[xmonad] Some ideas that could be implemented

[Gwern Branwen]

On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Ismael Carnales <icarnales at gmail.com> wrote:
> And make XMonad more begginer friendly
>
> If Newcomers like it
>
> You got another user
>
> With another point of view to contribute to the project
>
> And get more name, jobs, etc :)
>
> And some ranters :)
>
> Anyway here goes some ideas that i spitted out in the xmonad channel,
> suggest, criticism help and such welcome
>
> * Layout constructors:
>
>   Layouts could export alongside their constructors, a constructor function
> that calls the latter with some default arguments, this allows to aliase
> more common used layouts and become friendlier with newcomers. Also is good
> that users don't invoke the "official layout constructor" from their configs
> so mantainers can change the arguments it takes without breaking
> compatibility.
>
>   Other modules could use the same approach, for ex:
>
>   defaultShellPrompt = shellPrompt defaultXPConfig
>
> simpleDefaultConfig
>
>   A module that provides an structure to configure XMonad by editing some
> hooks, instead of hoving to build them, usefull to make some non-default
> configs default in this module, like modkey, borders, avoidstrust, more
> friendlier managehook, with hooks for floats, moveTo, etc.
>
>   Other configs can be based on simpleDefaultConfig providing some
> pre-feeded values on some hooks, usefull for statusbars i.e.:
> dzenStatusSimpleDefaultConfig, xmobarStatusSimpleDefaultConfig.
>
>   Or better, simpleDefaultConfig could inherit some defaults from another
> Config like dzenStatusConfig, so you would pick the parts that suits you.
>
>   This approach will give easier entry point to configs for newbies without
> loosing power, all normal config items would have to be available, these
> funcions will only provide helpers and shortcuts.
>
> A GridSelect oriented program launcher:
>
>   Inspired by "intelligent launchers" we could make an app launcher that
> shows its options arranged like a keyboard, inteligently ordered, so most
> used apps will be in the home row an continuing outside.

So something like ShellPrompt using the GridSelect UI? Sounds like a good idea.

Does anyone want to do it?

-- 
gwern
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