I’ve been using KDE for a number of years now. Running with a fairly standard desktop environment. On finally getting Netrunner up and running, I began noticing the Activity button for the first time. Netrunner really puts it in your face. So, I did a search on Activities and learned enough to begin to think that they could be a really good way of organizing what I do on the computer. I’ve started that process, but being a total N00b at it, and finding that at least during my searches that I couldn’t find a whole lot of information about best practices, or useful ways of setting up Activities, I thought I’d put it out to the community here.
So, I’m asking; what have people used activities for? What advantages disadvantages do the different templates have? When does it make sense to have more than one desktop in an activity? Do programs continue to run when an activity loses focus (that is, if I put up a whole lot of system monitoring widgets on an activity and they use a fair amount of CPU and or memory, will they close when I move to a different activity)?
Those are the main questions that come to mind at this point. I’m new enough at this that I will probably have more as I learn more.
Thanks for any input and directions to more information.
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So, I’m asking; what have people used activities for? What advantages disadvantages do the different templates have? When does it make sense to have more than one desktop in an activity? Do programs continue to run when an activity loses focus (that is, if I put up a whole lot of system monitoring widgets on an activity and they use a fair amount of CPU and or memory, will they close when I move to a different activity)?[/quote]
I mainly use activities to separate work and fun basically. So coding windows and terminals on my work activity. All windows arranged like I want them. API documentation open in konqueror (Important because other browsers don’t support restoring).
On my fun activity a gaming folderview widget on the desktop a nice cool wallpaper and some widgets to make the desktop look cool
You can easily switch between activities and if you wish you can stop one activity aswell. All of its windows and settings will be stored. But notice not all applications support activities and for example firefox won’t be able to restore to that exact state (with all the webpages and tabs opened) like it was.
When closed activities don’t use CPU time or RAM.
I made a kde tips and tricks screencast a few years ago which explain activities: https://youtube.com/watch?v=CX1LvJtUXzc
Vielen Danke. Your video was very clear. Had not realized that the little square symbol on the Activity was a stop button. Very nice.
I’m just beginning to think in terms of activities. I’d really love to see how others have organized their activities and would like to hear any suggestions about organization (benefits and pitfalls).
I don’t like or use activities at all.
Actually, I hardly ever use even use virtual desktops for that matter.
I guess I just like more of a traditional desktop with one panel one menu and one desktop, but hey that’s just me.
It’s still interesting to see what other use them for however.
Different strokes for different folks. That’s one of the main things that I love about Linux in general and KDE in particular. We can configure things in ways that make the most sense to us as individuals.
For me, my setup until now has been four (4) virtual desktops. I love having one process running on each desktop and being able to switch between them. There is something freeing about that for me. And, makes me crazy every time I have to use Windoze with it’s single desktop. But, I can totally get why having everything together on one desktop is just as easy/more intuitive for someone else.
I do several things regularly with my computer that seem to me to fall into a few general categories; 1) surf and email, 2) game with others (usually on Steam), 3) watch videos (Kodi, mplayer, youtube), and 4) code in Python using an IDE. Activities lets me set up desktops with icon launchers specific to each of these activities. Just a little bit easier than going to the menu and launching; enough to appeal to my more lazy side.
So, I did a search on Activities and learned enough to begin to think that they could be a really good way of organizing what I do on the computer. I’ve started that process, but being a total N00b at it, and finding that at least during my searches that I couldn’t find a whole lot of information about best practices, or useful ways of setting up Activities, I thought I’d put it out to the community here.
That’s one of the main things that I love about Linux in general and KDE in particular. We can configure things in ways that make the most sense to us as individuals.
But, I can totally get why having everything together on one desktop is just as easy/more intuitive for someone else.