19:54:58 #startmeeting i3-sig 19:54:58 Meeting started Wed Aug 11 19:54:58 2021 UTC. 19:54:58 This meeting is logged and archived in a public location. 19:54:58 The chair is defolos. Information about MeetBot at http://wiki.debian.org/MeetBot. 19:54:58 Useful Commands: #action #agreed #halp #info #idea #link #topic. 19:54:58 The meeting name has been set to 'i3-sig' 19:55:12 addchair x3mboy 19:55:24 .chair 19:55:24 odilhao: (chair ) -- Alias for "echo $1 is seated in a chair with a nice view of a placid lake, unsuspecting that another chair is about to be slammed into them.". 19:55:29 #chair 19:55:31 #chair x3mboy 19:55:37 I think 19:55:40 .chair odilhao 19:55:42 odilhao is seated in a chair with a nice view of a placid lake, unsuspecting that another chair is about to be slammed into them. 19:55:52 #chair odilhao 19:55:52 Current chairs: defolos odilhao 19:55:59 #chair x3mboy 19:55:59 Current chairs: defolos odilhao x3mboy 19:56:07 .hello2 19:56:08 defolos: defolos 'Dan Čermák' 19:56:27 let's wait a bit in case anyone else shows up 19:57:57 Ok 19:58:00 .hello3 19:58:04 .hello2 19:58:05 x3mboy: x3mboy 'Eduard Lucena' 19:58:06 Ooops 19:58:33 kcwitt: ping meeting 19:58:40 .fasinfo kcwitt 19:58:41 defolos: User: kcwitt, Name: None, email: kcwitt@gmail.com, Creation: 2021-01-14, IRC Nick: None, Timezone: None, Locale: None, GPG key ID: None, Status: active 19:58:44 defolos: Approved Groups: i3-sig cla_done cla_fpca 19:59:44 .hello2 19:59:45 odilhao: odilhao 'Odilon Junior' 20:00:44 hello 20:01:56 👋 20:02:06 if you want to join the meeting type `.hello2` 20:02:23 .hello2 20:02:24 kcwitt: kcwitt 'None' 20:02:48 Hello nameless ;-) 20:03:42 well, let's get started 20:03:50 we have quite the issue backlog on pagure 20:04:19 I've picked a few that I thought are probably most important 20:04:44 #topic Creation of traditional user directories 20:04:59 #link https://pagure.io/i3-sig/Fedora-i3-Spin/issue/26 20:05:47 hm, why is that not working? 20:06:25 #chair defolos 20:06:25 Current chairs: defolos odilhao x3mboy 20:06:47 #meetingtopic i3 SIG meeting 20:06:58 I think we definately need a simple document to go along with the spin - there are too many deviations from a traditional desktop environment to not have any explinion. I suggest just noting the typical directories in this document and showing the user how to create them if they want. 20:07:16 Topic is one of the weirdier, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't 20:07:39 oh well, let's go without #topic then 🤷 20:08:37 ok, so we do want the traditional user directories 20:08:50 now, how do we create them properly? 20:09:29 #listmeetings 20:09:34 xdg-user-dirs-update 20:09:35 ? 20:10:21 x3mboy, the command is correct, and if we want a custom layout, we need to add some variables in a file at ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs 20:10:46 or at file in /etc/ for a global config 20:11:06 #recent 20:11:08 I don't think of i3 as a minimilist window manager - I think of it as a "fit for purpose" window manager (ie. a minimal base for the end user to make fit for their purpose). In this way, if there is an `xdg-user-dirs-update` script we should let the end user run it deliberately. 20:11:50 I should say "fit for purpose - and extremely performant" 20:11:57 will xdg-user-dirs-update blow up if you already have the directories in place? 20:12:16 defolos, I don't know, let me run here 20:12:22 I just run it, it doesn't give error or anything (my dirs are created) 20:12:29 s/run/ran/g 20:12:37 x3mboy++ 20:12:38 odilhao: Karma for x3mboy changed to 8 (for the current release cycle): https://badges.fedoraproject.org/tags/cookie/any 20:13:23 kcwitt: If you install the packages yes, but if you use the spin, no. I'm totally on favor of create them 20:13:37 odilhao: Error: Can't start another meeting, one is in progress. 20:13:40 It's easier to a power user to delete them than to a normal user created them 20:14:26 What I mean is that (for me) the purpose of the spin is to have the most minimal base. It is very different than installing gnome and then switching to i3 - people can already do that without the spin at all. 20:14:39 I agree with x3mboy, from a livecd POV, if someone that never used i3 looks at Thunar and theres nothing, it will be weird 20:15:10 we could add an invocation of xdg-user-dirs-update to the Fedora branded i3 config 20:15:20 +1 20:15:21 power users will bring their own config and will not get this at all 20:16:29 any objections to doing that? 20:16:44 I guess it comes down to whether the goal is to produce an i3 spin that requires no additional explination (ie. works for a new user out of the box), or to provide a spin with some additinal explination. I am in favor of deliberately providing extra explination because the first five times I tried i3 I gave up on it because I didn't think it was installed correctly (I just didn't understand what 20:16:46 it was). 