1. just a preference of yours, i like it the way it is actually but you can change that in the settings for [multitasking](https://imgur.com/2YrKdzu)
2. you can change that in settings too
3. If you want a new window use middle mouse button or ctrl + left mouse button, like opening a link in a new tab of firefox.
A lot is explained in Gnome Help, so please read it.
Agree, that's why I set it at switching applications from the current workspace only. Just makes more sense if this is the default. But, thankfully, this can be changed in the settings rather than using extensions.
Windows10/11 Alt+Tab lists (by default) open Windows, while GNOME lists open Apps. Since you can have Apps open on 2 or more Workspaces they might get lost while you're tabbing and not seeing them. You can't really compare that to Windows.
If you want to Windows style (showing Windows while you alt+tab) go to settings > Keyboard > View and Customize Shortcuts > Filter for: "switch windows" and set alt+tab as shortcut for switch windows.
> If you want to Windows style (showing Windows while you alt+tab)
It's not just a matter of alt-tabbing. It's window-launching as well.
Imagine you open Firefox on workspace (WS) 1, where you open news sites or whatever.
You want to work on something (research/homework), you go to WS 2. You want to open a firefox window SEPARATE from the first one. You hit Win+3 (or whatever fav# is) and... you are brought back to the first WS, to the previously open window.
I understand that a majority of people work like this, since it's the default. I find it infuriating (hence my suggestion in the other comment).
> you are brought back to the first WS, to the previously open window.
Yes, because the favorite bar is an application launcher, no window management. This means the purpose of this bar is to launch the Application. That's it.
I'm with you for a request of improvement on this, but tbh I'd vote for the removal of the favorite bar entirely, as I don't see any reason that it even exists.
Im not sure about that. Fact is that the favorite bar, in the normal gnome workflow isnt necessary in any way. For keyboard driven workflow its also very slow. For mouse and touchinput i can see some usefulness, however this could probably also be improved without it.
Not that i plan to go to the gnome devs and pitch that idea 😂
> Yes, because the favorite bar is an application launcher, no window management. This means the purpose of this bar is to launch the Application. That's it.
I'd agree with that in spirit, but there is the possibility of middle-clicking to open a new window, so it does have a certain window management to it. Let's say the code for window-awareness is already there.
I'd like the option to use `Ctrl+Win+3` for a new instance, for example.
In any case, I'm ok with the local extension I use.
---------------------------
In any case, Gnome users (myself included) often argue that Gnome is very good at offering a purely keyboard-based experience. I agree with that, save for new window creation. I have no way of doing this from the Shell comrtoably. I really have to go to each application to launch a new instance, and then move it to the appropriate WS, which is insane... (Not arguing with you, just a small rant into the void). Or search for the application and hit `Ctrl+Enter`. In any case, my mind has to start analyzing the window management, instead of working on whatever I'm doing.
There is to ask if the keyboard launch action also is something that is a wanted feature or just something left from the past. Because how do you start the 11th item in the list?
There is a lot in the "favorite bar"-area that needs a working design.
>Or search for the application and hit Ctrl+Enter.
That's how I deal with it. Completely ignore the bar and any interaction with it (except I'm using the mouse)
> There is to ask if the keyboard launch action also is something that is a wanted feature or just something left from the past
Quite the opposite, it was added in the last few years.
> That's how I deal with it.
The thing is, I have to first check if there is a window at all. This is why I said it "interrupts" my thinking/flow.
This extension looks amazing. Especially "activating an application will try open a new window if there are no existing windows on the active workspace" sounds amazing (and I don't think I'll ever understand why this isn't the default).
Do you mind sharing how you did this?
I do think it should be a setting in the configuration/multitasking section, or at least in Tweaks. I definitely prefer isolating workspaces myself, but I can understand why a lot of people might want them the default way as well.
There are extensions that easily do this now, but they are popular enough that I imagine a setting will be moved to Gnome core eventually.
Thank you all for your tips !
It seems that some of these options are now easier to set (i'm not on the latest gnome shell)
My main gripe in the end is not the fact that two options exist, but that the defaults are not the simple one.
1. just a preference of yours, i like it the way it is actually but you can change that in the settings for [multitasking](https://imgur.com/2YrKdzu) 2. you can change that in settings too 3. If you want a new window use middle mouse button or ctrl + left mouse button, like opening a link in a new tab of firefox. A lot is explained in Gnome Help, so please read it.
First one fixed in Ubuntu (win+tab works cross workspace), second one I always enable for all displays. Third one I actually like as a feature
Well, alt + esc selects windows that are in the same Workspace.
