My KWIN fork where I work on features like per-output virtual desktops
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Alex Merry 4f509f0360 Apidocs mainpage work. Just got Plasma and Solid to do here.
svn path=/trunk/KDE/kdebase/workspace/; revision=691959
2007-07-24 18:30:36 +00:00
clients move oxygen code that will be shared by the style into its own .cpp/.h 2007-07-19 01:32:16 +00:00
data remove kde4_automoc() 2007-07-10 09:14:12 +00:00
effects SVN_SILENT made messages (.desktop file) 2007-07-23 05:31:49 +00:00
kcmkwin SVN_SILENT made messages (.desktop file) 2007-07-24 06:10:55 +00:00
killer remove kde4_automoc() 2007-07-10 09:14:12 +00:00
lib Apidocs mainpage work. Just got Plasma and Solid to do here. 2007-07-24 18:30:36 +00:00
tools remove kde4_automoc() 2007-07-10 09:14:12 +00:00
wm-spec branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
activation.cpp Remove some no longer relevant todos. 2007-07-19 16:38:46 +00:00
atoms.cpp Support for _NET_WM_SYNC_REQUEST, based on a patch 2007-06-25 08:51:44 +00:00
atoms.h Support for _NET_WM_SYNC_REQUEST, based on a patch 2007-06-25 08:51:44 +00:00
bridge.cpp Merging from old trunk: 2007-04-29 22:38:19 +00:00
bridge.h branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
client.cpp Remove some no longer relevant todos. 2007-07-19 16:38:46 +00:00
client.h It's really interesting that KWin has had support for an arbitrary root 2007-07-19 16:24:51 +00:00
CMakeLists.txt change XDG_APPS_DIR -> XDG_APPS_INSTALL_DIR, XDG_DIRECTORY_DIR->XDG_DIRECTORY_INSTALL_DIR, DBUS_INTERFACES_DIR->DBUS_INTERFACES_INSTALL_ DIR, DBUS_SERVICES_DIR->DBUS_SERVICES_INSTALL_DIR to have same naming convention as discussed with Alex. 2007-07-23 07:01:14 +00:00
COMPLIANCE branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
composite.cpp Add beginnings of kwincompositing config module, meant to replace kwintranslucency one 2007-07-19 16:20:05 +00:00
COMPOSITE_HOWTO nvidia bug got fixed 2007-06-27 09:37:58 +00:00
COMPOSITE_TODO This is being worked on 2007-07-21 19:36:26 +00:00
config-kwin.h.cmake branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
CONFIGURING Merging from old trunk: 2007-04-29 21:41:03 +00:00
cr16-app-kwin.png branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
cr32-app-kwin.png branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
cr48-app-kwin.png branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
deleted.cpp Make quads carry information about whether the quad is part 2007-07-18 15:01:59 +00:00
deleted.h Make quads carry information about whether the quad is part 2007-07-18 15:01:59 +00:00
effects.cpp First step of effect dependencies handling - when an effect is loaded, load it's dependancies also. 2007-07-21 18:30:06 +00:00
effects.h Make loadEffect() return bool 2007-07-20 21:13:10 +00:00
events.cpp Remove some no longer relevant todos. 2007-07-19 16:38:46 +00:00
geometry.cpp It's really interesting that KWin has had support for an arbitrary root 2007-07-19 16:24:51 +00:00
geometrytip.cpp branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
geometrytip.h branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
group.cpp It's really interesting that KWin has had support for an arbitrary root 2007-07-19 16:24:51 +00:00
group.h Merging from old trunk: 2007-04-30 09:49:41 +00:00
HACKING Merging from old trunk: 2007-04-30 11:35:05 +00:00
killwindow.cpp Merging from old trunk: 2007-04-30 11:34:41 +00:00
killwindow.h branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
kwin.kcfg Option for specifying Xinerama screen where new windows open. 2007-05-07 12:27:19 +00:00
kwin.notifyrc Merging from old trunk: 2007-04-30 12:49:20 +00:00
kwinbindings.cpp No global shortcuts by default for virtual desktops that don't exist 2007-05-18 13:09:30 +00:00
layers.cpp Support for having previews even for unmapped windows - they're 2007-07-04 09:51:10 +00:00
