STOP Using Desktop Icons On Windows, Mac & Linux
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- Do you still place icons on your desktop? If so, stop! This isn't 1990. Desktop icons are a paradigm of the very distant past that no longer make sense on modern operating systems and modern desktop environments. Boomer rant incoming!
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I set up my dad's computer for him. I put all the shortcuts on the desktop as well as links to each website he goes to regularly. He's not tech savvy at all and this lets him see everything available at a glance.
I also set up my family computer, but I strived for consistency. I wanted things to be accessed in one way each, and without fail.
So I put programs on the taskbar and wipe cleaned the desktop. In the browser I used the bar at he top to put shortcuts and removed EVERYTHING from the starting tab.
A lot of the time they can tell they don't see a button, but they don't remember where that button was supposed to be. Maybe it's hidden behind a window, but where? So I use the panels which are always visible.
Also I gave the browser the desktop and the cursor a blue background, and gave the browser and the desktop a dark panel - white content theme.
But I see your point. The task bar can't have websites. Or files. At least not in a proper way.
Thats actually a good reason to do that. To each their own workflow 🙏😌
I do that for my wife, but very few on my own computers
I set up my wife's computer the same way. She just doesn't grok hierarchically-structured storage, even in real life. For her, the perfect storage container would be an infinite horizontal plane.
I use my Desktop like a temp folder. i.e. Work that needs to be finished or attachments for emails that need to be sent. Then I file it away later when the work is done. But you’re right, when I see desktops covered in icons I know the user does not understand how directories work
Like an actual physical desk/table. Exactly my view 💪😌
Exactly. DT seems to know shit about organization of a workflow himself
@@ArniesTech files are storage, the things on your desk are the equivalent of apps. For example, if you have a letter open on your desk, that's like having a PDF viewer on your computer. The file on your computer does not need to be moved to the desktop for it to be opened - it can be stored in a suitable location and remain there. If you put anything on your desktop it should be a shortcut to the document, which would open the app when clicked. But a better way to manage shortcuts is to use stars and bookmarks in your file manager, so the desktop would remain empty.
I guess this isn't necessarily too relevant, but something that's bothered me about the default Home directory structure is there's generally three directories that start with D: Desktop, Downloads, and Documents. The problem is if you type "D" in the terminal and press tab to autocomplete, since there's three different directories it won't work. Say you want to go to Downloads, if you add an "o," it still won't work because Documents and Downloads both start with "Do". I've been considering renaming my Downloads directory to "Internet Files" or something similar to help solve this issue.
The 'issue' is the English language 😂
I bin the defaults immediately on a new install. It works - on my machines. Go for it.
Same when you want to go to .config ...
....okay?
The Documents folder is probably easier to rename. You have to change some settings in most browsers so that they don't always create a Downloads folder automatically.
You make a good case against massive overuse of desktop icons, but they are quite handy when kept in moderation. It's like having your wallet, watch, and phone sitting on your nightstand when you are not using them, as opposed to your entire house being a complete mess with dirty laundry and dirty dishes everywhere.
That's what a toolbar is for. On Windows, there's the taskbar. On Mac, it's the dock. At least on Windows, Win + [1-9] will launch the corresponding program pinned to the taskbar. Or maybe it's Ctrl+[1-9]. It's been a while.
Mousing just to open a file or program... why? Just use Meta (Win on Windows) and search for the document or program name. Why waste dragging a cursor everywhere?
@@encycl07pedia- if you use the taskbar for every app you're gonna use somewhat often though it will get cluttered. That's why I use the taskbar for things i use almost every single time i open my computer (browser, file manager, etc) and then use the desktop for things im still gonna use fairly often but dont need immediate access to (games, art programs, anything like that really) and i just keep the amount to a minimum and that always works for me
@@residentalien818 The search/run option is there. It's usually faster and for me it's actually the only option I have to open a program outside of starting a virtual terminal (dwm + dmenu) to run one.
Great metsphor, Fubar 💪😌
@@residentalien818 Attach the other apps to the start menu. I do this for many years. Have Npp, Firefox and Explorer on the task bar (because I like the tasks to not be grouped) and about 10 other programs attached to the start menu (Discord, Spotify, Steam, Houdini, ZBrush CLion and a few others). Also using Hibernate / Sleep instead of Shut down makes things considerably easier (as I can leave many programs open for days or even weeks before Windows Update finally kills them).
i kinda disagree... yes putting everything in the desktop is bad, but if you keep it simple, clean, and organised its really useful. i have 6 programs and 9 directories on my desktop, they're all organised by category and how much i use them, and it helps me stay organised, i know i have quick access to all the different categories that aren't the basic few categories, stuff like scripts and macros have their own file, my steam and mc launcher have their own desktop entry so i can power up the computer double click steam and play a game. i use it as an extension to the home directory for more specific categories, because i don't like having too much directories in my home directory, and i use it for software that i often open first thing as i power on the pc so i wouldn't have to start typing the name of the software in the application launcher. also i always shutdown the pc when i don't use it or have anything running, so more often than not i power on the pc and have nothing open and i just want to watch some yt on the browser, or play a video game, and the desktop icons are just a quick way of doing it. just like almost anything they do have a purpose, and can be useful if you don't go overboard with it.
Exactly. we use a graphical interface because we are visual creatures and it's how me most quickly take in information. I'd argue it's a waste of pixels and processing power to have a desktop at all if you don't put things there you frequently use, in spots that become familiar and usable.
Using keyboard is much faster and actually more convenient when you learn how to use it. As with any tool, you need to put some work down to learn it. Same with desktop environment.
