Should we make SpielBar the default in Deskbar?

Shaka444

SpielBar is a more modern way to browse for files than the default Deskbar "snake" menu. It was integrated into the Deskbar in the "Pirati" distro and was a nice addition IMO.
I think it would set us apart from a regular Haiku install.

SpielBar

Akakor

Can it be made configurable, so users have a choice, or they can switch?

Shaka444

Akakor Yes! it does not remove any Deskbar code, just a different action when you click the leaf menu. (I assume a BMessage..) Easily made into a Deskbar Preference option. It's actually a stand alone app. I have it shared in the Telegram chat ( https://t.me/RenkuOS/869 ) and in HiShare. In fact the way it was implemented in Pirati was an ALT-click on the menu reverts to the default snake menu.

ilfelice

Hi @Shaka444

While I can see the practicality of this, it is not very elegant IMO.

Shaka444

ilfelice
Have you used it? It's very useful. It's also open source. I think it's nice, but if you want, maybe polish it up. 😉

ilfelice

Shaka444 Have you used it? It's very useful.

No, I have not tried it. I do admit it may be useful, all those icons in a list and in a vertical/horizontal toolbar crammed in a small space to be confusing and out of place. Not my idea of an elegant UI. For RenkuOS, I would prefer something more subtle and polished.

But to be honest, I am pretty happy with the Deskbar as it is, so that may be influencing my view.

What I do like as a complement to the Deskbar menu is Hundinger's QuickLaunch.

https://codeberg.org/humdinger/quicklaunch

clasqm

We could make QuickLaunch a third option. The Preference could even have a fourth option: Custom <fill in app location>. That would enable people to experiment with different menuing and launching possibilities without immediately having to dig into OS-level code. The ones that catch on could then be incorporated later on.

clasqm

For example, just a humble example, not at all self-serving, I have a fullscreen app launcher called HaikuFull.

A little more work, a rename to RenkuFull, and instructions to the user to enter it into the Custom section of the Preference, and it adds a layer of choice to the OS.

Shaka444

clasqm Could you add app icons to it? That might be interesting..

Shaka444

ilfelice
SpielBar does the same thing as Quicklaunch- the search is on the bottom.. ;-)

I have SpielBar shared in the telegram chat, give it a try and thanks to rainygirls "R InstallWizard", I have an hpkg in the RenkuRepo today too.

Shaka444

clasqm
Agreed! Tracker Preferences is the way to go. Easy enough to add a checkbox "Use SpielBar by default" and a "Use custom launcher" button.

ilfelice

Howdy,

I don't know. All these options in the Deskbar preferences sounds like feature creep to me. I am not against change, but I think as a default, we should stick to Haiku's minimalism and cohesiveness. Just IMHO! 😉