LICENSE branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
main.cpp Interface modifications to KCmdLineArgs, KAboutData and KComponentData; BIC, SIC. Most of the depending code has been auto-converted to new API. 2007-07-02 08:49:20 +00:00
main.h branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
Mainpage.dox Apidocs mainpage work. Just got Plasma and Solid to do here. 2007-07-24 18:30:36 +00:00
manage.cpp Remove some no longer relevant todos. 2007-07-19 16:38:46 +00:00
Messages.sh Add file to extract i18n 2007-07-07 22:15:32 +00:00
NEWCOLORSCHEME.README branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
notifications.cpp branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
notifications.h branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
options.cpp Migrate some OpenGL options to new config module 2007-07-20 18:50:51 +00:00
options.h Add beginnings of kwincompositing config module, meant to replace kwintranslucency one 2007-07-19 16:20:05 +00:00
org.kde.KWin.xml Make reloadEffect() accessible via DBus 2007-05-29 11:43:30 +00:00
placement.cpp Support _NET_WM_FULL_PLACEMENT. 2007-05-07 12:37:12 +00:00
placement.h branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
plugins.cpp branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
plugins.h branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
popupinfo.cpp less qt3support 2007-06-06 10:37:37 +00:00
popupinfo.h Option for separating focus between Xinerama screens. 2007-05-07 12:18:19 +00:00
README Merging from old trunk: 2007-04-29 21:40:29 +00:00
rules.cpp translate kwin's rules files 2007-05-09 13:49:29 +00:00
rules.h It's really interesting that KWin has had support for an arbitrary root 2007-07-19 16:24:51 +00:00
scene.cpp More checks that quads are split only in pre-paint and transformed 2007-07-19 16:11:27 +00:00
scene.h Make quads carry information about whether the quad is part 2007-07-18 15:01:59 +00:00
scene_basic.cpp Zack's receent patch to Qt defaulting to ARGB visuals where possible 2007-07-12 16:50:52 +00:00
scene_basic.h Properly check for all needed extensions and handle gracefully absence. 2007-05-30 14:22:09 +00:00
scene_opengl.cpp A simple solution for alpha channel hacks - ignore them :). 2007-07-19 14:23:11 +00:00
scene_opengl.h Separate rendering for decoration and window contents, they can have 2007-07-19 10:07:49 +00:00
scene_xrender.cpp More checks that quads are split only in pre-paint and transformed 2007-07-19 16:11:27 +00:00
scene_xrender.h include cleanups 2007-06-25 11:03:18 +00:00
sm.cpp Merging from old trunk: 2007-04-30 12:24:10 +00:00
sm.h branches/work/kwin_composite becomes new trunk kwin. 2007-04-29 17:35:43 +00:00
tabbox.cpp It's really interesting that KWin has had support for an arbitrary root 2007-07-19 16:24:51 +00:00
tabbox.h Remove not necessary "class classname;" 2007-06-04 08:24:29 +00:00
toplevel.cpp Support for _NET_WM_SYNC_REQUEST, based on a patch 2007-06-25 08:51:44 +00:00
toplevel.h Make quads carry information about whether the quad is part 2007-07-18 15:01:59 +00:00
unmanaged.cpp Make quads carry information about whether the quad is part 2007-07-18 15:01:59 +00:00
unmanaged.h Make quads carry information about whether the quad is part 2007-07-18 15:01:59 +00:00
useractions.cpp Add beginnings of kwincompositing config module, meant to replace kwintranslucency one 2007-07-19 16:20:05 +00:00
utils.cpp Support for _NET_WM_SYNC_REQUEST, based on a patch 2007-06-25 08:51:44 +00:00
utils.h Support for having previews even for unmapped windows - they're 2007-07-04 09:51:10 +00:00
workspace.cpp It's really interesting that KWin has had support for an arbitrary root 2007-07-19 16:24:51 +00:00
workspace.h It's really interesting that KWin has had support for an arbitrary root 2007-07-19 16:24:51 +00:00

