Technical objection to KDE double-click default in Debian 13 - Request for corrective action before release
Dear Debian Developers,
With the upcoming release of Debian 13 "Trixie", I want to formally
raise a critical technical objection to one of the adopted upstream
changes that risks undermining the efficiency,
consistency, and user trust that Debian has long upheld:
KDE Plasma 6's decision to enforce double-click as the default
behavior for file interaction.
This change, introduced by KDE's upstream maintainers and publicly
promoted by Nate Graham, is not a neutral adjustment.
It constitutes a user experience regression that actively degrades
workflow efficiency for advanced users and developers,
and contradicts Debian's historical role as a distribution that
respects user autonomy and practicality over cosmetic defaults.
I strongly urge the Debian Desktop Team to consider overriding
this default or at minimum providing an opt-in mechanism at
installation time.
1. Debian's strength lies in curating, not copying upstream
Debian has always stood apart from downstream-focused distributions
by selectively integrating upstream changes with measured technical
analysis.
It is not a passive consumer of upstream ideology, but a
quality-assured platform chosen by professionals for its
predictability, stability, and neutrality.
Blind adoption of upstream defaults - especially those that alter
foundational user interaction - weakens Debian’s credibility and
purpose.
2. The double-click change is functionally regressive
Single-click has been the KDE default for over a decade for good
reasons: faster navigation, better alignment with web behavior,
fewer repetitive motions, and improved accessibility.
These are not stylistic preferences - they are functional
enhancements that streamline system interaction and reduce friction,
particularly for touchpads, tablets, and users with motor
impairments.
By reverting to double-click, KDE imposes a Windows-centric behavior
that Linux users specifically chose to escape.
This move undermines consistency across environments and introduces
needless inefficiencies.
3. "New user friendliness" is not a Debian design principle
Debian is not a first-time-user distro. It is not designed as a
graphical showcase for simplicity. It is trusted by system
administrators, developers,
educators, and research institutions for the exact opposite reason:
Debian does not get in the way. It does not presume. It does not
hide critical behavior behind abstraction.
Imposing Windows-like interaction paradigms on users who expect
control and speed is a misreading of Debian's audience.
Beginners who truly need a guided UI likely use Ubuntu, Mint, or
Fedora Spins. Debian is where users go once they understand what
they want.
4. Combined with Wayland, this shift further fragments usability
Wayland is now being shipped by default in KDE 6, despite known
limitations with multi-display, remote workflows, legacy software,
and graphical tablet support.
Forcing a double-click interaction model on top of an unproven
display stack compounds the frustration for advanced users who
depend on muscle memory and low-friction environments.
The KDE 6 user experience, as it stands, is becoming less
deterministic, less efficient, and more ideologically driven.
5. Proposal: restore or prompt for interaction mode
The double-click default should be reverted in the Debian KDE task,
or at the very least - users should be prompted during installation
to select their preferred interaction model:
"Open files/folders with single click" (recommended)
"Open files/folders with double click" (for compatibility with
legacy behavior)
This approach preserves user agency and allows Debian to maintain
its position as a system of choice, not a system of instruction.
6. Debian must remain a power-user OS by default
The current KDE direction reflects a trend toward aesthetic
conformity, not technical clarity. By accepting these defaults
uncritically,
Debian signals its willingness to accommodate upstream opinion over
downstream needs.
This undermines the distribution's identity and weakens the
confidence of users who expect Debian to stand apart from
one-size-fits-all design.
Conclusion
This is not about nostalgia. It is not about UI philosophy. It is
about maintaining a distribution that respects user control, offers
consistency, and avoids regressions in fundamental system behavior.
Debian has always been the distribution for people who think before
they click. The current KDE double-click default is a click without
thinking. Please act now to correct this before release.
Sincerely,
Lucy S.
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