@@Lon1001 Arguments could indeed be made in favor of desktop usage for your workflow. However, let's present an alternative perspective:
Using the desktop as a temp folder to store documents you are currently working with (Let's say you're doing your weekly cash flow using excel) makes sense. However, for a lot of programs saving them to the desktop can lead to issues (VS you would not be in the right folder for linked dll's etc. to work, for excel you could break data linking if you're using csv's, etc.) so then you're faced with having to not use the desktop.
Additionally, opening the explorer/thunar/what have you is an identical experience to using the desktop, as the desktop is pretty much a permanently opened file explorer limited to one path. So then why even bother with the desktop?
Nah.
Gnome ,for instance, anything can be launched with super key + 2 or 3 characters and maybe an arrow key input and enter
i.e. Inkscape: super key + I + N + enter or super key + V + E + enter (VE = vector)
I don't even set icons as favorites in the dock.
i have 6 programs
- use the task bar
and 9 directories on my desktop
- use folder bookmarks in your file manager
Using the desktop is a very valid workflow especially when you take into consideration a keyboard shortcut to show your desktop any time you need it (meta+d is the default on windows and KDE)
From my experience it's faster to press the win-key to access the app launcher, type in what you need and press enter, than to press win+d, then put your hand on your mouse and click the icon. The latter is good for beginners tho, it's ok to let things come naturally.
lol. Using a mouse to open files is slow.
win+d can be hit with 1 hand-- your other hand is already on the mouse. Once you get it down to muscle memory, the whole action takes less than a second. It's definitely on par with the app launcher. Hell, I'd say it's much better than the app launcher when you take into consideration its very slow speed and irrelevant search results when searching for files, folders, and applications (though that's no longer an issue in win11 because they improved it)
@@merulox in this case (and many others ) it's just faster to just keep both your hands on the keyboard. Also concerning the slow search results, this is because the PC is slow (use Linux) or because you did not disable the annoying bing search, or both.
@@crossbow7398
I'm sorry but I have to disagree. I use both desktop icons and documents folder. It's a matter on how you organize your files. I prefer to have the files that I use more frequently on the desktop and the others on the documents. It keeps being clean. I don't get why some DEs decided to completely remove desktop icons. I could get it if they mantained it as an option, but this is not the case. Why do I have to wait that some extension is released for the new DE's version in order to use something that I could use flawlessly in the past?
lmao
What is your taskbar or launcher for then, porn?
It seems to me you just don't know how to use "Sort by: Last Accessed." Your frequent files will be near the top if they really are that frequently accessed.
I have my files arranged by type (extension) and then name if it gets too crowded. It's done by a shell script which can be called automatically.
@@encycl07pedia- Yeah I knew that. I just find it easier to work with by having them on the desktop, it's more convenient for me. Everybody has its own favourite workflow, de gustibus.
Yeah I'm the same way. Honestly, I find it all depends on how each individual person chooses to organise their stuff. It's nice to keep a desk tidy, but it's also kind of a waste of space to not use it at all, and this is my philosophy towards this subject.
My desktop, my icon. If I like it on the desktop then what is the problem.
You clearly didn't watch the video. He gives many, great reasons why a user wouldn't want to swamp the desktop with files.
Oh the problem is that you have a mentality to hide your problems under the carpet. And this is a bit too literal here. You open a window and your icons are hidden behind it!
No one's forcing you to move your icons anyways. He's just telling you why you might wanna change it.
@@RandyHanley But when I am in mood for no icons I just click in my xfce to not show any icons on desktop. I just don't like the narrative to telling people what is the best way. Everybody is different. And I watched the video.
@@m.r.659 I see what you're saying and that's a good point. XFCE is lighter weight and the Hide icons method is great. I agree.
I'll never stop using my Desktop as a temporary placeholder for files or folders. It is part of my workflow.
When I initially switched to Linux I did the icon thing on the desktop. However after seeing so many Linux desktop users not doing it I stopped. Just realized the desktop looks so much nicer without the mess. To each his own.
desktop icons are perfectly fine for the vast majority of computer users. i used to have all the applications i use regularly on the desktop, and my workflow was adjusted for that use-case.
eventually i noticed icon-creep and a lot of junk ended up on the desktop (downloads, etc). so my first change was to keep only the applications and documents i'm currently working with on the desktop.
finally, i just stopped using them since i changed my workflow to keep all downloads/documents, etc. in respective folders and the apps on the taskbar, so the desktop is no longer necessary for me.
I don't think the reason for someones pc being slow is the messy desktop. The messy desktop comes from not being computer literate, not knowing where to place folders and find them later etc. If they can't do that do you think they can take care of their computer other ways?
Heck many people rely on programs to sort their images, exclusively in that program, and the images are just all bloped in a directory. I wish they showed simple things like that in school.
I'm wondering if it would help if the subdirectories of the home directory were right there on the desktop. Or at least Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos and Downloads. If someone isn't very computer literate, they won't immediately know that they should click the icon called MyName or Home.
People just dont care that much really
True but I don't think he's saying that a messy desktop is the only reason for a computer being slow it's just a bigger speed hog than most normal people think it is. When I work on computers like that one of the things I do is hide all icons really helps with the start up speed.
No, Windows at least gets stuttery when you put a lot of icons there. Each time the desktop is shown, it causes hundreds of registry accesses to determine icons.
I don't personally use desktop icons but when setting up a computer for my grandmother desktop quick launchers were the best option as it's much easier to see and understand for older people
Exactly. To each their own workflows 💪😌
Most/all of the stuff on the desktop can/should be on the taskbar.
