# Proposal for a new menu applet for the desktop

**URL:** <https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805>\
**Category:** Budgie Applets\
**Created:** [December 17, 2019, 10:27pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805 "2019-12-17T22:27:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 4

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/62 "2019-12-21T16:50:00Z")

</div>

Check you have v0.1.5 of the package installed and that you have logged out and logged in after the update

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![codic](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/codic/32/2569_2.png) [@codic](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/codic)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/63 "2019-12-21T17:01:12Z")

</div>

freezing issue when dragging is gone, but still does not pin to icon task list, after a log out and login.  
I updated about two hours ago. Is that the right version?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![codic](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/codic/32/2569_2.png) [@codic](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/codic)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/64 "2019-12-21T17:36:12Z")

</div>

And yeah I have 0.1.5:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/uploads/ubuntubudgie/original/2X/9/9480df9d9af8c9ec5a11850b80b01c2bdb8d59b6.png)  
(GNOME PackageKit, GTK3 APT frontend. Replaced by GNOME software, but works better for plain APT. Also is better than Synaptic because of easier UI, but this is all offtopic)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/65 "2019-12-21T19:33:56Z")

</div>

No recent activities ( last used app’s and files, last visited places ) ?

Maybe that could be another applet based on the exact same style of grid.

I agree with you all, this app-menu brings a more « modern » style ( if that means anything though ) and some features ( action lists, keyboard browsing… )

Am I the only one to miss a « one place » for all frequently / recent activities like Unity’s dash offered ?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/66 "2019-12-21T20:26:08Z")

</div>

All - I have enabled zeitgeist compatibility with the applet.

This is entirely optional - I know people have a privacy issue with zeitgeist - so if you want to use it then install the package `zeitgeist`

Overtime (if you have zeitgeist installed and running) the applet will store the metadata associated with the apps you launch - this means the search results will automatically bias towards the apps you use most. So you will find the apps you are more interested in first time.

For example - if you search “libre” then the initial results will be libreoffice writer, libreoffice calc etc. If you use calc most of the time - then overtime, typing “libre” will bring libreoffice calc as the first result. So you could just type “l” and the first result will be libreoffice calc.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![codic](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/codic/32/2569_2.png) [@codic](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/codic)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2019, 9:25pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/67 "2019-12-21T21:25:19Z")

</div>

> [@fossfreedom](#):
>
> `zeitgeist`

I don’t see an option in Budgie desktop settings, is it autoenabled if zeigeist-daemon is running?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2019, 9:26pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/68 "2019-12-21T21:26:24Z")

</div>

yes - correct - autoenabled.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ruwe](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/ruwe/32/2155_2.png) [@ruwe](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/ruwe)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/69 "2019-12-22T00:27:10Z")

</div>

At least to me, style means a lot. Any to most other people I know. I wouldn’t use a DE that I would consider having no, or little, style. (Good) looks are important, yes.

Of course, the functionality is important, too. I think Budgie has it both. That’s why I like it so much.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/70 "2019-12-22T14:43:59Z")

</div>

Style matters I agree with you @ruwe but even if that new app-menu is beautiful, it still lacks the most important things _for me_. So I may use it for its good looking style or I may as much keep the default simpler budgie app-menu.

I really question the real / deep use of an app-menu…  
⋅ discoverability when you begin using your new installed distro ( last only a moment )  
⋅ discoverability of newly installed app’s ( all app-menu fail at that )  
⋅ once you know what it has to offer, once you pinned / favorited your app’s of choice, what is the use of an app-menu ???

An app-menu is just a fancy way to display a list, and most of the time app-menus fail to be smarter than just that. I’d prefer having - on the same kind of grid - an overview on all my recent activities : app’s, files, places… cause this kind of quick access to recent items helps work faster.

@fossfreedom optional zeitgeist compatibility sounds interesting. I can’t fully understand the privacy concern here : my personal session on my personal computer keeps track of my personal frequent tasks and helps me work faster with them. Yeah, that’s what personal computers are supposed to do. Of course it has to be transparent, local only, and user should always have control on any activity history ( ie. exclude this type or file or exclude that folder from being tracked ).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 3:52pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/71 "2019-12-22T15:52:39Z")

</div>

Understand about zeitgeist and stuff being local but I can assure you that there are quite a few people who see the words activity tracking and then criticise loudly that the distro is worse than the CIA spying.

