Sean Davis

#Xubuntu users! Do you still use "indicators"? In particular, the ones that are not compatible with the modern KStatusNotifier spec?

Xubuntu ships the Xfce Indicator and Systray plugins as well as "indicator-messages." Does indicator-messages (the mail icon indicator) still work? Should we consider dropping the Indicator plugin for 25.10 to fix issues like these? I'm leaning towards yes.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xfce4-panel/+bug/2059045

Bug #2059045 “Xfce xpanel double network panel icon” : Bugs : xfce4-panel package : Ubuntu

Booted up the Live installer of today's build (20240325) and I see the double network panel icon in the top panel. First time I have seen this on a Live or clean installation. I have only seen it with LTS upgraded Xubuntu installations. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 24.04 Package: xfce4-panel 4.18.4-1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.8.0-11.11-generic 6.8.0-rc4 Uname: Linux 6.8.0-11-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: zfs ApportVersion: 2.28.0-0ubuntu1 Architecture: amd64 CasperMD5Ch...

Launchpad
Apr 12 at 11:54amWeb
Show threadRivermonsterApr 13
@bluesabre I do still use indicators, but I also have legacy tray icons for the odd app like Dropbox. Specifically the volume, power, and Bluetooth indicators, and I suppose the printer one as well. See for example this bug report I filed with ayatana: https://github.com/AyatanaIndicators/ayatana-indicator-bluetooth/issues/49
Missing Xfce in Bluetooth indicator show_settings · Issue #49 · AyatanaIndicators/ayatana-indicator-bluetooth

In the file ayatana-indicator-bluetooth/src/desktop.vala in the show_settings function, you have a if/else for what application should be launched when the user selects "Bluetooth settings" option ...

GitHub
Show threadRivermonsterApr 13

@bluesabre my reasons for using indicators are the same reasons they were proposed in the first place - clutter in the notification area. Every audio app feels like it needs a persistent space just to do the same four or five actions/show the same bits of data. I have the same issue on Windows and macOS too, even when they try to "hide" icons behind a "click to see more" arrow.

Indicators solve that by consolidating, the other way to solve that is of course a non-"traditional" desktop.

Show threadRivermonsterApr 13
@bluesabre in a related note, if anything has got to go is Blueman. Can we evaluate this as a potential replacement? https://github.com/kaii-lb/overskride I'm currently using Blueberry but that's been abandoned.
GitHub - kaii-lb/overskride: A simple yet powerful bluetooth client.

A simple yet powerful bluetooth client. . Contribute to kaii-lb/overskride development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub
Show threadRivermonsterApr 16
@bluesabre I wanted to update on this, since I just upgraded to 24.04 - Volumed is dropped so the only way to get my volume keys working is with the Pulseaudio plugin, the only way to get my brightness keys to work was to use xfce power manager, so those are the two indicators I used most. Trying out bluetooth but that's not looking good either.
Show threadRivermonsterApr 16
@bluesabre So the short answer to your question is yeah, I think Xfce tools natively do what indicators used to be exclusive to - I don't see a reason to keep them in this cycle.
Show threadRivermonsterApr 16
@bluesabre I do still think we need a new Bluetooth tool, Blueman is definitely not it.