ubuntu-x-swat team mailing list archive

[pyrates <865885@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Public bug reported:

Well the bug to implement a proper clipboard in xorg has just been set
to invalid:

https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=25220

So since wayland is replacing xorg, might as well implement a proper
clipboard.  Please do not follow the path xorg did to implement it.
Normal users do not want a selection based clipboard.  It's confusing
for them and if some app wants it, then that app alone can implement it.
This way those who need it can get it and the rest of us can go about
without worrying that when I highlight something, I haven't just lost
what was copied using ctrl+c.

Here's a rant on it:

http://elliotth.blogspot.com/2008/08/desktop-linux-suckage-
clipboard.html

And here's a very simple implementation:

1.  When copying text, copy it directly to the clipboard so that it is there even if the application is closed.
2.  No more selection based copy.  If an app wants it, it can implement it.  Putty does that on windows and so does mirc.  But it shouldn't be forced upon apps if they don't intend to use it.
3.  When copying something to the clipboard and it is not text, the app must specify what kind of data it is so that if it can be used in another app if that app says it is compatible with it.  Otherwise when that happens, nothing gets pasted if the app says it is not expecting that data type.
4.  Wayland will monitor when an application wants to exit that has data in the clipboard that is above a certain size.  If it is above a certain size, when that application wants to exit, then it will ask if the user wants to clear the clipboard before the application exits.  This way the application developer doesn't have to worry about implementing this, the OS takes care of it.
5.  When copying data to the clipboard, it will report what application it came from storing the full path.  This way the above can be done.
6.  When copying data from the file system, it will be stored in a separate clipboard.  It will store the path to the file/directory it is set to copy and not the actual copy as that could get very large.
7.  Finally when copying data to the clipboard, it will indicate if the data is to be copied or cut.  If cut, then when it is pasted, it will delete the original copy.  If it is cut, it will simply paste it to the place you pasted it to from the clipboard.

I think this is a good start.  As I said, x and now xorg refused to do
this, so may as well put it in wayland.

If not, I'll see this being complained about 30 years down the line with
people asking why wasn't this implemented?

** Affects: wayland (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: clipboard

** Description changed:

  Well the bug to implement a proper clipboard in xorg has just been set
  to invalid:
  
  https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=25220
  
  So since wayland is replacing xorg, might as well implement a proper
- clipboard.  Please do not follow the path xorg took and just go with the
- method that x used to do the clipboard.  Normal users do not want a
- selection based clipboard.  It's confusing for them and if some app
- wants it, then that app alone can implement it.  This way those who need
- it can get it and the rest of us can go about without worrying that when
- I highlight something, I haven't just lost what was copied using ctrl+c.
+ clipboard.  Please do not follow the path xorg did to implement it.
+ Normal users do not want a selection based clipboard.  It's confusing
+ for them and if some app wants it, then that app alone can implement it.
+ This way those who need it can get it and the rest of us can go about
+ without worrying that when I highlight something, I haven't just lost
+ what was copied using ctrl+c.
  
  Here's a rant on it:
  
  http://elliotth.blogspot.com/2008/08/desktop-linux-suckage-
  clipboard.html
  
  And here's a very simple implementation:
  
  1.  When copying text, copy it directly to the clipboard so that it is there even if the application is closed.
  2.  No more selection based copy.  If an app wants it, it can implement it.  Putty does that on windows and so does mirc.  But it shouldn't be forced upon apps if they don't intend to use it.
  3.  When copying something to the clipboard and it is not text, the app must specify what kind of data it is so that if it can be used in another app if that app says it is compatible with it.  Otherwise when that happens, nothing gets pasted if the app says it is not expecting that data type.
  4.  Wayland will monitor when an application wants to exit that has data in the clipboard that is above a certain size.  If it is above a certain size, when that application wants to exit, then it will ask if the user wants to clear the clipboard before the application exits.  This way the application developer doesn't have to worry about implementing this, the OS takes care of it.
  5.  When copying data to the clipboard, it will report what application it came from storing the full path.  This way the above can be done.
  6.  When copying data from the file system, it will be stored in a separate clipboard.  It will store the path to the file/directory it is set to copy and not the actual copy as that could get very large.
  7.  Finally when copying data to the clipboard, it will indicate if the data is to be copied or cut.  If cut, then when it is pasted, it will delete the original copy.  If it is cut, it will simply paste it to the place you pasted it to from the clipboard.
  
  I think this is a good start.  As I said, x and now xorg refused to do
  this, so may as well put it in wayland.
  
  If not, I'll see this being complained about 30 years down the line with
  people asking why wasn't this implemented?

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/865885

Title:
  implement proper clipboard in wayland

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