• KDE Plasma 6 will require users to double-click on files and folders to open them by default.
  • This change is controversial for those familiar with single-click behavior in KDE Plasma.
  • Click behavior in KDE Plasma 6 is configurable, allowing users to choose between single-click and double-click.

https://archive.ph/BseL3


This is one of the first things I always tweak in KDE, so I love this change, but I'm curious how others feel.

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[–] 192 points 2 years ago (27 children)

Single click is for web page links, not my computer.

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  • [+] 92 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (11 children)
  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago (9 children)

    It makes file system navigation much faster and more pleasant imo, I'm definitely reverting this.

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  • [–] 16 points 2 years ago (7 children)

    How do you select without executing?

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  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

    There's a little + that you can click on the icons.
    Or, you can use the keyboard arrows and spacebar.

    Not sure if there's others.

    Edit: Just found another one actually. Middle-clicking selects without opening.
    This works better than the little + on the icons because the + behaves like a "ctrl-click."

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  • [–] 75 points 2 years ago

    Single click was always the first setting I changed.

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  • [–] 61 points 2 years ago (16 children)

    I’m actually kinda suspicious any Linux user would actually want a single click default.

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  • [–] 15 points 2 years ago (12 children)

    I don't know how requiring clocking twice instead of once is good

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  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago (6 children)

    How do you select files? Probably double click?

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    [–] 58 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    I honestly forgot that single-click is the default behavior in Plasma. I set up new desktop environments so rarely, and this is such an infuriating default behavior that I change it immediately. Glad to hear this is changing.

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    [–] 45 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    My parents found single-click much more intuitive, because everything else (web browser, phone) uses single-click.

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    [–] 35 points 2 years ago (15 children)

    For all those single-click fans:

    • how do you quickly rename a file?
    • how do you even drag-drop instead of opening stuff?
    • how do you select files?
    • how do you live?

    Saying "well kids use web stuff and Android and dont know what a single click is" is basically neglecting the use of a mouse. I love at least 3 buttons, hovering and fast clicks.

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  • [–] 14 points 2 years ago

    Q1: Select (see Q3) + F2

    Q2: Same way as double-click people. A file only opens if I click, not when I press the mouse button and drag the file around.

    Q3: I draw a small selection frame over it, or press the control key when clicking (I have the hand there any, especially if my next input will be Ctrl+C/X and Ctrl+V

    Q4: I just do. Sometimes I relax by playing shooters with the "invert mouse" option turned on :D

    I have never had a cell phone or smart phone in my life, single-click was the default when I switched to Linux, I gave it a try and I liked it.

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    [–] 33 points 2 years ago

    The Year of Linux on the Desktop has finally come guys.

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  • [–] 29 points 2 years ago (6 children)

    When I first switched to KDE, this issue took up roughly 15 seconds of my time as I saw what was happening and went exploring for the setting to change the behavior. Apart from having to change the setting again from time to time, I have spent exactly zero seconds thinking about it and exactly zero seconds wondering which approach was the "best" since then. I wonder how honest it is for this site to refer to a "debate"; it's hard for me to imagine anyone giving a shit beyond setting their own system up the way they like it.

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    [–] 26 points 2 years ago* (8 children)

    I think it's great. I think it's impossible to use dolphin with single click since it goes into folders or starts files when clicking on them once.

    Anyone knows the historic reason for single click? Plasma was inspired by some older system?

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    [–] 24 points 2 years ago

    I've been using my install script for so long, I've forgotten that single click was the default. I guess that's at least one extra line I can remove.

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  • [–] 24 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    A day of sorrow indeed... No, joking aside. I gather most people use double click anyway, so this is a good change for that reason. I've never really understood it myself (the primary function of the left click being "select" when everywhere else it's "open" or "go to this thing"?? Alien stuff).

    I'm just glad KDE listens to it's users and adapts to them. Looking forward to the release!

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    [–] 21 points 2 years ago

    They can change the default settings as long as they leave the option to change it available.

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  • [–] 16 points 2 years ago

    This is wholesome in a strange way.

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  • [–] 15 points 2 years ago

    I'm also always changing this first, so i agree with the change.

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  • [–] 14 points 2 years ago (4 children)

    I personally also welcome this change, as I have changed that setting anyway and of those people I know, they also changed that behaviour immediately. But as long as you can change it and it isn't forced on you to only use one method, it's great.

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    [–] 12 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Ah yes... I remember when IE 4 came to Windows and introduced single clicking. What a terrible idea.

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    [–] 11 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    So be it. I don't understand why there is so much debate around such simple setting.

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  • [–] 16 points 2 years ago

    Same reason we debate how to pronounce GIF (it's pronounced gif, I'll have you know) or what toppings to put on pizza. Because it's entertaining for some, no matter how grating it may get for others.

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    [–] 10 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    I could've sworn I already double click in Dolphin.

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  • [–] 9 points 2 years ago (6 children)

    As someone who hasn't touched KDE in years, can someone fill me in: How did you previously select a folder without opening it?

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    [–] 9 points 2 years ago

    Double click to open files/folders Single click to highlight file/folders Hover to focus on window

    Perfection

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