It's not necessarily a window manager thing. In Cinnamon, the desktop icon view is handled by the file manager nemo, more specifically by a process called nemo-desktop, which is kind of a desktop-specialized version of the icon view from nemo. The only thing muffin as the window manager takes care of is the positioning of the desktop window in the window stack.
Greetings, a cinnamon dev.
I think it depends on WHAT you put on the desktop. The desktop is fine if used sparingly.
I have a folder with files I access frequently, a folder with uni work I'm currently working on, a folder with shortcuts to websites I frequently access, Four programs I constantly use and my minecraft launcher.
My dad does put everything on the desktop and is complaining about his laptop being slow though. I've been meaning to debloat his system for a while now.
edit - clarity
My dad was the same way with putting everything on the desktop.
I wrote a shell script to organize files by extension (i.e. *.mp4 goes in mp4/). It can actually organize by more than just the extension, but it's mostly restricted to my file naming conventions (no spaces, no uppercase, etc.). As it's a shell script, you can run it on startup, logout, etc.
how do you feel about cluttering up the downloads folder in place of cluttering up the desktop?
How do you feel about someone puking on you instead of in your toilet?
Everyone's work-flow is different. There isn't one optimal way to use a computer. The desktop is just another folder and it's perfectly valid to use it for a few of your most used files or temporary projects before eventually sorting it.
While true, the issue with the desktop as a folder is that it's limited to one path. So you need to open another program (file manager or terminal) for basic file ops such as moving it to a different folder.
Yes the desktop can fit into your workflow, but it's a weaker thing to use than a file manager with desktop open which is what makes it so odd to prefer it over opening desktop in the file manager (For that GUI/visual ease of seeing what's going on) or accessing it through the terminal (Powerful, fast file ops)
With all due respect, I like the channel and I like your style, but people who show images of desktops packed with icons has the same energy, in my mind, of infomercials with actors using the 'inferior product' and failing in the most bombastic way possible. Yeah, no crap, if you're using it wrong then you're gonna have a bad time. There are sound arguments against the paradigm, and that is not one of them.
Loss of freeform icon placement on the desktop was a big step back, in my opinion. I don't care how great people say modern launchers are, they simply can't beat my own bespoke arrangement of program shortcuts. And that's my rant for the day, thanks for reading.
How is it better to start searching something from folders than directly clicking it from the desktop? What purpose does empty desktop even serve? Enjoy staring the wallpaper? I click the chrome icon from the dsktop, it doesn’t save any tike to start clicking from the menu, then start wondering could it be under the category ”networking” or ”internet” or maybe it’s in accessories or perhaps in applications…
I did something in KDE and it showed everything in my home directory on my desktop. Don't know why it did that...
you probably symlink your home dir to your desktop dir
@@burnedmozzarella anyway I zapped that installation, switched to a window manager, soo much better and faster.
I will say, years ago when I did wedding photography, i was guilty about putting photos from a wedding in a folder on my desktop when I used Windows way back when. But after I was done with them, they went to a backup drive. But I would do anywhere from 6 to 7 weddings per month at my busiest times so I would have 7-12 folders with pictures in them from weddings I was working on. This, to me, was VERY organized. I also had Photoshop and Lightroom icons on my desktop because I could load them right away without having to go to the menu system and click 4 or 5 times to get to Photoshop. Might have been less but I think you get my point. Double click the Photoshop link on the Desktop and it's opened. With 16GB of RAM on this machine back then, I had no issues with slow or lacking system resources. I used this very machine to edit photos and this machine is 10 years old now and with Linux it's now the snappiest it's ever been. So, I think the whole... don't use icons on your desktop is just a personal preference for some (like DT). Some of use have the system resources to be able to have our commonly used programs launch from the desktop. Now, my desktop NEVER looked like the example in this video. I can honestly say that I had maybe 8-12 icons on my desktop (not counting the default icons like trash, etc...). Never had any issues with that.
tbh in KDE or GNOME (or basically any DE or WM that installed with dmenu) i usually just pop up the app finder (krunner or spotlight in mac) to look for a programs, because yeah, it gets the job done without me stroll my eyes
if theres an option to remove krunner, and use findex(written in rust).
Windows too. And Mac. In Windows I cleaned both the desktop and the taskbar. You hit super (Windows logo key) wait a second and hit 2 keys, wait another second and hit enter.
@@angryteapod1765 krunner does a lot more than find apps. It also finds files, terminates programs, does unit/time zone/currency conversions, spell checks, and a bunch more.
@@theodorealenas3171 did you try windows powertoys it includes the windows run option from which youc an launch apps and etc.
@@angryteapod1765 duuuuuude I knew nothing about Windows PowerToys! Thank you! There's interesting things in there
You're right, of course. But... If the Desktop is always empty, and the Desktop folder is always empty, why is there a Desktop at all? It's not for throwing icons onto. It's not for anything. Why does it exist? To show a pretty picture? The picture will mostly be hidden by windows anyway, and it takes time to load, so...
No. You have your work flow I have mine.
fr though. hes just wrong.
In my opinion using desktop icons is very valid, though only to the extent that they're *links* to files that otherwise are well organized where they should be in the rest of your home directory.
I only agree with this partially. The desktop is meant to group icons, so if you have a lot of programs, you can find and start them quickly without having to search for them. The quick launch panel is quite limited in space and thus it is only the better choice if you have only few apps that you regularly use. Especially if you are using a taskbar that displays the program title, you can run out of space quite quickly, there.
What definitely does not belong onto the desktop are indeed documents and other files. But if you only put app starters onto it and organize them you will not end up with this kind of "everything thrown together desktop".
