App Switcher: Provide consistent User experience while switching between Applications.
Problem Description: When a User wants to switch between applications, the interaction with the gnome shell is now done in 3 ways.
Option 1. The activities overview by using the super key. Here the user will get the full view of the open applications. Option 2: Using only the mouse. By Hovering/Clicking on the Activities on the top left corner. Here also the user will get the full view of the open applications. Option 3. Using the Alt+Tab App switcher. This will display app icons only.
This creates below 3 issues:
Issue 1: The user must get the same UI experience whichever way he chooses to switch between applications. Since the user is shown a different UI for option 3 the user interaction experience is not consistent with the other 2 methods. Two different user interactions means less consistency.
Issue 2: Option 3(Alt+Tab AppSwitcher) is not using the most interesting aspect of Gnome DE, and that is the Activities Overview mode which is a fluid, and more immersive experience.
Issue 3: The Alt+Tab way seems to be a remnant of MS Windows 98/XP days and does not fully fit into the smooth flowing workflow of GNOME.
Proposed Solution 1: Make the AppSwitcher(Alt+Tab) option more consistent to the Overview mode by using a similar UI for the AppSwitcher as the Overview mode.
Advantages:
- Common work flow and implementation for all paths of application switch. Consistency and less bugs.
- User will find it very convenient since he will get a unified user interface, whenever way he wants to switch applications
- Seeing the application windows will give the user more information while switching
Proposed Solution 2: Use the same UI as the Overview mode but without the favorites panel, search bar and Workspace switch bar. Display only the open windows.