Feature: Auto-Set Window Title To File Name

by Alex Johnson 44 views

Introduction

In this article, we'll explore a feature enhancement for Puter that allows application developers to automatically set the window title to the name of the opened file. This improvement aims to streamline user experience, especially when multitasking with multiple files. If you've ever struggled to differentiate between several windows of the same application, each displaying the same generic title, this feature is for you. We will delve into the motivation behind this feature, the current challenges users face, the expected behavior after implementation, and the detailed steps for verification and testing. Let’s dive in and see how this seemingly small change can significantly impact usability.

Motivation

The primary motivation behind this feature is to enhance user experience when working with multiple files simultaneously. Currently, when users open several files of the same type—think multiple PDF documents or numerous spreadsheets—Puter displays the same generic application name as the title for all windows. This uniform naming convention makes it incredibly difficult to distinguish between the windows, leading to confusion and inefficiency. Imagine having five PDF documents open, and each window is simply titled "PDF Viewer." You'd have to click through each window to find the document you need, which can be frustrating and time-consuming. Therefore, a crucial improvement involves allowing application developers the option to automatically set their app's window title to reflect the opened file's name. This means that instead of seeing the generic application name, users would see the specific file name in the window title, such as "document1.pdf" or "spreadsheet.xlsx." This simple change can dramatically improve multitasking and window management. By providing a clear visual cue for each window, users can quickly identify and navigate to the correct file without needing to guess or cycle through windows. This feature's configurability is also essential, as it provides developers with control over their app's window behavior. Through app settings in the developer center, developers can choose whether or not to enable this feature, ensuring that the window title behavior aligns with the specific needs and design of their application. In summary, this feature is designed to make Puter more user-friendly and efficient, particularly for users who frequently work with multiple files at once. By enabling developers to customize window titles, we empower users to manage their workflows more effectively and reduce the friction associated with multitasking.

Current Behavior

Currently, the behavior in Puter when opening multiple files within the same application is quite limiting and can lead to user frustration. When a user opens several files, such as multiple PDF documents or spreadsheets, all windows display the same title, which is typically the application name. This means that if you have three PDF files open, all three windows will likely show a title like "PDF Viewer" or "Puter PDF." There is no built-in mechanism for distinguishing between these windows based on the file they contain. This lack of differentiation poses a significant challenge for users who need to switch between different files quickly. Without the ability to see the file name in the window title, users are forced to either click through each window or rely on other methods, such as window previews, to identify the correct file. This process is not only time-consuming but also breaks the user's flow and reduces productivity. Furthermore, the current system lacks any configuration options for developers to customize the window title behavior. There is no setting in the developer center that allows developers to automatically use the opened file's name as the window title. This means that developers cannot implement a more user-friendly naming convention for their application windows without a significant code overhaul. To illustrate the issue further, consider the steps a user might take to reproduce this behavior:

  1. First, the user navigates to the Puter desktop.
  2. Then, they locate two different files of the same type—for example, "document1.pdf" and "document2.pdf."
  3. Next, the user opens both files using the default application associated with that file type.
  4. The crucial observation here is that both windows display the same title, making it impossible to know which window contains which document without actively clicking on each one.
  5. Finally, if the user navigates to the developer center and tries to edit any application's settings, they will find that there is no option available to control the window title behavior for opened files. This underscores the need for the proposed feature enhancement, which would empower developers to create a more intuitive and efficient user experience. The visual representation provided in the original issue further emphasizes this point, showcasing the confusion that arises when all windows share the same title. By addressing this limitation, Puter can significantly improve its usability and cater to the needs of users who frequently juggle multiple files.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior after implementing the proposed feature is a significant improvement in window management and user experience. The core change involves enabling developers to automatically set the window title to the opened file's name. This would provide a clear and immediate visual cue, allowing users to quickly identify and navigate to the desired file. Imagine the scenario where a user has multiple documents open: with this feature, each window's title bar would display the name of the file it contains, such as "report-2023.pdf," "presentation-slides.pptx," or "budget-sheet.xlsx." This clear labeling eliminates the guesswork and tedious window cycling that users currently experience. To achieve this, a new setting would be introduced in the app edit section of the developer center. Developers would be able to enable this setting by checking a box, indicating their preference for the application to automatically set the window title to the file name. When this setting is enabled and a user opens a file within the application, the window title should dynamically display the file's basename—the name of the file without the full path. For example, if a user opens a file located at "/Users/username/Documents/project-proposal.docx," the window title would display "project-proposal.docx." This behavior ensures that the window title remains concise and relevant, focusing on the most important information: the file name. This enhancement not only simplifies window management but also aligns with user expectations for modern applications. Users generally expect applications to provide clear and informative window titles, especially when dealing with multiple files. By implementing this feature, Puter can meet these expectations and offer a more polished and professional user experience. The configuration aspect of this feature is also crucial. By giving developers control over the window title behavior, Puter ensures flexibility and allows developers to tailor their applications to specific use cases. Some applications may benefit from displaying the file name in the window title, while others may have different requirements. This feature provides the necessary control to accommodate diverse application needs.