Nonsense! It makes more sense to me to have documents on the desktop than shortcuts to apps. To me the desktop is for things that i want to see and be reminded of daily. A file with important notes that I don't want to forget, for example, would go on a desktop.
First off, I think every user should be allowed to use his environment as he sees fit. The standard directories are a good incentive to sort things in appropriate places, but they can't protect you from clutter either. You'll just have to clean your shit up every once in a while, and since the Desktop directory is a standard directory like the others, why not use it when it's there, and is your way of doing things? I don't put stuff there, but I used to every once in a while, for instance when there were dozens of downloads in the Download directory and I needed a file only temporarily, especially things with cryptic names that you forget what they were all about. Seeing things on the desktop makes you want to clean them up, while in the Downloads folder they might get stuck forever. You see, people might have reasons to use things as they do, it's not always irrational! But DT, I want you to use your environment the way you feel comfortable with as well, and that goes for everybody else! Peace!
Totally agree. I'm looking at this comments section and am seeing so many people argue about desktop icons. Why can't we just let people have their workflows that work for them? My workflow has a valid use for desktop icons, so I use them. It's not your business to argue with me to not have icons.
The options are there, after all, and you're free not to use them. Power to the people! :)
@@jrhaven Because bad workflows actually affect the environment. Spending hours trying to organize or find files because you can't be bothered to put a text document in the right place is a waste of electricity, most of which isn't clean.
"Hey, there's a drought! Stop wasting water!"
"Yeah, but to each their own. If they want to take baths, hour-long showers, and/or water their grass every single day, it's their choice! Don't tell them they shouldn't do those things which are obviously wasteful!"
The amount of time people waste dragging and finding files with their imprecise mice is awful.
You know what's easy? Typing 'o' (as a shortcut to an organization script) and Enter and then getting all your main directories sorted. You know what's easier? Having the organization script run on startup/login/etc.
@@encycl07pedia- I totally get that organization is needed. I agree with the main point that too many desktop icons is far from ideal, as yes, that's disorganized and awful to work in. But having only a few I don't think is that bad.
I'm not a window manager only person because I don't have time to learn something that drastically different. I've learned keyboard shortcuts along the way, and I recommend people do the same. But keyboard only isn't for everyone. My parents aren't going to want to learn that, they don't have the time nor the care to do so. Many are similar. They are used to the mouse and don't want to completely relearn how to use an environment completely based on the keyboard. I'd encourage everyone to learn keyboard shortcuts, but I wouldn't really encourage everyone to switch to a keyboard driven system. It all depends on the person.
Obviously if someone has a horribly inefficient workflow, I'd encourage improvement. If someone makes use of desktop icons, maybe clean them up every once a month to ensure it doesn't get out of hand. But to some people, desktop icons are handy. I have a shortcut on my desktop to mount my home server on SSHFS. Right below that is a symbolic link to the mount point that I can immediately open up to copy files over. Once I'm done, there's another shortcut to unmount. You may say using the GUI file manager is inefficient, but there are valid reasons to use it. This is an area where I think desktop icons are ok.
As with many things, desktop icons should be used within reason. Some people may have a workflow which allows them to not use any at all. Great! Some, though, may have a workflow where desktop icons may be beneficial. Within regulation, I see nothing wrong with that.
Now, we can both agree that TH-cam comment section arguments go nowhere. I forgot about this whole thing until I saw the notification. I don't fully expect to change your mind, you shouldn't expect the same of me. I'm going to agree to disagree here and not reply to anything else. I hope you have a great rest of your day!
@@jrhaven "I don't have time to learn something that drastically different."
It's like seeing someone say they'll stick with a typewriter because they're used to it and would rather deal with ribbons, typos, jams, etc. rather than learn how to type a few commands and deal with remembering to save their work. If your parents as old and rigid as you think they are, they were probably around when computers didn't even have mice. Maybe they're more adaptable than you think.
The truth of the matter is the taskbar is suited much better to hold these frequently-used files, folders, and programs than the desktop. Unless you specifically hide it, you can do the same thing without needing to move or minimize windows. Even having a shortcut to show the desktop takes more time. On Windows you can press Ctrl+[1-9] (maybe 0, too) to launch taskbar stuff. Learning keyboard-based window management is not like you're learning all the ins and outs of Vim, Emacs, or Photoshop. It's a few keyboard shortcuts. I only use about 6-8 consistently with DWM, and you'd only need to use 3 at the bare minimum (open program, close window, exit DWM). You might want to acquaint yourself with shell aliases and resource (rc) files. I use bash and I think typing "m /" is going to be faster than you finding and clicking an icon, although my home server is automatically mounted.
You shouldn't dismiss things without trying them. That's a big difference between us: I've used desktop icons + mice as a primary workflow as well as keyboard-based navigation. You've only used one paradigm.
Thanks for reminding, I go add shortcuts to my desktop for restarting some programs I actively use... Wiki, Printer share, Valheim server... etc.
I wish I could just add simple applet scripts to my desktop which gets implemented as buttons, players and could move around ;P
Adding a media player and a preselected folder, with buttons which work with media keys on keyboard.
For example I could use them to add a program window to instead of them having their own window. I could always have the correct tile set there.
Discord is horrible as I can't make it smaller so I could possibly zoom it down a bit and from settings with a bigger font and have 1/4 of screen length instead of 5/8 of screen, perhaps cut the left sides channel bar off if it's not focused.
i have 2-3 rows of icons at the left side, 4/5 folders and the rest mostly being shortcuts
is there anything wrong with this?
is this really that taxxing on my system
using ubuntu atm
No, it's not really taxxing on your system.
