[cosmic_cheese]

It’s a trend that’s visible in other designs too, like Material 3 Expressive.

I’m not a fan of Windows but I believe that probably the best modern UI design system for desktops right now is probably the flavor of Fluent used in Windows 11. It still retains somewhat desktop-like information density, doesn’t go overboard on radii, and has a touch of depth. I’d like to see more design languages exploring in its general direction.

[bayindirh]

I still find KDE superior in productivity, information density and "useful effects" category.

Apple still has the best "get out of the way, be invisible" UI.

Both are valid ways to approach to a problem, but I like KDE's batteries included, infinitely customizable way better.

[cosmic_cheese]

I think KDE has the right spirit but its execution leaves something to be desired.

[bayindirh]

I don't think "defaults to windows-like" is a bad choice for newcomers.

I don't customize it heavily either. Move tray, clock and menus to the top, a-la GNOME2, leave taskbar at the bottom, both auto-hidden and narrower than screen.

Add four desktops as a 2x2 grid, re-enable old CTRL+ALT+$ARROW keyboard shortcuts, add a couple of usability effects with custom key combinations and two active corners, and I'm done.

Some applications (Konsole, KATE) get custom fonts and themes, but everything else is bog standard. Setting it up takes 30-ish minutes, and it's the same config for decades now. Probably because of sharpening the same tool and optimizing without knowing.

Then, I can just concentrate and fly on that environment.

Also, they have improved a lot in the small areas where it was lacking. You can use your system without a terminal if you want, plus Baloo works really well.

[cosmic_cheese]

I would argue that it actually doesn’t go far enough in windows-like-ness to be viable for a lot of people, and for those who prefer a mac-like setup the possible customization doesn’t take it far enough in that direction, either. It’s not Windows or macOS, it’s KDE, and that’s fine but I think there need to be environments more specifically aimed at people who are happy with their current commercial OS setups.

[bayindirh]

I'm a bit time-restrained while writing this reply, but I can argue that KDE is 95% there with macOS emulation, if you really want to go that far.

The only missing piece is "global menu bar" and full-screen applications.

Since I don't use KDE on a mobile system, I don't know how well multi-touch trackpad works, but the rest is almost there.

As I said that I neither need or desire to go that far (my custom layout works like a charm for me more than ~15 years now), but it's not off the left field for KDE.

[cosmic_cheese]

I don’t really agree. The global menubar is a central pillar of the Mac desktop, so it being missing (or only present sometimes) is a big problem, and there’s lots of smaller things like differing conventions and design approaches. By my estimation, the furthest KDE can be made Mac-like is 55-60%. Anything further is going to take forking and wading through code.

[christophilus]

Definitely the “be invisible” part.