Ubuntu: See 'Signal is ready' in addition to normal notification

[Kalytis]

• I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates
• I am using Signal-Desktop as provided by the Signal team, not a 3rd-party package.

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Bug Description

When I receive a notification on Signal, using the Ubuntu app, the notification I get is generic, "New message". It's only when I pass my mouse over it that a second notification, containing the sender's name, picture, and the content of the notification, correctly shows up.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Having Signal-Desktop open and running on Ubuntu
2. Receiving a message

Actual Result:

A generic notification without any information appears at first.

Expected Result:

A notification with far more details, like the second one appearing, should show up directly.

Platform Info

Signal Version:

5.54.0

Operating System:

Ubuntu 22.04.1

Linked Device Version:

Android 5.45.6

[josh-signal]

Check your Signal Preferences.

Avatar menu -> Preferences -> Notifications. What does it say for "Notification Content"?

[Kalytis]

"Name only"

[Kalytis]

I managed to catch the two notifications displayed : first one first, then when I pass over it with the mouse, the other one.

[josh-signal]

do you always get the "Signal est pret" message obscuring a regular message? I'm not finding that string in our localization strings so I'm not sure it's coming from signal

[Kalytis]

99% of the time, yes.

[josh-signal]

is there an OS setting dealing with notifications perhaps?

[Kalytis]

I've been looking for something like that, but I can't find any.

[antoinentl]

It's not a bug from Signal, you can remove the message with this gnome extension: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1005/focus-my-window/

[GeluOltean]

This is an issue specific to Gnome. Works as intended on KDE, which probably means it can't be modified from the Signal client side.

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

Note that this 'is ready' notification is a common thing: https://askubuntu.com/questions/1286206/how-to-skip-the-is-ready-notification-and-directly-open-apps-in-ubuntu-20-4

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

If you don't think that this is a Linux/Window Manager problem to go fix in configuration, please go comment on this Electron issue: electron/electron#18445

[31j]

As a work around for the issue try disabling Preferences » Notifications » Draw attention to this window when a notification arrives in Signal's settings.

Then it should stop the "Signal is ready" notification in GNOME. GNOME prevents focus-stealing and notifies the user when window has tried to gain focus. I do think the nomenclature of the notification is a little weird, « App » est prêt ("App" is ready) doesn't really convey what the GNOME devs are intending. Something like "App" wants focus. Click to focus. would be better.

This is an issue specific to Gnome. Works as intended on KDE, which probably means it can't be modified from the Signal client side.

GNOME seems to consider this a feature, even if it reduces usability of apps (other messaging apps are effected from my experience) Perhaps Signal should by default have that setting disable on GNOME if possible? I'm not sure what benefit there is to drawing the focus to the window if the DE supports notifications, particularly when grabbing focus can result in sending sensitive information by accident.

[maymage]

@scottnonnenberg-signal

I think, the relevant discussion is here

In particular GNOME Shell's maintainer Florian Mullner's remark at the beginning:

Why does this [App is ready] happen?

Usually it means that an app tried to raise a window, but was denied by mutter's focus-stealing prevention heuristics.
The most common reason is that the app either passes an event time of 0, or one that is older than the most recent user > interaction.

Not sure, if Signal can fix this or it has to be on an Electron level.

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Anyway, in my opinion and for GNOME at least - Signal should neber request window focus at all, but just rely on notifications to notify on incoming calls or messages, letting the user accept the call from the notification
or turn to Signal's window in case of a message.

[nekohayo]

This is essentially a duplicate of #5004.