<![CDATA[I wanna go home]]>After https://github.com/ubports/unity8/issues/121 was filed and we've had not one, but many sour discussions about this or related topics, I figure we should try to slow it down a bit.

People are getting antsy (read: livid) about the changes to Ubuntu Touch in upcoming releases. In this post I'll try to tackle the issue of "home." More specifically, Where is home in Ubuntu Touch now?

The case for going home

Home, in terms of an operating environment, is the first place where a user arrives and a place they can return to. It's taken many forms over the years of personal computing:

  • 7000 BYTES FREE, READY.
  • $ (or C:\>)
  • Windows' Start menu (Then its Start screen, then its Start menu again)
  • Screens which are actually called "Home" on Android and iOS

The concept of Home is slightly different for every operating environment, but it serves a few important purposes:

  • It is used to start other interactions with the environment (applications, for example)
  • It is "returnable," a user should always know how to get to it. Now that operating environments are used for multitasking, this shouldn't be by destroying all running activities.
  • It is "safe," a user should always know what to do once they get there

Home serves as an anchor point for the environment's experience. If the user gets lost or stuck, returning home should help.

The Dash

We can currently assert the following things about Unity8 on a mobile handset:

  • Long swiping from the left of the screen always returns you to the Dash.
  • The Dash is a window and is shown in the app stack.
  • Due to the last point, the Dash remains focused when the device is locked and unlocked.

The dash is home.

The Drawer

The following things about those assertions have changed:

  • We no longer have the Dash. Long swiping from the left of the screen opens the App Drawer.
  • The Drawer is not a window and does not appear in the app switcher.
  • The Drawer does not remain focused when the device is locked and unlocked.

It is consistent with our desktop experience.

But it's got everyone up in arms.

Where is home now?

By far, the most important question I see us asking ourselves (indirectly) is, "where is home now?" The answer... isn't straightforward.

Is the Background home?

Users will land in the Ubuntu Touch experience at the Background (NOT the desktop, which implies you may put things on it):

screenshot20190408_210722720.png

When arriving at the Background, the Launcher (some call it the dock) appears to greet them. The user may arrive at the background by booting the device or closing all their apps. By offering the Launcher, the background can be used to start other interactions AND it is safe. However, it breaks one of our main rules: There is no way to return to the background without destroying all of your activities.

Is the Drawer home?

The Drawer may be opened by long-swiping from the left of the screen or tapping on the big ol' orange button:

screenshot20190408_211357174.png

This can be done at any time. This makes the Drawer returnable. It is very simple, so I assert it is safe. And, well, it starts new interactions.

Something about it has people really uncomfortable, though. Maybe it's the fact that, unlike the Dash (or iOS' home, or Android's home), the Drawer is dismissed when you lock the device. This resonates with me a bit, a serial home-presser before locking my device. I like to start at square one whenever I pick up my phone.

Can we find home?

Does this add a new requirement to home? Does home also need to be durable (or comfortable?), lasting through transitions to lock states or other huge events?

Or, is this okay? Is this a case of a different design being more efficient? The ideal use of Unity8 is pinning applications to the Launcher, where they can be managed and switched between (even on the lock screen).

screenshot20190408_212713265.png

(Maybe the Launcher is home, or the lock screen!)

Home must be durable

If home must be durable, the Background is close to being home. The only problem is we can't return to it easily. There are an infinite number of ways to solve this, here are a couple I've thought of:

Go to background as an app

1e24c9b3-a74c-49e2-a020-ab42d5d8c046-image.png

Hide apps appears as another window in the app switcher. It is always located behind the most recently used app, as shown here.

Go to background as an action

We discussed having Go to background as a specific action you perform on the app switcher. It could also go somewhere else, but there's nowhere to put it. This issue proposes having it be the "Cancel" action of the app switcher, when you tap in the blank space. That caused a lot of upset since it changes the current behavior (tapping in the blank space goes to the app you were just using, today you learned) and is not explicit (as a Python developer, I agree). Here's a way to make it explicit:

0898c284-15ab-4a87-9f08-5622bdbb3a2d-image.png

(It took me twenty minutes to make that, don't judge me)

Nah, this is more efficient

If home doesn't need to be durable to be home, maybe there is a way to offer an olive branch to people who think it does?

