This probably won't make it on the list of popular ideas nor does it significantly impact the user-experience but I was kind of hoping to spark interest for something similar to Gnome/Unity Dash. Other examples include Albert, Synapse, and maybe Mutate.
Since I'm not developer, I can't come up with definite reasons for why this would be a good or bad idea.
My particular reason for wanting such a thing in the first place is because I happen to think that Cinnamon treats its users well as far as the user experience goes.
I like bragging about how it really simplifies things and makes things easy to get to or understand. At least, from an HCI perspective.
Yes, others probably say the same for other "modern" desktops, but I think the LM team gets everything out nice'n right out of the box.
TL;DR:
While Cinnamon may not necessarily need the feature, I think it's a nicer way to get to whatever it is one needs aside from apps. Yes, Cinnamon has an app menu, but I sometimes have to go looking under a particular section/menu to get to a particular app. I'd rather just type three letters and have the utility recommend it to me and let me launch from there as apposed to scrolling from the menu. It became apparent to me that some might find this feature redundant, but I then ask those to recall that other desktop environments aside from Gnome and Unity utilize such a feature. If I'm not mistaken, KDE, Xfce, and LXQt all incorporate a similar utility. I don't remember what Unity was like 'cause I only used it once, but all others mentioned also have app menus. In that sense, it isn't so much that it's replacing one for another but that it's complimenting another feature by providing a different type of access that may be easier for some users. And, no, I'm not saying Cinnamon should try to be more like everyone else, but rather that Cinnamon should incorporate what works into their own because a lot of what they've already integrated obviously works—and to the benefit of the user, I might add.
With that out of the way, I feel like I can list some preliminary pros & cons off my head:
Pros:
*System-wide indexer makes accessing or finding files/apps/menus much more simpler
*Can add to newer UI implementation
*Run specific commands from utility saves time opening terminal
Cons:
*Requires more resources on machine
*Requires more storage
*More work/maintenance for devs (maybe)
*Conflict with future changes to Cinnamon
The way I see it, this can go one of three ways:
1) Devs actually go through and innovate some kind of lightweight alternative desktop launcher and integrate into Cinnamon
2) An extension is created/maintained so that it isn't shipped by default but still relevant and more importantly, functional/compatible
3) An already-existing desktop launcher is integrated/packaged into LM by default
I don't think what I'm asking for has to be implemented exactly as other mentioned launchers as I was previously told that Cinnamon (specifically the app menu) has the ability to become modified to index files as well as apps. So, perhaps there's other ways to go about this aside from an overlay, although I think from the user perspective, an overlay would be a more comfortable experience.
I realize some think there's no real benefit to this as some distros without both an app menu and desktop icons solely offer this feature to get to their apps and files (by default; thus justification) but I still think it would benefit a good number of users since other operating systems aside from Linux have that same kind of functionality. Again, not saying to "copy everyone else" but rather that it should be acknowledged that there are ways to do things for which users may find easier than navigating menus or may be more familiar with (search).
If it is felt this is not worth the team's time, I can understand. From what I've been keeping up with on the blog, I'm hearing some kind of change up ahead.
Whether that was theoretical or not, only time will tell. I would at least appreciate a chance for this to be polled on.
The End