It's taxing on your mind. You have to put your eye roughly where the icon is and start searching with your eyes. Plus, they eyes might take control when you didn't want to look there and your focus goes away. You'll feel the difference if you clean it up I think.
@@theodorealenas3171 I put my launchers on a taskbar, I don't use desktop icons for anything (except on Mac).... but that's because of personal preference, not because of resources
"Don't do it because:
1. The icons load
2. They don't belong there"
Wow such wisdom, I'm absolutely going to clear up my desktop now
Hard to swallow pill: It is maybe from an aesthetic stand point not nice. But having some of the things you are currently working on on the desktop, is very practical. You just need to be careful, how much you put there, so it does not look unorganized.
It's a good improvised startup menu. Like, select one of these to get started. The "currently working on" ones. But if you put even a little bit of effort into it you'll find better options, at least I did.
or just don't care what other people think about your desktop, especially if it's your personal machine and you don't do projector stuff from it
I heard a IT horror story of someone dragging a big file to the desktop on Windows turns out Windows doesn't load previews multi-threaded so it stops the desktop from loading at all so they thought the PC was broken
I stopped putting things on the desktop way back in my windows days. Too cluttered, and I like to actually see my wallpaper now and then.
I also just don't like app icons very much. If I use it all the time - like my browser or terminal - I'll give it a shortcut. Otherwise I'll use a run launcher.
I just love it how the bottom panel of MX Linux Fluxbox enables you to configure the behaviour of all launchers to launch a different program depending on which button you click on the launcher with. With just the default three launchers I can launch 9 different programs, it's superbly practical and neat!
You are wrong. The whole point of a desktop is that it's the top of a desk. You put stuff there that you want to see immediately. If you put it in some folder you will forget about it.
Four transparent panels I have on my XFCE.
The bottom middle panel has all my regular apps I use, using Dock Like Plugin, which acts like you'll typically find in KDE and Cinnamon when you open an App, it uses that launcher as the bookmark, rather than bringing up a Windows list.
Top middle panel has all my web apps, scripted to open with Firefox.
In the top right I have my clock, Pulseaudio, network, Update icons.
Bottom left corner has my Whiskermenu. All panels apart from the clock all intelligently hide, when maximized windows are open.
This layout helps me immensely to get stuff done, without having to rely on the menu button.
Plus I have a secondary monitor that I can put opened apps onto. Desktop Icons just slow your performance down.
They are shortcuts of the app, which has to read from the original app, putting burden on your thumbnail reader having to load and display thumbnails every time your system is booted. Panels or Taskbars are there to make life easier, this is their sole existence.
Heard so many people complain about their computer running slow, because not only do they have unnecessary crap booting up in the background, poor machine has to read what? where did that go? Why? Oh no not again? scenarios every time it boots.
I originally ditched desktop icons, not for organizational purposes, but simply for aesthetics. I wanted my wallpapers to really shine. Eventually, I did have an organizational kick where I not only stopped throwing everything in the Downloads folder, but also started making all kinds of sub-folders to save files in. This made my life so much easier because things were no longer scattered in one place. Finally, the most recent organizational change I've made was having my root and home directories mounted on separate partitions. So now, if I need to reinstall my OS for whatever reason, I can do so without losing all my files.
Same
I don't have ANYTHING on my desktop lol. Not even bars, trays, or other known widgets. Notifications are there, but I don't consider those useful for much other than email and whatever else. The fact of the matter is, screen real estate prevails for workflow.
I don't use Desktop Icons but you telling me not too makes me want too.
Remember doing this in W7/W10 years ago, even using the Fences program. Waste of resources, visted a family friend he's much older than me & uses W10. His Desktop was literary covered in icons, I immediately cringed.
Can you imagine if someone told you to throw your keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, printer, etc. off of your desktop claiming that a barren desktop is the best desktop?
I stopped using desktop icons to launch programs probably a decade ago if not more. Now, I just press the Super key and start typing for what I want in Windows or Linux, and use the Spotlight / K-Runner etc on Mac, KDE, etc if the former method doesn't work.
The only thing I keep on my desktop at the moment are shortcuts to heavily modded games where I need to launch a specific exe with specific arguments, and Remote Desktop shortcuts to various machines at work, as I never bothered setting up one of the programs that lets you have a bunch of different RDP connections.
Don't tell me to stop placing icons on the desktop, you don't know my workflow. Don't tell me how to use my computer.. I can equally say, START placing icons on your own desktop.
I'm getting so tired of people saying "stop putting icons on the desktop".. sure.. those who have a full desktop with icons, that is overboard.. but I got nowhere close to that, while still having a lot of icons..
Again, so tired of people saying this, because you don't know the workflow of others and stop pushing your beliefs onto others..
This video isn't directly aimed at me, I know.. but still, don't tell others how to use their computers or push your own beliefs of how things should work or be used..
Then stop watching. This entire channel is about telling people how to use their computers.
Next thing you'll be telling us not to use the cup holder in our car to keep drinks in.
I'm a desktop icon guy, I memorize everything spatially and when I put a shortcut on the desktop then I know exactly how to access it in a fraction of a second. Nothing infuriates me more than when a desktop environment takes liberties with arranging those icons on my desktop (like windows XP was pretty bad for).
I tried unlearning that habit and it never goes well, just annoys my ADHD brain too much. When the desktop starts getting cluttered up then I will organize, sort and delete what I can. If there is a file I want to access I mostly use shortcuts rather than storing actual files there, but sometimes if I want to keep something temporarily I will move the actual file there. I'm obviously not the only one or else it wouldn't be such a requested feature when Ubuntu tried to get away from that.
