Feature parity of launcher with gnome activities overview search

[jmbuhr]

Previously, the old activities overview would show workspaces and seamlessly switch to searching apps, settings and files once the user started typing. With the launcher being established as the new one-stop-shop for all those activities, I am trying to incorporate it more and more into my workflow. However, I find myself having to go back to the regular gnome search for certain search results. As such, here is my wishlist for the launcher:

• Searching files and folders that have not very recently been opened: For example, when I search hello in the gnome search, I get 2 hello_world folders and an email address that contains the word hello. In the launcher I just get the help app and with d: hello nothing pops up.
• Continuation of autocompletion: When I type e.g. ~/Doc I can use tab to complete to /home/jannik/Documents/, but there is no more autocompletion popping up after the first completion.
• Starting to type in the workspaces view could automatically open up the launcher. Back with the gnome overview, I would often open the overview to see what is happening and then remember what application I want to launch. Right now there is no way do directly get to either the search or the launcher from the workspaces view.

Note: I originally opened a related issue in the pop/beta repo: pop-os/beta#169. Pop-os is a blast to work with, keep up the good work! :)

[jacobgkau]

Thank you for the feedback! The final point (configuration of search results being confusing) is covered in the Settings repository here: pop-os/gnome-control-center#164 and pop-os/gnome-control-center#165

[jmbuhr]

Updated my list above with a proposition to replace automatic search in the workspaces view with automatic opening of the launcher on typing (see pop-os/cosmic@cf34204)

[jmbuhr]

Point 2 has been implemented :) But I am hesitant to tick of point 1, because even though between d: and file the functionality is now there, it is still considerably slower than gnome search and split between two keywords even though conceptually files and folders are very similar. I wonder if it wouldn't be possible to tap into gnome search for file and folder search results.

It seems this is also addressed in a new issue: #1040