Acceptance Criteria

To ensure the successful implementation of this feature, several acceptance criteria have been defined. These criteria serve as a checklist to verify that the feature meets the specified requirements and functions as expected. Each criterion focuses on a specific aspect of the feature, from the user interface to the underlying functionality.

  1. New Checkbox Option: A new checkbox option must be available in the app edit section of the developer center. This checkbox should be clearly labeled as "Automatically set window title to opened file's name." The label should be descriptive and easily understandable, ensuring that developers can quickly grasp the purpose of the setting.
  2. Save Checkbox State: The state of the checkbox (checked or unchecked) must be properly saved when updating an app's settings. This means that when a developer enables or disables the setting and saves the changes, the selection should persist and be stored in the system.
  3. Load and Display Checkbox State: The checkbox state must be correctly loaded and displayed when editing an existing app. When a developer returns to the app edit page, the checkbox should reflect the previously saved state, providing a consistent and reliable user experience.
  4. Set Window Title to File Name: When the setting is enabled for an app, opening a file in that app must set the window title to the file's name. This is the core functionality of the feature, ensuring that the window title dynamically updates to reflect the opened file.
  5. Form Change Tracking: The form change tracking system must properly detect changes to this new checkbox. This is important for ensuring that the save and cancel buttons respond appropriately when the checkbox state is modified.
  6. Reset Functionality: The reset functionality should properly restore the original checkbox state when discarding changes. This allows developers to revert to the previous settings if they make unintended modifications.

These acceptance criteria cover the essential aspects of the feature, ensuring that it is user-friendly, functional, and reliable. By adhering to these criteria, the development team can confidently deliver a feature that meets the needs of both developers and users.

Verification

To thoroughly verify the implementation of this feature, a comprehensive testing strategy is necessary. This strategy includes both manual and automated testing to ensure that all aspects of the feature function correctly and that no regressions are introduced. Manual testing involves step-by-step verification by a human tester, while automated testing uses scripts to automatically execute tests and check for expected outcomes.

Manual Testing

Manual testing is crucial for verifying the user interface, the overall user experience, and the core functionality of the feature. The following steps outline the manual testing process:

  1. Open Developer Center: Open the developer center and navigate to the section for editing an existing application. This is the starting point for accessing the new feature settings.
  2. Verify Checkbox Appearance: Verify that the new checkbox appears in the app settings with the appropriate label and description. The label should be clear and concise, and the description should provide sufficient context about the feature's purpose.
  3. Enable Checkbox and Save: Enable the checkbox and save the application settings. This step tests the basic functionality of the setting and ensures that it can be toggled on.
  4. Reload App Edit Page: Reload the app edit page and verify that the checkbox remains checked. This confirms that the setting is persisted correctly after saving.
  5. Open File with Configured Application: Open a file with a specific name (e.g., "test-document.pdf") using the configured application. This step tests the core functionality of setting the window title to the file name.
  6. Verify Window Title Display: Verify that the window title displays "test-document.pdf" instead of just the application name. This confirms that the feature is working as expected and that the window title is dynamically updating.
  7. Open Multiple Files: Open multiple different files in the same application and verify that each window shows its respective file name. This tests the feature's ability to handle multiple files simultaneously.
  8. Test Form Change Detection: Test the form change detection by toggling the checkbox and verifying that the save/cancel buttons respond appropriately. This ensures that the user interface is responsive and that changes are tracked correctly.
  9. Test Reset Functionality: Test the reset functionality by making changes and clicking cancel to verify that the checkbox returns to its original state. This ensures that users can revert to the previous settings if needed.

Automated Testing

Automated testing is essential for ensuring that the feature integrates seamlessly with the existing system and that no regressions are introduced during development. The following steps outline the automated testing process:

  1. Run Existing Test Suite: Run the existing test suite to ensure that no regressions were introduced in the app settings functionality. This is a standard practice to maintain the stability of the application.

By combining manual and automated testing, the development team can ensure that the feature is thoroughly verified and that it meets the highest standards of quality and reliability.

Submission

As part of the submission process, a screen recording demonstrating the functionality of the feature is required. This recording provides a visual confirmation that the feature works as expected and helps to communicate the changes to other developers and stakeholders. The recommended tool for screen recording is Cap.so, which offers a Studio mode for high-quality recordings. The recording should be exported as an MP4 file and then uploaded as a comment in the issue. For developers who are new to contributing to Puter, a guide to submitting pull requests is available here. This guide provides detailed instructions on the pull request process, ensuring that contributions are submitted correctly and efficiently.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the addition of an option to automatically set the window title to the opened file's name is a valuable enhancement for Puter. This feature addresses a common pain point for users who work with multiple files simultaneously, improving multitasking and window management. By allowing developers to configure this setting in the app edit section, Puter offers greater flexibility and control over the user experience. The detailed acceptance criteria and verification steps outlined in this article ensure that the feature is implemented correctly and functions as expected. The submission process, including the screen recording and pull request guidelines, facilitates a smooth and efficient contribution process. Overall, this feature represents a significant step forward in making Puter more user-friendly and efficient. To further explore best practices in UI/UX design, visit Nielsen Norman Group, a trusted resource for usability research and guidelines.