Future Ubuntu Updates suggestion, typing keyboard shortcuts access mode

[archdan]

Ubuntu Version

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Desktop Environment (if applicable)

GNOME

Problem Description

tl;dr; Adding separated and accented system language to language widget can provide more comfort for regular user reducing “teething” issues of new users.

There are two independent ways to access language section via Settings → Keyboard:

1. Input Sources : which provides keyboard layouts for different languages
2. View and Customize Shortcuts → Typing : which provides how Input Sources interact with on screen widgets.

The main problem is that language doesn’t reset to system used language after reboot. Normally this seems like good idea, since user would like to continue on language they have used last. However this provides an real unforeseen issue in specific case if user didn’t install Ubuntu on their native language and is sufficiently proficient in multiple languages.

Lets take Spanish speaking person in US, at home they speak Spanish, publicly they are speaking English - so which Ubuntu will they install ? Well it depends if they use computer for work or leisure, since if they use it for work they will install on English (publicly directed language) and if they use it for leisure then Spanish. But in most cases those uses don’t mean different operating systems or machines, but rather one machine that has capability for both. Now lets consider someone outside of US, instead of 2 languages we have 3+ simply because internet is multilingual. Someone in Europe might need their native language, English for internet and dominant language (Chinese, Russian, … ) for regional internet interaction.

OS has to have single language for its installation for user navigation, which automatically becomes OS access keyboard layout (tty, sudo, … ) , and user has to switch between others depending on requirement. This means that general languages aren’t made equal by default, system language should be visible and dominant on the OS and shouldn’t be affected by ever changing position of languages given keyboard shortcuts. When speaking multiple languages one shouldn’t wonder which one is next, or active if issue arises and they require to access system only. In reality system access is made more difficult more languages person uses.

So id suggest an different keyboard access to change widget into:

1. Next language (Super)+(Space) - languages in widget can freely reorder
2. Previous language (Shift)+(Super)+(Space) - languages in widget can freely reorder
3. System language (Alt)+(Super)+(Space) - must not change position in any case, and tucked visually separate from other languages with faint outline.

And for system language to stay signaled and visible trough out widget and terminal. Then user can simply make a mental model : System language is “why I use machine”, Other languages are “how I use machine”. Then if issue arises akin to mischievous child user can enter “helicopter parent” mode without much issue making repair/testing easier for everyday user.

Relevant System Information

Dell G5 machine, no external peripherals.

Screenshots

What I’ve Tried

Ive posted an question on AskUbuntu in https://askubuntu.com/questions/1569238/any-way-to-disable-writing-language-shifting/1569388#1569388 and its still ongoing. The question is simply about stopping juggling languages, but after a bit of thought ive remembered that i had similar symptoms when locking myself out of root access so here i am posting broader suggestion.

[rubi1200]

Since this seems to be more of a wishlist suggestion than a support request, moved to the Lounge

We appreciate the input but Discourse is not the place to ask for changes.

For that you need to file bug reports on Launchpad or upstream with the relevant teams.

Thanks

[rubi1200]

Are you saying the ability to switch seamlessly between input languages already exists without the need for upstream changes?

And for each language I would follow the method above?

In other words, 4 shortcuts or am I misunderstanding something?

[steelf]

I had that Alt+Super+Space shortcut carried over in my configs for ages alongside “Allow different sources for each window”. Because per-window kept my terminal locked to English anyway, I honestly assumed the gsettings command was doing the job.

After your question I went and tested the command in isolation on a fresh 24.04 Wayland session, and you are totally right: GNOME deprecated “current”, so it silently updates dconf while the compositor ignores it. My bad!

Upstream is definitely still needed.

[archdan]

In full honesty i think you shouldn’t have deleted your original post, perhaps edit it a bit. The issue is actually presenting itself for anyone with multilingual background and current 24.04 GNOME doesn’t seem to accommodate that. In your previous post you provided the issue and the way you circumvented that, which still implies issue exists even if you have fixed it for yourself.