The only things I put on my desktop are files/folders related to whatever weird experiment my brain has decided to attempt. Once I'm done with them, I move them to their designated places in my other folders.
I simply can't have my desktop look messy. I even removed all of the apps pinned to the Taskbar and just use search or shortcuts!
>Don't do THIS, its bad, do THIS!
Guys, your OCD is not all users problem :)
I always use Desktop icons. They are so useful. I do not like directories and folders. Everything in one place is perfect
@hailto:
I hate to break it to you: the Desktop is part of the "C" directory in Windows 😂. the Desktop is part of a Directory too in Linux but i dunno what folder the Desktop is part of 😅.
@@reoencarcelado5904 Wait, it's all just a huge glorified folder?!
🔫 Always has been...
Hey DT , Stop telling me what to do with my own computer
This more than anything. I dont even have a desktop on mine lolol
You're bragging about not using desktop icons and trying to make excuses for why desktop icons are bad, but the matter of fact you were just forced to not use them because none of the window managers support them. So your decision wasn't by choice.
Not a long time linux user, but not having desktop icons by default really throws me off. My windows desktop was usually full of app shortcuts and a huge load of folders for any occasion. Music? Music folder on desktop. Pics? Folder on desktop. Documents? PDF? pdf folder, Text? Text folder. C++? cpp folder. It is both clutter and organized at the same time, and I for some odd reason find myself way more capable of navigating through it than having those folders on my home/user folder. I always keep the middle of screen as free as I can and use the left side for app shortcuts and right side for the various folders. I also kept a "desktop" folder inside desktop in case I felt there are files that I won't be going through regularly.
Also personally for me it is way easier to backup this way because it is entirely localized within one folder, especially since windows's user folder has stuff like appdata folder, which to my neglect is full of temp files and more often than not it has junk that only windows needs. Maybe apps too, but are expandable.
On the other hand... here on linux I'm way too lazy to do desktop icons, especially since programs work differently and there isn't any .exe file to keep a shortcut off of. So I utilize my home folder. Also desktop icons on GNOME DE, I've had them crash my DE multiple times out of nowhere, which now I'd rather not use that extension.
I like to use desktop as a place for temporary files. For example use downloads folder as a desktop folder. It's great to work with something and just delete everything from desktop as I finish
I stopped using Desktop icons when I got around to trying Gaming on Linux in 2020, most apps would just throw launchers in the applications menu and not on the Desktop like they would on windows, so I thought that makes sense. Even in windows, it was never more then 2.5 rows of apps / games I'd actually fire up
I used to have half of my desktop dedicated to icons on Windows 10. When I deleted Windows and switched to Ubuntu I immediately noticed that Ubuntu doesn't have icons on its desktop by default and I also somehow don't feel the need to put icons on my desktop. It was a weird feeling at the beginning. I was used to those icons so much but it took me only a few weeks to get more organized without using those nasty icons. My computer (which has Fedora 36 right now since I deleted Ubuntu) is not a mess anymore the way it was when I had Windows 10. Those icons are also bad for privacy cause when you screen share or someone looks at your desktop they immediately see your personal or private files and their names. Just get rid of those ugly icons which don't even let you see your wallpaper and enjoy looking at it.
I used to do shortcuts for applications on my desktop. But I realized one day I never used them to launch apps. I always search and launch or use the task bar icons.
I haven't really used the desktop, for icons, since my old Win 7 days. I generally add frequent folders to the file manager favourites. Besides, I barely see the desktop anyway, when I have 2 or more applications running at the same time.
I am a technical person and I happen to agree with you, keep the desktop clean, but the entire purpose of the computer is do things the way I want to, not to make me do things the way the computer, or computer programmer wants to.
Everyone thinks different. Everyone organizes different. Everyone has a way of doing things. Telling someone to not put icons on their desktop is about at useful as yelling at a cat. It says more about you than it does about others.
Human communities are best when we have a variety of personalities, points of view, methods and desires. Stop trying to put people in your box and instead try to understand the beauty and value of people who don't think like you. At a minimum, ask yourself why they use desktop icons. You might learn something by seeing the world through their eyes.
I was troubleshooting someone else's Windows machine this week. So. Many. Icons. Thank God for the FHS.
As I remember it wasn't possible to put files on the desktop with windows 3.1, only links to files.
I hide all my desktop icons, and have hundreds upon hundreds of files there.
I sort them when I wipe the desktop every 2-3 months or longer, of if I'm lazy I just backup the desktop folder and name it Desktop YYYY-MM-DD and store it on the server. That way I remember which order I saved files in, and can easier sort them out when I have time or feel like sorting lots of files.
EDIT: Clearly you're assuming we open programs shortcuts on the desktop that is behind the windows. no we hit the windows key and then type 2-3 letters and open the program that shows up. Having lots of shortcuts on the taskbar is no different than having icons on the desktop.
I already have a shortcut to desktop on the taskbar.
Music files does not go in the default music folder, because the OS drive simply can't store that much music
Video files does not go in the default video folder, because the OS drive simply can't store that much videos.
etc etc
The OS partition is not for storing stuff, it's a thing you temporarily store stuff until they are backed up or at least put on a separate drive.
Then again, I don't use the desktop as a desktop, it's a download folder without using the default download folder, and one of the first things I disable is the default download location for browsers and FORCE that it ask where I want to download it.
Doesn't seem a problem to me.
I generally keep projects I'm currently working on in the desktop while I'm actively working on them, and move them to an appropriate place later.
