Re: Technical objection to KDE double-click default in Debian 13 - Request for corrective action before release
On Wed, Jul 23, 2025 at 4:02 AM Lucy <Lucy.S@diplomats.com> wrote:
>
> 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.
This shows up as being 98% AI-generated according to GPTZero [1]. If
this really matters to you, why are you using an AI slop generator to
write your petition? All this does is waste time and annoy people.
I can see why people would use LLMs for translating emails or for
polishing text, but I wish there was a rule against emails to the
Debian mailing lists in which the meaningful portion of the content is
AI-generated.
(Repost because I accidentally sent this off-list the first time...)
[1] https://gptzero.me/
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