Should MX Linux 25 shift to a skeuomorphic default theme?

[Melber]

Okay, I’ll be the unpopular one.

I seriously dislike window themes that try to look glassy, glossy, frosty, semi-opaque, shiny, metallic or any other “realistic” effect. The same goes for icons with 3d or realistic optics.

If a user wants those kind of things they can go to xfce-look.org and its ilk and try to find something that works for them. It only takes a few clicks in mx-tweak to change the theming.

As AVLinux, asqwerth and dreamer have pointed out, it is a lot of work to get a theme looking halfway consistent just across gtk2 and gtk3. Gtk4 keeps moving the goalposts and actively making it harder. Qt6 may or may not throw another spanner in the works. I don’t know if any of the devs have the time or interest to invest in getting a “skeuomorph” theme working consistently. Personally, I know I don’t.

I would have a problem if such a theme was to be the default in MX. Why would you purposely make the distro look like some kind of Windows 7 retro thing? To appeal to nostalgic users who grew up with computers in AK-47’s 90’s-00’s and 00-10’s eras? Is the current look of MX really the thing holding back hordes of new users from using it?

So, now a personal polemic: A window theme and an icon theme should be simple, consistent and yes flat(ish). The MX-comfort theme is an excellent example. Papirus icons are an excellent example. “Realistic” effects are an unnecessary distraction. Windows 8 only gets a bad rap as the precursor of all evil through of a combination of the stupid way they implemented the windows menu as a full screen and conservative backlash against the shock of the new. Theming-wise Windows 10-11 does a lot right.

As a final note: I’ve been spending my hobby time fiddling with a variation of the comfort theme. Sorry “skeuomorph” fans, if it ever sees the light of day you’re probably not going to be enamoured with it

Disclaimer: These are my personal thoughts and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of MX-Linux in general.

[Jerry3904]

Why would you purposely make the distro look like some kind of Windows 7 retro thing?

+1,000

[asqwerth]

@Melber I was trying to be polite and careful with my words, heh heh. But I agree with most of what you say.

Except that for my own personal use, I am quite happy, while in Plasma desktop, to enjoy 3D-ish window decorations, and fancy translucent blur effects in Konsole and the desktop/kvantum themes.

[Melber]

@asqwerth I thought my response was reasonably polite. Apologies if anyone thought it wasn't.

Users are free to uglify MX however they want.
I just disagree with the idea of MX pre-uglifying it for them.

[siamhie]

fluxbox has left the chat

[Melber]

Fluxbox turns up at the party and says “hey everyone, check out at all these cool styles I brought along with me...”

Everyone else: ***awkward silence***

[Freja]

So, now a personal polemic: A window theme and an icon theme should be simple, consistent and yes flat(ish). The MX-comfort theme is an excellent example. Papirus icons are an excellent example. “Realistic” effects are an unnecessary distraction. Windows 8 only gets a bad rap as the precursor of all evil through of a combination of the stupid way they implemented the windows menu as a full screen and conservative backlash against the shock of the new. Theming-wise Windows 10-11 does a lot right.

As a final note: I’ve been spending my hobby time fiddling with a variation of the comfort theme. Sorry “skeuomorph” fans, if it ever sees the light of day you’re probably not going to be enamoured with it

Disclaimer: These are my personal thoughts and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of MX-Linux in general.

I'm so agree with Melber's this opinion...
People have any one own favorites, but MX should be for everyone. Desirable universal design for the MX design (flat simple Use Interface, in other words current MX design) I think.

Disclaimer: These are my personal thoughts and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of MX-Linux in general.

[AVLinux]

So, now a personal polemic: A window theme and an icon theme should be simple, consistent and yes flat(ish). The MX-comfort theme is an excellent example. Papirus icons are an excellent example. “Realistic” effects are an unnecessary distraction. Windows 8 only gets a bad rap as the precursor of all evil through of a combination of the stupid way they implemented the windows menu as a full screen and conservative backlash against the shock of the new. Theming-wise Windows 10-11 does a lot right.

As a Linux User and Distributor who relies increasingly on Windows (10) for various dedicated Video apps I find it amusing that on Windows there are a multitude of programs I use (some 20+ years old) and they appear radically different in their UI presentations and when I used only Windows it didn't even cross my mind that this was a problem that needed solving.. This program looked like this and that program looked like that and as long as it was productive software who cared? Then on Linux where the whole UI toolkit thing is UTTER anarchic madness suddenly it is one of the highest priorities for every UI from every disparate toolkit to appear identical... I can see if it was easy then some people dabbling with it, but it is not easy at all and has become a cottage industry writing apps to make apps to look like other apps. I think this is why things like Gnome/libadwaita and even commercial platforms like Android are starting to see this is as too much of a diversion and esoteric concern and have stopped playing ball and now have an "our device is presented like this" type of attitude. I don't think Gnome or the new Cosmic DE are going to go backward to caring too much about uniformity across apps and 'big' Linux seems to be somewhat trending back to the Windows way of presenting the OS infrastructure and letting the apps look after themselves.

As @asqwerth mentioned if color palettes are adopted this will close some of the gap without having to go beyond skin deep. KDE does this well and I've found palettes useful on Enlightenment as well... While I'm mentioning it nobody does skeumorphic better (or worse depending on your viewpoint) than the classic E-16 and E-17 'Dark' theme combined with E-17 GTK revolved...lol

I personally like both flat and skeu-o if they are presented well.. To me it's an art to pull any look together and I appreciate the vision that goes into both just like I can enjoy good jazz and good hip hop..

[siamhie]

Fluxbox turns up at the party and says “hey everyone, check out at all these cool styles I brought along with me...”

Everyone else: ***awkward silence***

I downloaded all the styles (500+) that are available from tenr.de three years ago just in case the site ever goes down.

[CharlesV]

@Melber I think you are spot on, and I think a lot of people are better off with themes and eye candy that doesnt push their graphics too.

But, there are those of us that enjoy shadows and 'glass' and shiny. One of the ***best*** things I have found with MX is that it is NOT hard at all to add the eye candy.. and the base that is delivered currently is pretty dang good for building on it.

One of my long term goals is to build the theme, icons and windows that I love.. and I am half way there on xfce.. my next round is all about the window shading and bringing more custom into it.

In my opinion ... people differ with all aspects of what they like and having SUCH a good base to start off with is the bomb! We have a jewel here, and if the dev's keep on the path they are on.. we have the ability to tweak it all up and take it where we ( individuals ) want it to go.