I do have a folder named "_" in the desktop where I dump everything that doesn't belong in any place in particular though. It's filled with random crap like the text enciphering tool, the game controller to MIDI, and the random image generator I wrote.
Desktop icons are key to quick access. Why click start, then scroll through the list of programs? I agree with not having an icon for every program installed, but I keep about five on my desktop, and then pin the rest to the start menu and/or taskbar.
Ever since I started using tiling WMs I don't even remember what my wallpaper looks like
I checked the date and it isn't April 1st... at this point, I'm tempted to hide the icons directly, then put a folder view widget on it, and put a thousand icons in the ~/Desktop directory. (and folder is a winblows word)
I just don't understand why the desktop is so wasted for utility. I'd like to see something there, an app launcher or something. Something that is actually useful other than a full screen image.
Why don't you think of it this way:
So you want a full screen window on autostart, with utilities, which is translucent so you see the wallpaper?
I'm not saying it as criticism, I'm saying you can have it. In fact you can have whatever you want. And if it's a window you can put it in front, make it smaller later, remove it if it clutters...
@@theodorealenas3171 Something that automatically opens when all other windows are closed/ hidden. Maybe has some widgets, some common files. Essentially a full screen version of an app medu/ start menu. This exists?
I'd just like to try it out.
What about Android and iOS? Desktop icons are heavily used there and they don't seem to be operating systems of the past.
Desktop = desk top; as in, top of your desk. Just as you have your most-used items on TOP of your desk, you don't want ALL your desk supplies on top of your desk -- there'd be no room to work. But putting *everything* away all the time is not efficient, either. Imagine having to open the drawer every time you need to use a pen. We all have different workflows, as others here have said: some are neat and organized (I only have my most-used shortcuts on the desktop, and things I need to remember, as I have ASD (formerly called Asperger's) and if I don't see it, it'll fall off the radar), while others have desktops (both computer and physical) that look like the famous Einstein cluttered desk. Whatever works best for the individual is "best."
Windows insists on putting a shortcut on the DT for everything. It's annoying. I just installed a bundle of BMW diagnostics tools. they insist on putting a shortcut for all 6 of them. only two of them I am going to actually use with any kind of regularity. It would be much better to have one folder you open with all the tools.
I think for as long as I used Windows, I had the recycle bin icon and one icon for accessing C Drive, then a folder containing shortcuts to my programs, arranged in a way I'd remember. When I found myself experiencing crashes, I made a collection of folder shortcuts, so I could easily get back to where I was before after a crash. Everything else can be sorted in this way, so that your desktop doesn't need to load all the icons for everything, all the time.
On Linux, it's easier, since you can find things anywhere, at any time, by just opening up your file explorer and typing the name of what you're looking for. Programs can be run as applications, or even put in as easy aliases to be used through the terminal (though you don't get to see the cool icon for the program if you do it that way.) I do, however, prefer to have one folder on my desktop, to allow me to access the file structure without searching for the "Files" application or using the dock (the dock causes graphical bugs in some of my games if I don't disable it.)
Don't want to start a fight just yet - mainly because my duelling pistols are out for repair - but, I don't see the point in background images for a tiling window manager. If anyone disagrees - well I'm sorry, you can't disagree - I'll throw down my glove for the challenge. Hampstead Heath, UK or Boston Common, USA. Makes no difference either way.
I wanted to write a comment where I was about to say how I don't necessary agree with this take... But then I realized that I only have 3 icons on my desktop and really only use one of them because that is a URL to a web UI that doesn't have a .desktop file. But I think the reason this video doesn't sit well with me is because it feels like it's telling you to completely stop doing something where (in my opinion) that doesn't feel necessary. I do agree with the message of don't clutter up your desktop and try to not use it as a dumping ground (or at least not for a long time, max a day a dumping file should exist). But that message could still work without completely swearing off using the Desktop (folder), I think. I can think of one potential use for the desktop. That is putting shortcuts to frequently used folders that aren't necessarily close to each other on the desktop for quick access. I don't do that myself (as of now), but it doesn't feel like a invalid use case. One that I don't think you could do in a dock or a start menu...?
Strongly disagree. I put all my games on my desktop so it's like a shelf with books or records. You can look at it and let it inspire you what you pick. Applications you call for a specific purpose probably don't need to be on the desktop. Also having something on your desktop can be a good way to remind you that it exists in the first place. It might be a good idea to have your icons on the monitor that's used the least but usually there's a simple key combination to show the desktop, and it's always accessible on a new workspace anyway. The performance impact doesn't seem very significant on modern machines, Windows is sluggish no matter how clean your desktop is and XFCE is fast no matter how many icons there are. On Linux I even use the desktop when I sometimes use a WM that doesn't display icons. There is so much stuff in ~ that there is always a need to have some kind of subdirectory for files that were actually made by a human and aren't just there for technical reasons. Sure, there are always directories like "documents", "images" and that's not a sane way to group things I would put on my desktop because documents and images usually go into a completely different location (that would usually start with /mnt/ not /home/). The "downloads" directory also doesn't make any sense as it is usually on a ssd, what a waste of writes. A download you will delete after a day might as well go onto a mechanical hard drive. If the desktop is getting too full that's in a sense just todos piling up. Hiding these won't help. Being old fashioned isn't really an argument - it's Linux, you can have everything you want. Your UI can just look and feel like something from the 90's, that's the beauty of it.
