Polonium Kind Of Turns KDE Into A Real Tiler

Summary

The video script discusses the Polonium tiling extension for KDE Plasma, a successor to Bismuth and Kronite. The narrator, a fan of tiling window managers, walks through the setup process, including system settings and installing necessary extensions. They highlight issues like inconsistent window focus behavior, lag, and difficulties with mouse-based relocation. Despite these, the script acknowledges Polonium's potential with further development, comparing it to other tiling systems and expressing hope for improvements.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The video discusses the use of Polonium, a tiling extension for KDE Plasma, which is a successor to Bismuth and Kornate tiling window managers.
• 🔄 KDE Plasma has evolved, and the script mentions that some settings and extensions are outdated, requiring updates for Plasma 6.
• 🛠️ The user suggests specific settings for optimal tiling experience, such as setting 'focus follows mouse' and configuring the window action modify key.
• 📐 The script highlights the importance of window borders for identifying focus in a tiling window manager and how to enable them using 'kwin 6 bismuth decoration'.
• 🔑 Keyboard shortcuts are crucial for efficient window management in a tiling environment, and the script provides guidance on configuring them in KDE Plasma.
• 🔄 The video points out inconsistencies in window focus behavior when using Polonium, which can be confusing for users accustomed to traditional tiling managers.
• 🖥️ Maximize and full-screen functionalities are treated differently in Polonium, which may not suit all user preferences or application requirements.
• 🔲 The script mentions the lack of easy mouse-based relocation of windows, which is an inconvenience for users who prefer mouse interactions.
• ♻️ Polonium offers different layout modes, such as binary tree, half mode, three column mode, monocle mode, and kwin mode, providing flexibility in window arrangement.
• 🛑 The video describes occasional lag and performance issues with Polonium, which can affect the user experience negatively.
• 🔧 Settings changes in Polonium may require a logout or kwin restart to apply, indicating potential areas for improvement in the extension's usability.

Q & A

What initially made the Channel popular?

The Channel first gained popularity due to its focus on a tiling window manager.

Why did the creator switch to Linux and use a tiling window manager?

The creator is a fan of tiling window managers, which led them to switch to Linux and use one.

What is Polonium and how is it related to Bismuth and Kronite?

Polonium is the tiling extension for KD Plasma, which is the successor to Bismuth and Kronite, with Kronite having been revived.

What are some recommended settings for using Polonium with default KD Plasma settings?

For optimal use of Polonium, settings such as 'focus follows mouse', 'mouse preset delay Focus 0 milliseconds', and 'window action modify key set to meta' are recommended.

Why is it necessary to update the docks to Plasma 6 when using Polonium?

The docks are outdated and based on Plasma 5 extensions, which need to be updated to be compatible with Plasma 6 for the proper functioning of Polonium.

What is the issue with window borders in Plasma 5 and how is it addressed in Polonium?

In Plasma 5, it's difficult to know which window has focus due to the lack of a colored outline. Polonium addresses this by using 'kwin 6 bismuth decoration' for window borders.

How can users configure keyboard shortcuts for Polonium in the Plasma environment?

Users can configure keyboard shortcuts for Polonium under the 'shortcut section' in Plasma by searching for 'pelium' and going to 'kwin'.

What is the main issue with window resizing in Polonium?

There are inconsistencies and finicky behavior with window resizing in Polonium, where sometimes it works fine, but in other cases, it doesn't.

How does Polonium handle different layouts and what are some of the available options?

Polonium offers different layout modes such as 'binary tree', 'half mode', 'three column mode', 'monocle mode', and 'kwin mode', which can be switched using keyboard shortcuts.

What are some of the performance issues mentioned in the script regarding Polonium?

The script mentions issues such as occasional lag, jittery performance, and random freezing, which affect the user experience with Polonium.

Why does the creator believe that more work is needed on Polonium before it can be fully adopted?

The creator points out inconsistencies, performance lags, and lack of consistent behavior as reasons for needing more work on Polonium before it can be fully adopted.