Feature request: same shortcut for several applications + minimize all

[jvalrog]

I tried using the same shortcut to run 2 applications.

It works for running them, that's ok.
It doesn't work to minimize/hide both. Only minimizes one and the other stays there.

It would be great being able to launch several applications, since those apps can save their position on screen and you'd be able to show/hide some sort of virtual setup, like a terminal window, an editor and a browser.

As I understand, repeating the same actions to show/hide a window could be implemented with a for-loop for several actions that share a shortcut (haven't looked at the code though).

Something like this:

[e3rd]

Interesting! Could you imagine the configuration for such request? What syntax should be written in the file?

[jvalrog]

Interesting! Could you imagine the configuration for such request? What syntax should be written in the file?

The configuration would be the same, with several apps sharing the same shortcut and mode, so they behave the same way and avoid possible conflicts between modes.

The extension could detect those cases and group them, using a for-loop to show/hide each app in the group.

[e3rd]

Please elaborate more about conflicts between modes. How the app should distinguish which mode you want to ask. I'd really like to see a configuration example, mentioning these modes, thanks!

[jvalrog]

Please elaborate more about conflicts between modes. How the app should distinguish which mode you want to ask. I'd really like to see a configuration example, mentioning these modes, thanks!

ignore what I said about the possible mode conflicts, I think it's fine.

An example configuration would be:

<Super>x,code,/^Code/,

<Super>x,firefox,,

This would rise/hide both vscode and firefox with the same shortcut.

[e3rd]

It does make sense to me, I'll have to take a look at it

[e3rd]

I see that task is more challenging than I previously though. First, let's discuss your example configuration.

<Super>x:minimize-when-unfocused,code,/^Code/,
<Super>x:minimize-when-unfocused,firefox,firefox,

You see, I've added matching wm class for firefox. In your version, the firefox is only launched but never matched again, by wm_class nor title. Second, I've added :minimize-when-unfocused modes because by default, an application is not minimized, only might be raised (or launched).

According to my observation, the modes are working perfectly for all the matched application. The problem is that only one window can get the focus.

Use-case:

1. Hit `x
2. Code is launched and gets focus
3. Firefox is launched claims focus
4. Hit `x
5. Does Code have focus? No. Code is raised and gets focus.
6. Does Firefox have focus? No. Firefox is raised and gets focus.
7. Let's click to the Code, it has focus now.
8. Hit `x
9. Does Code have focus? Yes. It's minimized. (It seems that during the minimizing animation, the focus is held by the disappearing application.)
10. Does Firefox have focus? No, because the minimizing animation is still in progress. It's get reraised.

While dealing such group of windows, we might for example consider as focused every window which is somewhat at the begginning of the last recent windows list. (That's possible, global.display.get_tab_list(0, active_workspace) returns such list.)
I'm afraid I might overlook all the consequences, and I would prefer not to make any hasty moves that could confuse current users.

• What should happen while only two of a group of fours are in the focus (amongst the last 4 recently used windows).
• What should happen while some of the group have the mode :minimize-when-unfocused and some not.
• What should happen while some of the items in the group are just a launch commands without a matchable window to be raised.
• ...

I'd welcome a meaningful PR but if there are no other community members showing interest it looks too time consuming for me to do this.