20:17:22 kcwitt: we also have a welcome app in the pipeline 20:17:34 ok 20:17:36 but it just explains how you navigate around in i3 20:17:52 and how you can exit it, you'll have to read the docs yourself 20:18:28 earlier a sent a markdown document to the mailing list with the customizations I made to i3 after I installed it. I didn't really mean for those items to be implemented in the spin - I more meant it as an example document to accompany the spin. 20:18:30 I'll propose the current idea in the pagure ticket and unless anyone screams, I'll implement it 20:18:30 how you can exit it <- we don't want to be the next most asked question in stackoverflow 20:18:38 Great! 20:18:44 defolos++ 20:19:37 #agreed defolos to comment on https://pagure.io/i3-sig/Fedora-i3-Spin/issue/26 and propose to add xdg-user-dirs-update to the fedora branded i3 config 20:19:56 hm, so much for agreed… 20:20:13 next thing: https://pagure.io/i3-sig/Fedora-i3-Spin/issue/55 20:20:22 screen locking via xss-lock 20:20:38 tl;dr; the user was complaining that loginctl cannot lock the i3 session 20:20:56 this can be fixed by executing i3-lock via xss-lock 20:21:28 same possible solution as with xdg-user-dirs-update: add the invocation to the fedora branded config 20:21:43 +1 20:21:57 that has the added benefit, that `xset s off -dpms` actually turns off the screen lock 20:22:16 it has the downside that xss-lock is effectively abandoned… 20:22:17 +1 20:23:23 But is still packaged? 20:23:23 defolos, do we have any alternative for xss-lock? I think all lock binaries that I've used for i3wm used xss-lock 20:23:41 We can ship on F35 and research how to make loginctl to properly work on i3 for F36 20:23:41 x3mboy: it is 20:24:09 odilhao: none that I am aware off 20:24:11 x3mboy: sounds good to me 20:25:11 I have a dummy question 20:25:13 i believe something has to listen to loginctl for the lock signal - but i3lock only runs when the lock is activated (ie. it doesn't listen). that is why xss-lock is needed 20:25:16 I'll drop a note on the pagure ticket then 20:25:21 This is for automating locking? 20:25:27 any locking 20:25:36 yes 20:25:49 all locking should start with loginctl, which will then notify the actual widgets to enact the lock 20:26:01 Because I use i3-lock, i3lock-color and i3lock-fancy 20:26:04 including lid, power button, ctl, etc. 20:26:07 No need on anything 20:26:25 x3mboy: yes, you can run i3lock directly, but how about catching the power button, lid, etc. 20:26:58 xss-lock listens to all types of events dispatched by systemd as kcwitt said 20:27:12 and will then run the locker, when appropriate 20:27:37 but it also respects your screen dimming timeouts set by xset s on/off 20:28:05 Ahhh 20:28:07 That makes sense 20:28:15 I don't want that, so I let that to you 20:28:19 I will disable it for me 20:28:41 you won't get it anyway, because you have your own config file 20:28:42 I love to close my laptop and torrents still transfer and everything continue working 20:28:43 :D 20:29:20 the nice thing about sneaking this in via the fedora config is that power users will not receive these changes 20:29:25 only newcommers 20:30:10 ok, so next are some package group suggestions from https://pagure.io/i3-sig/Fedora-i3-Spin/issue/60 and https://pagure.io/i3-sig/Fedora-i3-Spin/issue/64 20:31:06 x3mboy: a bit off-topic; but I think the most idiomatic way to ignore the lid closing is to put an override in the '/etc/systemd/logind.conf.d/' directory to ignore the lid switch (and then you can still let loginctl do all the other things it is meant to do) 20:31:07 I commented on 60 20:31:37 For me LibreOffice can be installed directly, without a sub-package 20:32:31 If the user want Libreoffice, he can install with DNF, we could mention this in the welcome app, like Most used Programs and how to install 20:32:34 And there is a Package Group for it too 20:32:59 yeah, I don't fancy dragging in LibreOffice 20:33:04 LibreOffice (libreoffice) 20:33:20 odilhao: +1 20:33:47 odilhao: I don't think that this is really something for the welcome app 20:34:01 it should be i3 specific not "this is how you install stuff" 20:34:13 at least imho 20:34:13 defolos, true 20:34:54 Also true 20:35:04 defolos: yes, but - it would make sense to "curate" a list of packages that would encompass a complete desktop environment which work well with i3 and together 20:35:15 Maybe a mention in the i3 docs pointing to the docs 20:35:48 just suggestions for new users who are used to having everything already in their desktop environment - this was one of the issues that delayed my embracing i3 20:35:59 hm 20:36:14 you have a point there 20:36:23 plus I always install libreoffice anyway 20:36:51 would anyone take a look at the other editions & spins and find out how they handle office suites? 