Application menus have been a source of usability issues since they were introduced, despite attempts to improve them. We are therefore aiming to end their use. We are also taking this opportunity to tweak a few other aspects of the affected menu items.

Guidelines

Developers should take the following steps:

1. Remove their app menu and move any menu items to the primary menu
2. Where necessary, split their primary menus into primary and secondary menus (see menu organisation guidance below)
3. Rename their about menu item from "About" to "About application-name"

A primary menu is the menu that's in a header bar and has the icon with three stacked lines (often referred to as the hamburger menu).

• Primary menus can contain other menu items, in addition to app menu items.
• There is no need for the Quit menu item and the recommendation is to remove it from all locations.
• Other app menu items should be moved to the bottom of the primary menu (also known as the hamburger menu).
• The typical arrangement of app menu items in a primary menu is a single group of items:
  • Preferences
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Help
  • About application-name
• Applications that use a menu bar should remove their app menu and move any items to the menu bar menus (the GNOME 2 HIG might be useful here).

Menu organization guidance

For the purposes of this exercise, there are three types of application:

1. Applications with standalone windows and no in-window navigation

Examples of this type of application include Files, Image Viewer, Text Editor, Web.

These apps have a primary menu in the header bar, which includes items from the app menu.

2. Applications with in-window navigation

Examples of this type of application include Documents, Photos, Software.

These apps have both primary and a secondary menus. The primary menu contains items from the app menu.

3. Applications that use a sidebar for navigation

Examples of this type of application include Contacts and Settings.

These apps have both primary and secondary menus. The primary menu contains items from the app menu.

If you are in doubt, just ask in #gnome-design!