Slow Death Of GNOME's Tiling Extensions

Summary

The video script discusses the uncertain state of tiling extensions in the GNOME desktop environment. It highlights the decline of extensions like Bismuth and the rise of Polonium, with Krohnkite being revived. The script clarifies the difference between true tiling and window snapping, and reviews extensions like PopShell and Forge, noting their maintenance challenges. It also touches on the potential of the PaperWM extension as an alternative for those seeking a tiling experience. The video concludes by encouraging users to explore other desktop environments or contribute to extension development if they rely heavily on such features.

Takeaways

• 📝 Early on with X11, you could switch window managers without needing extensions, allowing for flexibility with options like i3, BSPWM, DWM, awesome, etc.
• 🔍 Initially, there were many tiling extensions, but over time, most fell out of update, leaving Bismuth and eventually Polonium as the main option by the time Plasma 6 arrived.
• 🔄 One of the older extensions, Krohnkite, was revived, offering users an alternative to Polonium on Plasma.
• 🏠 The term 'tiling' has become confusing due to some projects and desktops using it to describe customizable window snapping rather than the traditional tiling window manager behavior.
• 🧩 On GNOME, there were only two main extensions for actual tiling behavior: PopShell and Forge.
• ⚠️ PopShell was primarily developed for the version of GNOME shipped with PopOS, limiting its usability with newer GNOME features outside of PopOS's base Ubuntu LTS versions.
• 🛠️ Forge was a popular choice for GNOME tiling, but it's no longer actively maintained and is seeking a new maintainer.
• 🔄 PopShell's maintenance has also ceased for newer GNOME versions, with support ending when the current LTS version reaches its End of Life in April 2027.
• 🔧 The GNOME community faces uncertainty with the future of tiling extensions like PopShell and Forge, which are in a state of semi-maintenance or seeking new maintainers.
• 🌐 For users seeking a tiling experience, alternatives like PaperWM offer a scrollable window manager approach that might suffice until a proper tiling extension is available.

Q & A

What was the initial situation with tiling window managers and Plasma?

Initially, with X11, you didn't need an extension for tiling because you could swap out the window manager with any you wanted, such as i3, BSPWM, DWM, awesome, etc.

Why did tiling extensions start to appear in the Plasma desktop environment?

Extensions started to appear as the need for more customizable and automated window management grew, even though initially you could just swap out the window manager.

What is the current state of tiling extensions in Plasma 6?

In Plasma 6, the only tiling extension available is Polonium, with Krohnkite being revived as an alternative option.

What is the difference between a tiling extension and a window snapping tool according to the script?

A tiling extension replicates the behavior of a tiling window manager, automatically placing windows into a tile layout, whereas a window snapping tool allows for customizable window placement but does not automatically tile windows.

What is the status of PopShell, a GNOME tiling extension mentioned in the script?

PopShell is not actively maintained for newer versions of GNOME and is only maintained for PopOS 22.04 LTS. There is a development branch for 24.04 LTS, but it's not the main focus.

What is the current maintenance status of Forge, another GNOME tiling extension?

Forge is not maintained anymore and is looking for a new owner and maintainer. The original maintainer is still using it and might update it if major changes from GNOME upstream don't break it.

Why is it challenging to find a new maintainer for GNOME extensions like Forge?

Maintaining someone else's codebase is challenging, and it's rare for a project to be handed off to a new maintainer. It's also difficult for new developers to step up without prior experience in extension development.

What is the significance of the GNOME team's stance on implementing something as complex as PopShell?

The GNOME team's lack of interest in implementing something as complex as PopShell indicates that the future of such extensions depends on community contributions and might not align with the official GNOME development direction.

What alternative extension is suggested for those looking for a tiling experience in GNOME?

PaperWM is suggested as an alternative for those who want a tiling experience. It turns GNOME into a scrollable window manager, providing a tiling-like experience with active maintainers.

What advice does the script give to GNOME users who rely on tiling extensions for their workflow?

The script advises GNOME users who rely on tiling extensions to consider adapting their workflow, learning development to contribute, or trying out other desktop environments if their required extensions are no longer maintained.