AppBar

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AppBar is a replacement for standard taskbar and tray (notification area).

Why we are need two different things (taskbar and tray) with similar functions?
It might be best to combine them into one?
I\'ve tried to create a taskbar replacement but encountered difficulties, e.g.:
- How to find good icon for application
(This is not easy, because application name and icon name may differ)
- How to detect what application already launched (This is needed to make launchers)
(WM_CLASS and process name are not always equal. E.g. /usr/bin/oodraw is a wrapper script for real binary)
And I thought, why applications themselves do not take care of their buttons (or icons) on panel?
Why applications themselves don\'t create its icons (or buttons) like common window?
It should be just a window.
These windows can be embedded to a special place on panel (Xembed) or grouped in some area by windows manager.

How it should work:
There are two areas on panel: primary area (usually big) and secondary area (usually small).
They are differ only in size (optional. user can change size).
Applications should be able to distinguish them from each other.
Each application creates a window-icon for self (It is just window embedded into panel).
List of application\'s windows should be placed in popup of icon (Like grouping in taskbar).
There should be an option in app to determine default placement (pri or sec), so user can change it.
E.g.:
Browser, file manager, terminal, calculator,..... - in pri area by default.
Volume control, Keyboard layout, clipboard,...... - in sec area by default.

User can temporally move any app icon from one area to another, and set default placement.
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/7640/25920474.png
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3299/47228154.png
When user moves app icon, application should be noticed about it.
(Question to X11 experts: is it possible to receive a signal on window reparenting?)

Advantages:
1) One app - one icon
All windows of one app are placed in popup
2) Application can draw anything in his icon-window:
- just icon
- animated icon
- progress of something
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9300/51455313.png
An application can move the icon, depending on the performed action.
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2171/29210995.png
- ....
3) Application can place some controls/widgets/etc with list of windows in popup menu
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/8831/29687214.png

4) Application can show list of actions when user drag-and-drop something on app icon
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3402/47614678.png

5) Unusual launchers
When application is not running, some light process can draw app icon with any information on icon or in popup.
When application starts, it replaces icon by new one.


The main advantage is: application creates icon, not taskbar.
Applications should use same library for same look and feel.

To ensure backward compatibility with the applications does not support this feature, we need a small service that will create icons for apps.


P.S. Sorry for bad English.