- The mailing list for KWin is kwin@kde.org (https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kwin).

- If you want to develop KWin, see file HACKING.

- If you want to check KWin's compliance with specifications, see file COMPLIANCE.

- File CONFIGURATION includes some details on configuring KWin.

- Below is some info for application developers about application interaction
  with the window manager, but it'd need some cleanup.








 This README is meant as an explanation of various window manager related
mechanisms that application developers need to be aware of. As some of these
concepts may be difficult to understand for people not having the required
background knowledge (since sometimes it's difficult even for people who
do have the knowledge), the mechanisms are first briefly explained, and
then an example of fixing the various problems is given.

 For comments, questions, suggestions and whatever use the kwin@kde.org
mailing list.


Table of contents:
==================

- Window relations
    - how to make the window manager know which windows belong together
- Focus stealing prevention
    - how to solve cases where focus stealing prevention doesn't work
      properly automatically



Window relations:
=================

(For now, this explanation of window relations is mainly meant for
focus stealing prevention. To be extended later.)

 All windows created by an application should be organized in a tree
with the root being the application's main window. Note that this is about
toplevel windows, not widgets inside the windows. For example, if you
have KWrite running, with a torn-off toolbar (i.e. a standalone toolbar),
a file save dialog open, and the file save dialog showing a dialog
for creating a directory, the window hiearchy should look like this:


             KWrite mainwindow
              /             \
             /               \
      file save dialog      torn-off toolbar
            \
             \
          create directory dialog

 Each subwindow (i.e. all except for the KWrite mainwindow) points to its
main window (which in turn may have another main window, as in the case
of the file save dialog). When the window manager knows these relations,
it can better arrange the windows (keeping subwindows above their
main windows, preventing activation of a main window of a modal dialog,
and similar). Failing to provide this information to the window manager
may have various results, for example having dialogs positioned below
the main window,

The window property used by subwindows to point to their mainwindows is
called WM_TRANSIENT_FOR. It can be seen by running
'xprop | grep WM_TRANSIENT_FOR' and clicking on a window. If the property
is not present, the window does not (claim to) have any mainwindow.
If the property is present, it's value is the window id of its main window;
window id of any window can be found out by running 'xwininfo'. A window
having WM_TRANSIENT_FOR poiting to another window is said to be transient
for that window.

 In some cases, the WM_TRANSIENT_FOR property may not point to any other
existing window, having value of 0, or pointing to the screen number
('xwininfo -root'). These special values mean that the window is transient
for all other windows in its window group. This should be used only
in rare cases, everytime a specific main window is known, WM_TRANSIENT_FOR
should be pointing to it instead of using one of these special values.
(The explanation why is beyond the scope of this document - just accept it
as a fact.)

 With Qt, the WM_TRANSIENT_FOR property is set by Qt automatically, based
on the toplevel widget's parent. If the toplevel widget is of a normal
type (i.e. not a dialog, toolbar, etc.), Qt doesn't set WM_TRANSIENT_FOR
on it. For special widgets, such as dialogs, WM_TRANSIENT_FOR is set
to point to the widget's parent, if it has a specific parent, otherwise
WM_TRANSIENT_FOR points to the root window.

 As already said above, WM_TRANSIENT_FOR poiting to the root window should
be usually avoided, so everytime the widget's main widget is known, the widget
should get it passed as a parent in its constructor.
(TODO KDialog etc. classes should not have a default argument for the parent
argument, and comments like 'just pass 0 as the parent' should go.)



Focus stealing prevention:
==========================

 Since KDE3.2 KWin has a feature called focus stealing prevention. As the name
suggests, it prevents unexpected changes of focus. With older versions of KWin,
if any application opened a new dialog, it became active, and
if the application's main window was on another virtual desktop, also
the virtual desktop was changed. This was annoying, and also sometimes led
to dialogs mistakenly being closed because they received keyboard input that
was meant for the previously active window.