Finally someone who agrees with me. I started to see that it was better not to have icons on the desktop using windows 8.1, because of that application menu. These days I keep my desktop clean, it's much better to search programs in the search menu instead of throwing them in your face
When is still used Windows Edge and some Drivers were put on my desktop automatically and I couldn‘t remove them without admin rights
I have been like this, my Desktop folder had around 200 icons, but then i've decided to delete all of my icons and it was better and from that day, I've stopped using desktop icons completly
My mother is still like this but with chromium and Ublock origin on Mint she isn't seeing horrible performance and isn't getting ads for Wave Browser (Keylogger) and she doesn't have 7 installs of Google Chrome. Took 10 minutes to get to Windows login but Mint starts easily. I am so glad I did that for her.
I literally just have program shortcuts from all of the things I've installed that said, "do you want to put a thing on the desktop" and I'm just not bothered enough to actually unclick it before finishing up the installation.
The only time i got file on my desktop is when i have text file to remember something like links and things that i use within 5 minutes, then it goes to the trash bin after i finished. Usually do it when when i need to write some paper, then I just make sure to put proper citation into what i works on, so i have no need the temporary text file filled with links. I can just read what i works on and understand what the links i put in for.
I keep my desktop clean except for drive icons and a shortcut to my file manager.
But what good is a desktop if it's nothing but a pretty picture? That, too, is wasted space.
I think it does makes sense to put long-term quick-reference information or widgets (especially search and AI widgets) on the desktop, so that you don't have to keep reopening the same app, and so you have one consistent go-to location for that info.
I will not live in the pod.
I will not eat the bugs.
And I will use icons on my desktop.
I use my desktop as a default folder and sort things into specific folders later. Everything else on my desktop is just a quick-link for things I need to keep an eye on. It can get messy but my OCD kicks in and I clean it. Good advice though.
All programs are placed on my taskbar or hidden in my file structure. The desktop, to me, is just another folder that needs to be sorted whenever I get bored.
Totally agree. I haven't been using desktop icons in ether linux or windows, since forever. First thing I do in every installation is to untick the "show desktop icons" option
While I don’t put icons on my desktop, I would like to organize the apps on my dock. I use Ubuntu 22.04 & I wish there was a way I could create app folders on the dock. I used to be able to do that back in the Unity days but not anymore. Is there a gnome extension that would allow me to do that?
These are usually the same people that have 200 tabs open in their web browser and never close them. I know people that use 2 browsers at once, each with an almost uncountable amount of tabs open.
Why didn't you put the sponsors names in the end as a bunch of icons on a messy desktop? Such a missed opportunity!
Ack! I have always loaded up my desktop with icons on the assumption all icons where equal as low memory images that connect file system urls. I even use a wall paper that segments the icons into things like working documents -recent, long term and temporary, often used software with icons for works in progress, a segment for software downloaded for trial.
This is very key to me for leaving my computer on a moments notice and sitting back down to it and picking up where I left off.
Hello,
I have a weird problem with my gnome desktop.
when I try to open a folder on the desktop instead it's Atom that opens.
Please advise me or guide me to solve this problem.
I thought one of the biggest pluses of an open source OS was it is yours and you can do with it what you want and use it how you want? If a person wants shortcuts to the apps they use most on their desktop how does that hinder or complicate anything for anyone else? The title of the video I think is offensive telling people how NOT to use THEIR computer. I might be alone with this thought but if not let me know.
JP: clean your room, your desk, and organize your space
audience: wooow this guy is so smart
DT: clean your desktop and organize your space
audience: woow
People love to tell us what to do with our lives.
Desktop icons... or mainly "files on desktop" (!!!) I'm 99% shure they will never been saved in a backup file !!! A good file organization is mandatory to save and retreive files from backups. Finally, it's lifestyle and "savoir vivre". Why not using just keybindings, even for my main files : so easy, so fast, no mouse...
I think it's fixed in windows 11 but in older versions of windows it's windows fault like the provide such a crappy start menu people kinda have to put icons on desktop like there's no icons in win 10 start menu it shows folders then there's icons which is like horrible
As a windows User, i agree with you because whenever i install a program it always defaults to adding a desktop shortcut and i have to uncheck the box.
I'd try to eliminate the desktop folder build but some reason that folder is always auto created 🤔
with the newest macOS that will release, enabling stage manager, disables the icons except when you only show the desktop, so it should be performant when stage manager is enabled.
For anyone's sake, just let people do what they want with their desktop. Period.
You should do this, you should do that…
Fancy have an empty desktop, it always has been possible, just put nothing there.
Fancy have your « organized mess on it » ? It also always has been possible in any DE - you know, the 99% in use all over the world.
Use it as a reminder and tidy it up afterwards ? Why not ? It's just so straightforward because it's right there under your nose when you start your computer.
Of course there may be better ways or organizing. Of course. But to each his⋅her own.
It's not by forbiding an ability you'll help discover the « better ways ».
When using Windows, the documents folder gets stacked with folders and files for softwares that really should be inside programdata if anything
These are not "icons". An office document on the desktop is not an icon or shortcut representing something else, it is the actual file itself. And the Desktop is a part of the fie system's structure, not some view generated by the launcher. Computers are not smartphones, stop treating them as if they are.
Having said that, desktop organization is something worth getting into.
For some, Windows does not even give users a choice about desktop icons. When a program is installed by an administrator, the shortcut that the program creates is owned by the administrator and placed on all users’ desktops on system. The users are then unable to remove the shortcut without administrator permissions. In fact, some programs can’t even install correctly unless the user’s account is an administrator account-yes, invoking the permissions of separate administrator account for installation is not enough for some programs. I’m looking forward to when I have my Linux system ready, but for now, I’m still troubleshooting issues and making it move-in-ready.
I store my work-in-progress files on my desktop, then move them to where they ought to be when they're done. It's a convenient way to remember what I was working on when I boot up the computer.