20:37:59 flameshot from issue 60 looks pretty cool 20:38:01 I will 20:38:04 Action me 20:38:06 thanks! 20:38:17 flameshot? 20:38:23 I definately vote against including anything directly in the spin, but definately vote for making suggestions for those who need them 20:38:38 #action x3mboy to look into how other spins handle office suites 20:39:01 kcwitt: eh, how is that supposed to work? 20:39:23 I mean either libreoffice is in the installation iso or it is not 20:40:08 I think is not needed 20:40:09 defolos: it is not, but we provide a document listing a 'recommended' screenshot app, office suite, scanner app, etc. 20:40:32 import do the work 20:40:46 flameshot, I mean 20:40:52 it took me a long time to figure out that the name of the scanner app from the default fedora app was the 'simple scanner' package - we could some future users some time 20:41:07 ah 20:41:35 I mean we could create another package group as x3mboy suggested in issue 60 20:41:55 * x3mboy < https://libera.ems.host/_matrix/media/r0/download/libera.chat/3bb0debfc9dd4b16f097c7e92d33ac8226535979/message.txt > 20:42:05 one that includes all the "fat" end user applications like LibreOffice, inkscape, etc 20:42:15 Are we shipping ImageMagick? 20:42:33 I don't suggest to "obfuscate" the details behind a package group - that is part of the reason it took me so long to realize the pdf reader was `evince` - let's just say if you want to read pdf files install `evince` 20:42:34 x3mboy: duno, but import is hardly convenient to use for newcommers 20:43:06 Ok, it makes sense 20:43:23 I was a superfan of Shutter, but I think is broken or abandoned 20:43:24 kcwitt: so essentially document this stuff better then? 20:43:37 So, the flame think sounds ok 20:44:14 somewhere in the i3 documentation they discuss the distinction between a "desktop environment" and a "window manager", and then go on to say they are ONLY a "window manager" and don't aspire to be a "desktop environment" - I suggest we do the same (but give the end user guidance in the form of documentation how to make their custom fit for purpose "desktop environment"). 20:44:48 well… we kinda try to be a desktop environment 20:45:04 that's the whole point of a Spin 20:45:13 defolos: could be - but we could also be a desktop environment "framework" 20:45:39 We are trying to give a better experience than only installing i3 20:45:46 kcwitt: but then there is absolutely no reason to use the spin in contrast to grabing fedora minimal and installing i3 20:45:56 That's the whole point of having a Spin 20:47:26 i hadn't ever thought of starting with minimilist. But in the past I started with the default Gnome version, and then added i3 (which was very bloated for what I wanted). To me the spin solved this bloat problem - but adding lots of stuff back into it can make it bloated again. 20:48:03 If we include things like xrdb and xss-lock it is more than the minimilist spin with i3. 20:48:27 But I don't really see a need to provide much other stuff that any user can simple add with a `dnf install ...` command 20:48:28 certainly, but I would hardly call that bloated 20:48:58 kcwitt, we have the minimal-package group, users can always look at the minimal-i3-package-group and remove the rest, or install from a minimal iso 20:49:38 Also, we are still smaller than other distros i3 flavors 20:49:39 kcwitt: well, one of the spin's goals is to provide sensible defaults for the most used applications 20:49:39 Like Manjaro and regolith 20:49:45 removing things is anathema to me (better to never have had them) 20:50:54 kcwitt: then fedora-minimal might be the thing for you 20:51:22 since it's getting late 20:51:28 but fedora-minimal would not have xrdb and xss-lock, etc. 20:51:37 no 20:51:44 but you could dnf install that… 20:51:56 as you wrote further above 20:52:26 I don't want to belabor the point, but a user will know if the office suite is not installed - but the average user would have no idea to install xss-lock to fix the computer not locking issue 20:53:06 the user would know `dnf install libreoffice` but would not know `dnf install xss-lock` 20:53:27 That's true, but will the average user expect a screenshot tool to be present or not? 20:53:34 (that's an honest question) 20:53:45 another issue is compton (compositor) - MS Teams can't screen share without a screen compositor - I think this is something that should be addressed by the spin 20:54:09 eh 20:54:12 defolos: regarding screenshot - I suggest we address that in