]

I don't think there is this design anywhere except in lxqt. All other projects and major operating systems use the rectangular one by now.

LXQt is very special :)