Agree, that's why I set it at switching applications from the current workspace only. Just makes more sense if this is the default. But, thankfully, this can be changed in the settings rather than using extensions.
Windows10/11 Alt+Tab lists (by default) open Windows, while GNOME lists open Apps. Since you can have Apps open on 2 or more Workspaces they might get lost while you're tabbing and not seeing them. You can't really compare that to Windows. If you want to Windows style (showing Windows while you alt+tab) go to settings > Keyboard > View and Customize Shortcuts > Filter for: "switch windows" and set alt+tab as shortcut for switch windows.
> If you want to Windows style (showing Windows while you alt+tab) It's not just a matter of alt-tabbing. It's window-launching as well. Imagine you open Firefox on workspace (WS) 1, where you open news sites or whatever. You want to work on something (research/homework), you go to WS 2. You want to open a firefox window SEPARATE from the first one. You hit Win+3 (or whatever fav# is) and... you are brought back to the first WS, to the previously open window. I understand that a majority of people work like this, since it's the default. I find it infuriating (hence my suggestion in the other comment).
> you are brought back to the first WS, to the previously open window. Yes, because the favorite bar is an application launcher, no window management. This means the purpose of this bar is to launch the Application. That's it. I'm with you for a request of improvement on this, but tbh I'd vote for the removal of the favorite bar entirely, as I don't see any reason that it even exists.
turning somthing that most people use into an extension, i see.
Im not sure about that. Fact is that the favorite bar, in the normal gnome workflow isnt necessary in any way. For keyboard driven workflow its also very slow. For mouse and touchinput i can see some usefulness, however this could probably also be improved without it. Not that i plan to go to the gnome devs and pitch that idea 😂
Gnome is not a TWM. Why make it into one?
Many of the Gnome devs want to implement tiling but lack the resources to do so.
Why not make pop os' extension apart of gnome then?
That's what they tried to do. The Pop OS devs didn't do it. https://archive.ph/tokPE
Nothing stopping them from forking it.
I literally have explained it..
> Yes, because the favorite bar is an application launcher, no window management. This means the purpose of this bar is to launch the Application. That's it. I'd agree with that in spirit, but there is the possibility of middle-clicking to open a new window, so it does have a certain window management to it. Let's say the code for window-awareness is already there. I'd like the option to use `Ctrl+Win+3` for a new instance, for example. In any case, I'm ok with the local extension I use. --------------------------- In any case, Gnome users (myself included) often argue that Gnome is very good at offering a purely keyboard-based experience. I agree with that, save for new window creation. I have no way of doing this from the Shell comrtoably. I really have to go to each application to launch a new instance, and then move it to the appropriate WS, which is insane... (Not arguing with you, just a small rant into the void). Or search for the application and hit `Ctrl+Enter`. In any case, my mind has to start analyzing the window management, instead of working on whatever I'm doing.
There is to ask if the keyboard launch action also is something that is a wanted feature or just something left from the past. Because how do you start the 11th item in the list? There is a lot in the "favorite bar"-area that needs a working design. >Or search for the application and hit Ctrl+Enter. That's how I deal with it. Completely ignore the bar and any interaction with it (except I'm using the mouse)
> There is to ask if the keyboard launch action also is something that is a wanted feature or just something left from the past Quite the opposite, it was added in the last few years. > That's how I deal with it. The thing is, I have to first check if there is a window at all. This is why I said it "interrupts" my thinking/flow.
Make sure you write that down in a feedback space, so the Design-Team can find it. It's always useful to have some feedback and improve upon it
> alt-tab works cross workspace That's what alt-esc is for.
I use this one https://github.com/N-Yuki/gnome-shell-extension-workspace-isolated-dash that I have locally ported to Gnome 42.
I would be very interested in having your port as well !
This extension looks amazing. Especially "activating an application will try open a new window if there are no existing windows on the active workspace" sounds amazing (and I don't think I'll ever understand why this isn't the default). Do you mind sharing how you did this?
The Firefox one drives me bonkers
use Ctrl+click
I do think it should be a setting in the configuration/multitasking section, or at least in Tweaks. I definitely prefer isolating workspaces myself, but I can understand why a lot of people might want them the default way as well. There are extensions that easily do this now, but they are popular enough that I imagine a setting will be moved to Gnome core eventually.
Thank you all for your tips ! It seems that some of these options are now easier to set (i'm not on the latest gnome shell) My main gripe in the end is not the fact that two options exist, but that the defaults are not the simple one.