Change "App" menu to use Calendar icon with no text

[bitigchi]

"App" looks a bit out of place, I believe using the application name will fit better to Haiku HIG.

[humdingerb]

I'm not sure it's in the official HIG. In the wild, there are examples for both. Personally, I prefer "App". It's so nice and short, like File, Edit, View...

[ModeenF]

I can't find it in here. [https://www.haiku-os.org/docs/HIG/index.xml]

App are BeOS version om c's main :). If any change it would be better with Application.

Close this?

[bitigchi]

Application is better, since App was not a word before 2007.

What do you think about specifying this clearly in HIG? Some applications use icons, some use the application name, here we have an "App" case.

[ModeenF]

In BeOS, Its a word as of 1998 or so ;).

Think thats a community decision :)

[ModeenF]

And now I Know what You are talkingabout :).. thought it was the App.cpp file, the class it self :)

And in that case I'm more for Calendar, Anoher used are File (don't remeber why realy)..

[humdingerb]

Application is better, since App was not a word before 2007.

That's, if anything, an argument against "Application" and for "App". The current population is more familiar with "apps" when refering to computer programs.

What do you think about specifying this clearly in HIG? Some applications use icons, some use the application name, here we have an "App" case.

It can be discussed on the ML. The app icon could be nice, but I think the current API isn't accommodating for that, and people have to jump through some hoops for that (IIRC).

Besides the already mentioned attraction of "App" being nice and short, I also think its better that the app's name (here Calendar). Always naming the menu "App" is consistent for all applications and it's localization-safe (some people on some languages may use localized app names) and eases documentation.

"File" is used for apps that provide file open/save/close. Traditionally, items like about/quit/preferences/help are put there as well instead of a dedicated "App" menu. One could argue, that those should always be placed in a separate "App" menu. Again a discussion for the HIG on the ML.

[pulkomandy]

The current practice is using either the application name or the applicatien icon. I don't see why we should change that.

My opinion of this is that applications should be barely visible. What èou care about when running Calendar is your calendar. Not that it's open in an "App" or "Application" or "Utility". So the menu can simply be called "Calendar".

[bitigchi]

Using the application name makes it look much more coherent.

[humdingerb]

As I said, both "App" and [application name] is used by 3rd party software. I explained why I prefer "App": consistent, short, localization safe, transferable concept ("You find the Help/About/Quit item in the App menu" - for any app).

Anyway, wrt the app icon instead: while it's visually pleasing, it may not be obvious that it can be clicked and acts like a menu. It's simpler to be text-only as all the other menus in the menubar.

[scottmc]

I switched it to File in #86
File seems to be used is several applications that are installed in Haiku by default, even ones without any File related options. I can see the possibility of adding a file open, save, import, export etc.

[bitigchi]

Ideally, both should be present. File should contain file related operations, application menu should include Preferences, About, Exit etc. like in macOS.

[humdingerb]

I don't think there's an 'official' HIG decision on this yet. I'd only go for "File" if there are actual file related items. If there are, then I'd put the prefs, help, about, quit etc. there too. Unless we decide on adding small app-icon menus to have those items. Personally, I'm not conviced havng the app name as menu for prefs, help, about, quit etc. It can get confusing with some app name, e.g. if it's "Edit", or here "Event" etc. If localization comes into play, that may also result in collisions we don't even think about...

Anyway, here for now, I'd say go with "App" or "Calendar" if you must... not "File".

[pulkomandy]

I like the idea of using the application icon, but I think the patch to make this easier on Haiku side was never merged?

And I agree there should be a "file" menu only if the application actually works with files, and it should not be used as the main menu (for quit, about, ...) unlike in Windows.

[scottmc]

How about a hamburger menu, the 3 lines, or sometimes the 3 dots? It's fairly common these days on mobile devices, and it needs no translation etc. That or the app icon, perhaps with a little downward pointing triangle on it. I'll leave it as "App" until I or someone else has time to add an icon solution here.

[bitigchi]

Hell no. Hamburger menu in Desktop systems is an abomination and should be destroyed with fire.

IMHO, we should put the app icon menu into the HIG and update the rest of the applications as well. It's unique to Haiku and looks classy. No localisation issue as well.

The guy who made the concept that adds a standard icon menu and the menu entries is away from IRC I guess. We should have him push the patch to Gerrit as reference.

[humdingerb]

This is not the place to start a discussion on official HIG business. That can be done on the dev mailing list, best with rational arguments instead of trying to push mere opinion with flowery language.