Desktop Entry Specification: Add new ExecArg key

[Thayne]

FWIW, adding an ExecArgs parameter to the desktop entry doesn't solve the
problem of determining which terminal to use. How does albert deal with
that?



On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 9:15 AM Manuel Schneider <manuelschneid3r at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I commented
> <https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/terminal-wg/specifications/-/merge_requests/3#note_2490069> on
> the PR. I copy it for the mailing list here:
>
> To get an impression of the current state check the hard coded list of
> exec args of popular terms
> <https://github.com/albertlauncher/albert/blob/6783257df7e15dcfbae49d03023414b7c3692dbd/src/app/terminalprovider.cpp#L120-L150> I
> (try to) maintain for albert launcher. -e is indeed common for a majority
> of terminals.
>
> I guess that this -e majority just emerged out of the absence of a real
> standard with the common focal point of the ancient xterm interface.
> Nothing that was ever really thought out.
>
> I think we should not default to -e despite being quasi standard. I think
> that we should not default at all. Some terminals don't support command
> execution. We have to handle this.
>
> Imho the absence of the ExecArgs should indicate that the terminal does
> not support command execution. This is compatible with existing desktop
> entries. ExecArgs should be allowed to exist but be empty, which will fit
> the foot and kgx interface.
>
> Generally defaulting to anything would define an arbitrary standard
> terminal command execution interface. Nothing sophisticated. Nothing
> terminal developers should be imposed on.
>
> Imho the self-reporting of the command execution interface in the desktop
> entry is a feature on its own. A standard (your proposal) could then build
> on top of it. Later fancy extensions on how to collate windows under X or
> Wayland can be discussed. They are rather opinionated and hinder the
> realization of the former, rather simple and objectively useful ideas.
>
> Also I wonder if this PR makes sense at all in the terminal-wg. These
> proposals are not related to terminal standards. It is rather a general
> desktop environment thing. Especially since I skimmed through #24
> <https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/terminal-wg/specifications/-/issues/24> and
> none of the admins left a comment in the past 5 years. Shouldn't it go to
> https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xdg/xdg-specs?
>
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