a document with our list of "recommended" apps 20:54:17 it works on my machine… 20:54:20 kcwitt: That's not tru4e 20:54:21 > <@kcwitt:libera.chat> another issue is compton (compositor) - MS Teams can't screen share without a screen compositor - I think this is something that should be addressed by the spin 20:54:21 * That's not true 20:54:35 I use screenshare, and I don't have a compositor 20:54:35 but I am not against including screenshot 20:54:36 I can screenshare in Teams & Jitsi without any issues 20:54:50 flameshot +1 20:55:02 compton -1 (deprecated) 20:55:07 defolos: oh, cool - last year I had an issue with teams and fixed it by running compton 20:55:14 picom -1 (no need for a compositor) 20:55:31 kcwitt: The error was the black screen with the red border 20:55:35 yes 20:55:38 I'm able to screenshare on Teams without a compositor, the problem is that it requires Chromium 20:55:46 It wasn't related to the compositor, was just a file that you need to move 20:56:20 huh, never encountered that 20:56:20 x3mboy: that was the css file that added the red border - (which required a compositor to show it) 20:56:25 sudo mv /usr/share/teams/resources/app.asar.unpacked/node_modules/slimcore/bin/rect-overlay /usr/share/teams/resources/app.asar.unpacked/node_modules/slimcore/bin/rect-overlay.bkp 20:56:40 * ``` 20:56:40 sudo mv /usr/share/teams/resources/app.asar.unpacked/node_modules/slimcore/bin/rect-overlay /usr/share/teams/resources/app.asar.unpacked/node_modules/slimcore/bin/rect-overlay.bkp 20:56:40 ``` 20:56:48 * defolos is using the teams flatpak or from chromium 20:56:58 * defolos is not putting that junk directly on the system 20:57:03 I'm using the rpm fomr MS repos 20:57:13 * I'm using the rpm from MS repos 20:57:32 It's the work laptop, not personal laptop 20:57:39 In my personal laptop I don't use team 20:57:40 * In my personal laptop I don't use teams 20:57:59 since it's getting to the top of the hour: please comment on the respective issues about the other suggestions 20:58:15 last: what should the new default terminal be? 20:58:15 is teams the only software that a user might want to use that uses composite windows? (in teams case it is the red rectangle that is composited over the screen) 20:58:20 st 20:58:49 In principle I'm in favor of that, but st sucks to configure 20:59:04 and it has no scrollback which will annoy the heck out of newcommers 20:59:04 I was thinking in package a .Xresources for urxvt 20:59:07 wdyt? 20:59:07 there isn't really any configuration - but it does work out of the box and looks presentable 20:59:40 x3mboy: can you put a .xresources outside of $HOME? 20:59:41 x3mboy: urxvt has some sort of issue where it can't show powerline fonts (to make the goofy symbols in the `vim` status bar) 20:59:46 x3mboy, just to use our color scheme? 20:59:47 * x3mboy uploaded an image: (30KiB) < https://libera.ems.host/_matrix/media/r0/download/matrix.org/wKgZWefhJVLYedqxZPOzLqVl/image.png > 20:59:57 That's my urxvt 21:00:13 I don't use it, but it looks way nicer than the default 21:00:29 defolos: Not sure 21:01:16 defolos: yes; per the st docs use tmux to provide scrollback 21:01:58 kcwitt: yeah, but the new user does not know that 21:02:11 my i3 config has the line 'bindsym $mod+Return exec st -e tmux' 21:02:19 and tmux is not exactly obvious to use either 21:02:35 Well, need to discuss that 21:02:39 (again I suggest that we should add some auxiliary docs for new users describing some of this stuff) 21:02:45 I'm not in favor of st, it's way too minimalist 21:03:05 I don't think an i3 spin will ever be completely intuitive to new users the way that the default gnome environment is 21:03:13 obviously 21:03:22 And the problem with alacritty and kitty is that they use GPU acceleration 21:03:40 What about xfce4-terminal? 21:03:49 I really like xfce4-terminal 21:04:01 I used to love tilix, but the giant gtk3 bar is aweful, it hurt my eyes 21:04:19 xfce4-terminal looks ok 21:04:29 xfte4-terminal has both very easy font scaling, and color schemes, and utf8 capability 21:04:44 +1 for xfce4-terminal 21:04:45 I guess most power users will use their favorite anyway 21:04:53 heh, that was simple 21:05:01 so let's go with xfce4-terminal 21:05:13 agreed then 21:05:14 #agreed let's go with xfce4-terminal 21:05:25 That was fastrer than I though 21:05:25 before anyone objects 😛 21:05:27 :D 21:05:29 Friday in on PTO, I can work on the PR for comps 21:05:32 then it is important urxvt is NOT installed, otherwise it will have higher precedence in i3-sensible-terminal 21:05:41 s/in/im 21:05:44 urgh 21:05:44 Sure 21:06:16 #note defolos to remove the suggests/recommends urxvt from i3 21:06:36 okidoke, that covers it and we're only 7 minutes over time 21:06:43 #endmeeting