linuxmint / linuxmint/mintupdate

Updates shouldn't steal window focus, ever.

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#727 6 comments 5 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

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FEATURE REQUEST
Dominant language
Python
Stars
425
Forks
190
PR merge metrics
No merged PRs in 30d

Description

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
Updating Linux is an easy-going and everyday task. However, during an update, Mint Update will repeatedly steal window focus. I don't understand why this is, as it could easily and harmlessly happen in the background, and it's hard to think of a situation which would actually demand my already-occupied attention, immediately, from Mint Update. An icon change in the task bar, which it already does, is already more than enough.

Describe the solution you'd like
It just doesn't need to steal window focus. Probably ever. If I'm either trying to watch a movie or play a game, or (in my case more often) working on a major multimedia project, it completely breaks my flow.

Describe alternatives you've considered

Additional context
Generally speaking, focus stealing (and modal windows) is a relic mistake from the early days of X; when, presumably, there might have been situations which required immediate attention, such as entering a password at the time. However, in today's world (including with passwords) there's never a justification for stealing control and flow from the user, and it can even be dangerous—what if a click is intercepted by this window, which was intended for the frame it's covering up? Stranger things have happened.

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

No file or test is named. Start by locating where Mint Update presents update progress or status windows, then reproduce an update while another window is active. Done means updates never take focus while the existing taskbar or icon indication continues to work.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
desktop, operating-systems
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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