What do you think?

Does home need to be durable? If so, is the Background a good place to have that interaction? Is there a good way to get there?

How do we keep the home interaction consistent between phone, tablet, laptop, and desktop?

Note that "just add another setting to..." is not an acceptable compromise. More customization means more development overhead, makes it more difficult to support users (you might have to do this, or you might have to do that), and takes away from a consistent experience. (If you want to discuss this metatopic, please make another thread.)

Addendum: ground rules

You're talking about a bunch of colorful rectangles, remember. Take your time when replying and keep it respectful and on-topic. This is a good place to brainstorm, but make your ideas concrete with mockups rather than talking about them abstractly.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/topic/2579/i-wanna-go-homeRSS for NodeSun, 14 Jun 2026 19:09:19 GMTTue, 09 Apr 2019 02:57:59 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Sat, 13 Jun 2026 05:50:52 GMT]]>@CiberSheep Great respect towards you owning your hiccup.

To me, the guy just seemed enthusiastic. You see the same thing with a few others on this forum... a bit of cross-posting here and there, sometimes even on topics that aren't directly related. But he's actually building things, and we're in a position where people who have the ability time and willingness to build something are in short supply.

but mistakes are made, and will be made again.
We are all Human after all šŸ˜‰
wel except for a few Robots that are working to build UBports 24/7 (meant to say this as with great respect šŸ˜„ )

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96692https://forums.ubports.com/post/96692Sat, 13 Jun 2026 05:50:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:49:34 GMT]]>I am sorry. I will make sure this doesn't happen again (at least from my side)

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96583https://forums.ubports.com/post/96583Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:49:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:30:21 GMT]]>Well, moderators do have to make some decisions. To me it seemed @cibersheep made a polite request and also later apologized for the hiccup. This particular thread seems like a fine place to post about homespike, but I can't see which other posts were deleted.

To me it seemed like a fair instinct by a moderator, politely communicated, as well as fair points by @keneda.
Nothing so offputting to me.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96543https://forums.ubports.com/post/96543Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:30:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:14:27 GMT]]>@Linus67
I think this got on a wrong turn and sadly he got quite upset about what happened here.
That put him off.
This should never happen anywhere, but here (UBPorts forum an open-source community in general) in particular.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96509https://forums.ubports.com/post/96509Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:14:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:44:51 GMT]]>

@Zer0 said:
I can post again

Sorry for the hiccup

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96344https://forums.ubports.com/post/96344Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:44:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:47:21 GMT]]>@Zer0 Pleas keep sharing, i don't want buttons on my home screen, but i am glad you build it...
i know there is a lot of people out there that do want exactly that.

i like Kugi's attempt more to organize the launcher, that works like a charm for me.
That is the beauty of Ubuntu Touch, if you can dream it you can build it.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96334https://forums.ubports.com/post/96334Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:47:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:19:28 GMT]]>@Zer0 I hope you stay in touch with Ubuntu Touch.
Just like Ubuntu Touch itself, there are several layers to the Ubuntu Touch community. You'll find the right people.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96332https://forums.ubports.com/post/96332Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:19:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:49:54 GMT]]>@CiberSheep o joy I can post again. don't worry. watching this whole interaction has put me off on sharing here. Ill still be hacking on ubuntu touch but I wont bother you guys anymore.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96327https://forums.ubports.com/post/96327Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:49:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:32:46 GMT]]>

@Keneda said:

was still active before

True. Sorry, I had too many old thread reopened by the user.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96325https://forums.ubports.com/post/96325Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:32:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:15:15 GMT]]>@CiberSheep
This thread was still active before he gets here.
Beside this is "the official" home discussion thread.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96271https://forums.ubports.com/post/96271Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:15:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:08:32 GMT]]>@Keneda thank you Kaneda, but this user was reviving threads inactive for months with the same message (that I merged into one thread or deleted if it was only this message).
One thread is enough. Mentions on active threads are ok if it's not only the link to other threads.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96270https://forums.ubports.com/post/96270Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:08:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:58:35 GMT]]>@CiberSheep
I don't think this is spam, just a ping for "home apps" users (like I did myself here when Pavel released "Home").
Sadly "home" and "launcher modular" no longer have their original mainteners (and I'm very worried about what happened to Pavel...).

