Plasma/Workspace Sprint/ActivitiesAndVirtualDesktops: Difference between revisions

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== Relationship between activities and virtual desktops ==
== Relationship between activities and virtual desktops ==


Activities sit on top of virtual desktops. For example:
Activities sit on top of virtual desktops. Here is an example of a user running three activities (Home, Work and Play) with two virtual desktops:


* Home  
* Home
** Virtual Desktop 1
** Virtual Desktop 1
*** KMail
*** KMail
*** Konqueror
*** Konqueror
* Hack Activity
** Virtual Desktop 2
* Work
** Virtual Desktop 1
** Virtual Desktop 1
*** KDevelop
*** KDevelop
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** Virtual Desktop 2
** Virtual Desktop 2
*** Qt Assistant
*** Qt Assistant
* Play Activity
* Play
** Sudoku
** Virtual Desktop 1
*** Sudoku
** Virtual Desktop 2


In many cases, activities can be used instead of virtual desktops. In some cases it can make sense to use virtual desktops inside an activity (see the Hack activity)
In many cases, activities can be used instead of virtual desktops. In some cases it makes sense to use virtual desktops inside an activity (see the Work activity)


== Fallback ==
== Fallback ==


If a user prefers virtual desktops, he can easily ignore the activity concept by staying with the default activity and using virtual desktops within it.
If a user prefers virtual desktops, he can easily ignore the activity concept by staying with the default activity and using virtual desktops within it.

Revision as of 12:29, 22 June 2012

Activities and virtual desktops

Introduction

Activities are a new goal-oriented way to associate opened applications, files, contacts.

Activities have the following advantages over virtual desktops:

  • match closer to user goals
  • persistency: activities can be stopped and resumed. When an activity is stopped, the workspace stores the state of the applications within this activity (using the same system used by X11 session management).

Relationship between activities and virtual desktops

Activities sit on top of virtual desktops. Here is an example of a user running three activities (Home, Work and Play) with two virtual desktops:

  • Home
    • Virtual Desktop 1
      • KMail
      • Konqueror
    • Virtual Desktop 2
  • Work
    • Virtual Desktop 1
      • KDevelop
      • Qt Designer
    • Virtual Desktop 2
      • Qt Assistant
  • Play
    • Virtual Desktop 1
      • Sudoku
    • Virtual Desktop 2

In many cases, activities can be used instead of virtual desktops. In some cases it makes sense to use virtual desktops inside an activity (see the Work activity)

Fallback

If a user prefers virtual desktops, he can easily ignore the activity concept by staying with the default activity and using virtual desktops within it.