10:44 p.m.
What's up everybody.
I've debated this mail for a while - I'm the 'new kid' around these
parts, but in a short time I've developed quite a passion around
Fedora, and especially the Xfce spin. I've put some thought and
research into this, so thanks for humoring me and reading.
As great as our spin is, I know it can be better. In reality anything
can be better - there should be a constant evolution of improvements.
I know as Xfce users, we are a smaller niche group from what would use
the default Desktop spin, or perhaps even the KDE spin. It is true,
however that Xfce is experiencing a spike in popularity lately.
Now, although I've only recently finally made the full switch back to
Fedora (I used RHL and Fedora through Core2 before switching) I only
regret not coming back sooner.
Now to the point at hand, how can we make Fedora's Xfce spin
first-class. I guess first, we have to define what *is* first class. I
loaded up different distros with Xfce in VM's and poked around, just
to see how they looked and felt, and my only real impressions were:
a) many aspects of panel layout/themes are very much personal preference
---and---
b) sadly, every Xfce 'spin' I tried felt at least somewhat more
polished than Fedora's out-of-the box presentation in one way or
another...
There are tons of screenshots on the web, but here are mine from my
VMs (with my thoughts for each).
Xubuntu: http://jaysonr.fedorapeople.org/pictures/xfce_screenshots/xubuntu_12_04.png
So - looks nice. Greybird is my favorite theme. The wallpaper has been
the same for at least 2, maybe 3 releases (I think, Charlie Kraviez
can correct me on this I'm sure as he was one the Xubuntu Project
Leader).
I never liked the 'auto-hide' dock...in fact, I generally hate the
'extra' Xfce panel anyway. The Icons look nice, all of the icons in
the system tray match, everything looks smooth, integrated and blends
together.
Sabayon 9: http://jaysonr.fedorapeople.org/pictures/xfce_screenshots/sabayon_9.png
Although not really a 'mainstream' distro, I really only loaded it up
out of curiosity to see what they had done w/ Xfce since most of the
reviews and stuff online focus on the GNOME and KDE spins of this
distro. I actually kinda like what they did. A 2 panel layout that
could easily appeal to GNOME2 refugees, but still different from a
GNOME2 layout. Again, nice icons, although everything doesn't match as
nicely as in Xubuntu, still looks pretty polished. The default theme
is nice (looks to be custom to the distro, perhaps) and the use the
default Xfce window decorations.
openSUSE 12.2 (Beta):
In terms of competition for similar user-bases, I would think of
openSUSE and Fedora to have the two most similar potential user bases.
I like the single panel layout, although the icons seems stock Xfce,
they look nicely integrated. The mixer applet on the panel (Gmixer)
doesn't seem to be in our repos, but the icon for it looks nicer than
the faded icon w/ the blue half-circles we have w/ the default Xfce
mixer applet. They are using Adwaita for a GTK theme, and a custom
window decoration (that seems closely based on the default Xfce
decorations).
Linux Mint Debian Edition:
http://jaysonr.fedorapeople.org/pictures/xfce_screenshots/linux_mint_debi...
I find the GTK theme a little too 'white' (along w/ the default
wallpaper), but both the theme and window decorations seem to be
modified versions of Greybird. Green (aka Mint) icons, but all of the
icons match, look nicely integrated, and the system tray icons match,
except for using the same mixer icon we use.\
And now, we all know the default Fedora 17 look:
http://jaysonr.fedorapeople.org/pictures/xfce_screenshots/f17_default.png
Here I will point out mainly what I don't like: First, I don't like
the borders around the clock and notification area...just looks
unfinished to me. I also wish the Applications Menu icon were the
Fedora logo. I think the Adwaita theme works well (supports GTK3), but
the Nodoka window decorations look dated. I hate the mixer icon, but
like the rest of the 'Fedora' icon set.
This next screenshot is how *I* would improve the look we have now,
sticking with a same/similar layout:
http://jaysonr.fedorapeople.org/pictures/xfce_screenshots/f17_alt_a.png
Changes? The Fedora logo for the Applications Menu, no borders around
the clock and notification area, and the default Xfce window
decoration. Before I took this screenshot, I also ugraded to 4.10, and
added the 'Action Buttons' plugin to the panel.
Next, I simply eliminate a *personal* pet peeve - the second, bigger
panel that doesn't take up the entire width of the screen. It seems
wasteful to me (especially with maximized windows). I also reduced the
top panel to 24px.:
http://jaysonr.fedorapeople.org/pictures/xfce_screenshots/f17_alt_b.png
The next layout would appeal to GNOME 2 refugees:
http://jaysonr.fedorapeople.org/pictures/xfce_screenshots/f17_alt_c.png
A second (24px) panel is added back, and a places applet displaying
label only is added to the top panel. Reduced the text of the App menu
button to just display 'Applications'. This layout looks very much
like GNOME2 (to me anyway).
Next, is a layout similar to what openSUSE had:
http://jaysonr.fedorapeople.org/pictures/xfce_screenshots/f17_alt_d.png
A single bottom panel, 24px.
Finally, is basically what I'm using:
http://jaysonr.fedorapeople.org/pictures/xfce_screenshots/f17_alt_e.png
It's the same as the last layout, but using Greybird and the
Elementary icon theme. For my personal use, I'm still a little torn
between this and Adwaita, however I think the Elementary icon theme
looks SO much nicer, even that ugly mixer icon is fixed ;-) It just
looks more polished and integrated. I know everyone doesn't like the
darker grey panel look/menus etc...
So...now that I've said all of that what do you think? Like I said, I
was torn about jumping in as a new guy with suggestions, but I figured
why not...the worst y'all could do is say 'go away, your bothering
me'...so I did it.
Other thoughts I've had is, what other things do we do as a 'SIG'. I
noticed an e-mail from Rex Dieter to fedora-devel speaking of a KDE
SIG meeting - have we as a SIG ever had IRC meetings? Would there be
any value? Would anyone attend? Since I'm just now jumping in, has
there been other recent discussion I've missed about plans for F18? I
know Kevin has spoken of moving to LightDM, and has included Greybird
as being installed by default in the spin for F18.
I'm not looking to ruffle feathers, just get discussion going and make
Fedora 18's Xfce spin even more awesome.
Thanks for reading!
Jayson
--
-jayson