Hence I am loathed to make zeitgeist part of the default install

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/72 "2019-12-22T16:03:04Z")

</div>

Just to clarify - I am happy to include recent activities - apps/files/places. All of this is available through zeitgeist. If anyone is willing to give it a go I will try to point them in the right direction.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![codic](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/codic/32/2569_2.png) [@codic](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/codic)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:07pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/73 "2019-12-22T16:07:38Z")

</div>

I am if zeitgeist can. I can try but probably can’t make it without further exploring Vala though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/74 "2019-12-22T16:10:54Z")

</div>

indeed - vala isnt something to be afraid of. If you are proficient in any language such as python then vala is very similar and straightforward.

In terms of the implementation it then the module is the GridView.vala that will need extending in the source base. Grep’ing through the source for zeitgeist will show how zeitgeist is already used.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![codic](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/codic/32/2569_2.png) [@codic](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/codic)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/75 "2019-12-22T16:13:47Z")

</div>

Ah. Will look at how I can use zeitgeist to show that stuff

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ruwe](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/ruwe/32/2155_2.png) [@ruwe](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/ruwe)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/76 "2019-12-22T16:50:39Z")

</div>

Is it possible to look at the code of the applet?

Is it on GitHub?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/77 "2019-12-22T17:22:07Z")

</div>

Yep. The link is in the very first post of this thread. Thx.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![codic](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/codic/32/2569_2.png) [@codic](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/codic)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/78 "2019-12-22T17:24:50Z")

</div>

Yes, @ruwe, here:[https://github.com/UbuntuBudgie/applications-menu](https://github.com/UbuntuBudgie/applications-menu).  
Fossfreedom was pointing to this file: [https://github.com/UbuntuBudgie/applications-menu/blob/master/src/Views/GridView.vala](https://github.com/UbuntuBudgie/applications-menu/blob/master/src/Views/GridView.vala)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ruwe](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/ruwe/32/2155_2.png) [@ruwe](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/ruwe)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 5:44pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/79 "2019-12-22T17:44:38Z")

</div>

@Coeur-Noir : Is it that form follows function, or function follows form?

As you imply, it is often a personal thing. Some choose a dristro more for its form, other for its function. Neither form, nor function exist on their own. If you had just a beautiful form, but no functionality, you would have no tool to work with, and if you had only function, you could just throw a number of buttons into some sort of container. As so often, so truth lies somewhere in the middle, and shift more to one side or the other according to one’s personal preferences.

I am a 50/50 person. To me, form and function are equally important. But I also believe that in any technical device (like a computer), since it is a tool, the technical aspects need to come first, gaining a aesthetically form as a complement.

That’s why I like Budgie so much: everything is beautifully arranged, it’s intuitive, what you need is quickly accessible, and it has just the right amount of options to personalize it to your liking.

Now when it comes to App-Menu, I believe the new version is a very welcome enhancement of the old one. At least the discoverability aspect is already there. It is in the grid.  
I am big fan of the Gnome full-screen launcher, with all the big icons displayed on the screen. It makes it very easy to see at a glance all the apps that all installed in the system. The grid-view of the new App-Menu does just that and comes close enough for me to like and use it.

Other functions you say are missing can probably be aggregated according to what the team/ community finds useful and what can be implemented efficiently from the coding point of view.

If I am correct, the idea for the new App-Menu is based on the Enlightenment DE (@fossfreedom, correct me, if I’m wrong). I believe it is always a good idea to look what other DEs are offering and adapt what you find worthwhile to your work … (adapting, not copying … 🙂 I am proud, too).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/80 "2019-12-22T20:49:01Z")

</div>

Close … based on elementaryos.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vlijm](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/vlijm/32/34_2.png) [@vlijm](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/vlijm)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805/81 "2019-12-24T20:10:45Z")

</div>

@fossfreedom I just noticed… The new menu applet in list view does not have an “All” view. Only categories? Seems only meant to use grid view?

[Previous page](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805.md?page=3)

[Next page](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/proposal-for-a-new-menu-applet-for-the-desktop/2805.md?page=5)