They got "forked" by some others to work under Focal, but that's kind of dead ends.
So this is a way to tell those apps former users there is an alternative, I guess.

After all, he announced here, just few post upper, that he intended to do something "homish".
Now he did and announce it.

I don't believe that deserved locking thread.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96266https://forums.ubports.com/post/96266Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:58:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:49:11 GMT]]>@Zer0 please, I would suggest you don't spam on old subjects. One thread for your app is more than enough

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96263https://forums.ubports.com/post/96263Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:49:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Sun, 31 May 2026 00:13:36 GMT]]>I made just this, and its an actual home screen. Not an app.
https://forums.ubports.com/topic/12319/release-homespike-v1.0-a-real-home-screen-for-ubuntu-touch-multi-page-dock-drag-to-reorder-three-placement-modes-true-multitasking

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96158https://forums.ubports.com/post/96158Sun, 31 May 2026 00:13:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Thu, 28 May 2026 04:59:44 GMT]]>@Linus67 Yeah. I think the priority is to improve the app drawer and add features there. That's kind of the "home" in UT. I don't think there's immediate need to do drastic change to have an actual home. The desktop is also empty but I don't think it should also be a priority. Maybe on the desktop use case but not on mobile.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96069https://forums.ubports.com/post/96069Thu, 28 May 2026 04:59:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Wed, 27 May 2026 20:40:22 GMT]]>@libremax Thanks for the link. Thatā€™s exactly what I mean, only even better.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96065https://forums.ubports.com/post/96065Wed, 27 May 2026 20:40:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Wed, 27 May 2026 20:08:36 GMT]]>

@Linus67 said:
I might have one wish: a multi-page app drawer (vertical or horizontal) or some other way of grouping apps rather than simply sorting them by name. Perhaps with horizontal dividers or spacing.

It is currently under development and there is a ā‚¬2,000 bounty for it (issue #127):
https://os-sci.com/lomiri#Contribute

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96064https://forums.ubports.com/post/96064Wed, 27 May 2026 20:08:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Wed, 27 May 2026 18:33:58 GMT]]>Iā€™ve been using Ubuntu Touch for four months. So I have no experience of older versions prior to 24.04.
The frequently cited arguments that ā€œusers were unsettled by these or those changesā€ therefore donā€™t apply to me.

My conclusion: Getting started with Ubuntu Touch was a bit bumpy, but I now really appreciate how it works. What I appreciate most is the app chain on the left-hand side. This efficient, unique selling point should definitely not be tampered with. Switching between apps is also brilliant. I donā€™t miss a home screen, desktop, etc. at all. Least of all do I feel the need for the interface to resemble that of Android or iPhone.

I might have one wish: a multi-page app drawer (vertical or horizontal) or some other way of grouping apps rather than simply sorting them by name. Perhaps with horizontal dividers or spacing.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96062https://forums.ubports.com/post/96062Wed, 27 May 2026 18:33:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Wed, 27 May 2026 16:41:25 GMT]]>@Turbolqk
swipe-up, too, is already reserved for app-specific functions

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96058https://forums.ubports.com/post/96058Wed, 27 May 2026 16:41:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Sun, 24 May 2026 20:28:48 GMT]]>

@Turbolqk said:

@kugiigi I see, I haven't used UT in a few months, so I might've missed a few things.