 The basic principle of focus stealing prevention is that the window with most
recent user activity wins. Any window of an application will become active
when being shown only if this application was the most recently used one.
KWin itself, and some of the related kdecore classes should take care
of the common cases, so usually there's no need for any special handling
in applications. Qt/KDE applications, that is. Applications using other
toolkits should in most cases work fine too. If they don't support
the window property _NET_WM_USER_TIME, the window manager may fail to detect
the user timestamp properly, resulting either in other windows becoming active
while the user works with this application, or this application may sometimes
steal focus (this second case should be very rare though).

 There are also cases where KDE applications needs special handling. The two
most common cases are when windows relations are not setup properly to make
KWin realize that they belong to the same application, and when the user
activity is not represented by manipulating with the application windows
themselves.

 Also note that focus stealing prevention implemented in the window manager
can only help with focus stealing between different applications.
If an application itself suddenly pops up a dialog, KWin cannot do anything about
it, and its the application's job to handle this case.


Window relations:
-----------------

 The common case here is when a dialog is shown for an application, but this
dialog is not provided by the application itself, but by some other process.
For example, dialogs with warnings about accepted cookies are provided
by KCookieJar, instead of being shown by Konqueror. In the normal case,
from KWin's point of view the cookie dialog would be an attempt of another
application to show a dialog, and KWin wouldn't allow activation of this
window.

 The solution is to tell the window manager about the relation between
the Konqueror main window and the cookie dialog, by making the dialog
point to the mainwindow. Note that this is not special to focus stealing
prevention, subwindows such as dialogs, toolbars and similar should always
point to their mainwindow. See the section on window relations for full
description.

 The WM_TRANSIENT_FOR property that's set on dialogs to point to their
mainwindow should in the cookie dialog case point to the Konqueror window
for which it has been shown. This is solved in kcookiejar by including
the window id in the DCOP call. When the cookie dialog is shown, its
WM_TRANSIENT_FOR property is manually set using the XSetTransientForHint()
call (see kdelibs/kioslave/http/kcookiejar/kcookiewin.cpp). The arguments
to XSetTransientForHint() call are the X display (i.e. QX11Info::display()),
the window id on which the WM_TRANSIENT_FOR property is to be set
(i.e. use QWidget::winId()), and the window id of the mainwindow.


  Simple short HOWTO:
  
 To put it simply: Let's say you have a daemon application that has
DCOP call "showDialog( QString text )", and when this is called, it shows
a dialog with the given text. This won't work properly with focus stealing
prevention. The DCOP call should be changed to
"showDialog( QString text, long id )". The caller should pass something like
myMainWindow->winId() as the second argument. In the daemon, before
the dialog is shown, a call to XSetTransientHint() should be added:

 XSetTransientForHint( QX11Info::display(), dialog->winId(), id_of_mainwindow );
 
 That's it.

Non-standard user activity:
---------------------------

 The most common case in KDE will be DCOP calls. For example, KDesktop's DCOP
call "KDesktopIface popupExecuteCommand". Executing this DCOP call e.g.
from Konsole as 'dcop kdesktop KDesktopIface popupExecuteCommand" will lead
to showing the minicli, but the last user activity timestamp gained from events
sent by X server will be older than user activity timestamp of Konsole, and
would normally result in minicli not being active. Therefore, before showing
the minicli, kdesktop needs to call KApplication::updateUserTimestamp().

 However, this shouldn't be done with all DCOP calls. If a DCOP call is not
a result of direct user action, calling KApplication::updateUserTimestamp()
would lead to focus stealing. For example, let's assume for a moment
that KMail would use this DCOP call in case it detects the modem is not
connected, allowing to you to start KPPP or whatever tool you use. If KMail
would be configured to check mail every 10 minutes, this would lead to minicli
possibly suddenly showing up at every check. Basically, doing the above change
to kdesktop's minicli means that the popupExecuteCommand() DCOP call is only
for user scripting. (TODO write about focus transferring?)

 Simply said, KApplication::updateUserTimestamp() should be called only
as a result of user action. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any universal
way how to handle this, so every case will have to be considered separately.