this post was submitted on 15 Jan 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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GNOME and AppIndicator/system tray (startrek.website)
submitted 8 months ago by jameskirk@startrek.website to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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What's the reasoning behind not having a "system tray" in GNOME? You need to install an extension for that, and that is a weird process for newcomers/beginners.

But my question is why? Does GNOME really think you don't need one? Why don't they include it?

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[–] slembcke@lemmy.ml 6 points 8 months ago

Well... they don't like the design of a "system tray". To be fair, it's a very Windows centric idea, and the notion that they must provide one because Windows has one seems... similarly questionable to me too. Speaking personally I hate the idea, and always have. It's a real dumpster fire because:

  • Lots of drivers (on Windows) assume you don't know how to launch programs, and force a permanent launch shortcut on you.
  • Programs assume you don't understand how to minimize or hide a window, and put themselves in the tray instead. (launchers, chat programs, etc)
  • Some programs seem to use them just to put their logo on the screen. You can't really do anything with the tray icon.
  • Few icons match stylistically, and even on Windows, they don't match the system style. (White icons on a white taskbar? FFS)
  • Programs often don't provide an option to disable their tray icons, and it's rare that I want them.

I guess I found the lack of them to be a breath of fresh air when I first tried Gnome 3 a few years ago. The current iteration doesn't quite work though... 99% of the time I just want an option to kill the damn things, but I've have had some programs that only provide functions through the system tray. It's dumb, and I hate it, but it is what it is.