These things you think you might have missed have been implemented for years, so even the few months ago that you used UT last, you should have come across them.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96013https://forums.ubports.com/post/96013Sun, 24 May 2026 20:28:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Sun, 24 May 2026 18:22:20 GMT]]>@Turbolqk Most sound like awful ideas. If you use it for long enough they're already implemented better than you think.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96009https://forums.ubports.com/post/96009Sun, 24 May 2026 18:22:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Sun, 24 May 2026 17:01:27 GMT]]>@kugiigi I see, I haven't used UT in a few months, so I might've missed a few things.

In that case, my suggestions are to add minimizing to the apps on the side bar. This will solve the issue on going to the home screen quick.

If apps are allowed to be added to the desktop, that will make the home screen feel like one. It will also separate it from the side bar and the app drawer clearly.

My suggestion for the lock screen is to make it look like it is on Android. It's simple and it works - a clock, date and notifications.

In addition, the background apps screen could be improved too. If its opened with a swipe up it would be more intuitive IMO. The layout could resemble the tab layout that Firefox on Android uses - simple 2x3 grid with an "x" above each app if you would like to close it. It wold be cool to show free/available ram at the bottom. Finally, a button to close all apps would be great.

That way you get:

  • A task bar with opened apps, which allows you to quickly switch between them, or get to the desktop quickly.
  • An app drawer.
  • A desktop with apps of your choice functioning as a home screen.
  • A "running apps" screen which allows you to manage/close apps.

One last idea:

If the "running apps" is a swipe up, then a swipe right could be used to quickly get back to the desktop too.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96008https://forums.ubports.com/post/96008Sun, 24 May 2026 17:01:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Sun, 24 May 2026 15:56:21 GMT]]>@Turbolqk

  1. The Launcher/dock already works like that except minimizing by clicking on the foreground app

  2. Not exactly sure if I understand this correctly but I think it does work like that already too. Which is actually used very rarely since you can just long swipe

  3. This is something that may come in the future or maybe never. I think the higher priority is to improve the features in the app drawer.

  4. I've never seen a phone shell that has a bottom status bar šŸ˜… I don't think that's a good idea and it doesn't really solve anything since the shell still needs to adjust things for the cutout, just on other components or even apps.

  5. I don't think gestures will ever change that much. It's already set and works well. Personally, bottom gesture should be free for context-based actions instead of being fixed into specific system actions.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96007https://forums.ubports.com/post/96007Sun, 24 May 2026 15:56:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I wanna go home on Sun, 24 May 2026 15:06:21 GMT]]>I think the whole UI has to be redesigned, but not in the same way as Android or IOS. Instead, a desktop OS approach just like on Linux, but compressed in a mobile format. That way the phone can be intuitive both when used as a phone and while docked.

So how to do that? Easy:

1. Make the dock behave as a desktop dock.

Instead of pinning apps there, make it show apps that are opened, just like on a desktop. That way you lose the whole "swipe up to check your open apps" thing while remaining intuitive to use. That doesn't necessarily mean you can't pin some apps there though, but it should be optional - just like on a desktop.
That way, clicking an app on the dock can maximize/minimize.

2. Use the Ubuntu button as a start menu/app drawer button.

You click it and the app menu opens. It can be separated in sections depending on the type of apps too. Pretty much the same as on Linux Mint. Clicking the button again closes the "start menu".

3. Allow adding apps to the home screen, like on a regular desktop.

I don't know why this isn't a thing. This compensates the changes in the dock. Allow grouping apps in folders too, etc.

4. Move the status bar to the bottom of the screen.

That way you solve the problem with camera cutouts and align the concept well with the gestures I suggest.

4. Gestures:

  • Left swipe to show dock in an app is a great choice.
  • Right swipe is now free, because the dock shows all processes instead. It can be used to return to the desktop instead. Long swipe can kill the app.
  • Down swipe can be used to open notifications.
  • Up swipe can extend the status bar and extend into a control panel - WIFI, Bluetooth etc.

This solves your home screen dilemma and is a good way to improve the UI of the OS.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/96006https://forums.ubports.com/post/96006Sun, 24 May 2026 15:06:21 GMT