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Use "(running)" text instead of Unicode symbol for active launch indicator - #2934

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BeckerWdf:feature/launch-running-indicator
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Use "(running)" text instead of Unicode symbol for active launch indicator#2934
BeckerWdf wants to merge 2 commits into
eclipse-platform:masterfrom
BeckerWdf:feature/launch-running-indicator

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@BeckerWdf

@BeckerWdf BeckerWdf commented Sep 16, 2026 •
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Summary

  • Replaces the Unicode symbol ⚙ with the text (running) as the indicator for active launch configurations in the launch history menu.
  • The text label is more accessible and avoids potential font/rendering issues with Unicode symbols.

Test plan

  • Open the launch history dropdown while a launch configuration is running
  • Verify the entry shows My Config (running) instead of My Config ⚙
  • Verify terminated launches no longer show the indicator

Fixes #2933

@BeckerWdf
Add running indicator to launch history menu entries
d4d5b97 
Show "(running)" suffix instead of a Unicode symbol next to active
launch configurations in the launch history menu.

Fixes eclipse-platform#2933
@BeckerWdf

BeckerWdf commented Sep 16, 2026

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Looks like this now:
Screenshot 2026-09-16 at 12 10 36

@BeckerWdf

BeckerWdf commented Sep 16, 2026

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@SougandhS: What do you think?

@BeckerWdf BeckerWdf self-assigned this Sep 16, 2026
@SougandhS

SougandhS commented Sep 16, 2026

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(running) adds noticeable width to every entry in the launch history menu, especially with longer config names, it could crowd the dropdown... doesn't feel like an indicator anymore..

@BeckerWdf

BeckerWdf commented Sep 16, 2026

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(running) adds noticeable width to every entry in the launch history menu, especially with longer config names, it could crowd the dropdown... doesn't feel like an indicator anymore..

That's a valid point.

@iloveeclipse

iloveeclipse commented Sep 16, 2026

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IMO original idea was looking better.
Maybe you should start a poll to check whether we should change it or not as proposed here, let community decide.
Ideally provide screenshots before / after so it is clear for everyone what we are talking about.

@github-actions

github-actions Bot commented Sep 16, 2026

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Test Results

    54 files  ±0      54 suites  ±0   58m 19s ⏱️ - 1m 15s
 4 810 tests ±0   4 788 ✅ ±0   22 💤 ±0  0 ❌ ±0 
12 321 runs  ±0  12 168 ✅ ±0  153 💤 ±0  0 ❌ ±0 

Results for commit fde13d3. ± Comparison against base commit 2d15cf3.

@akurtakov

akurtakov commented Sep 16, 2026 •
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The one with running looks quite wrong on my Linux system (in addition to concerns about width)
image
so I also vote for keeping the symbol one.

@merks

merks commented Sep 16, 2026

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I liked the symbol too. It's very concise...

@BeckerWdf

BeckerWdf commented Sep 16, 2026

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The one with running looks quite wrong on my Linux system (in addition to concerns about width) image so I also vote for keeping the symbol one.

It misses a whitspace. Is that what you mean with "wrong"?

@BeckerWdf

BeckerWdf commented Sep 16, 2026

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IMO original idea was looking better.

your mean the "gear"?

@iloveeclipse

iloveeclipse commented Sep 16, 2026

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your mean the "gear"?

Yes. Current master state.

@HeikoKlare

HeikoKlare commented Sep 16, 2026

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I have to admit that I quite dislike the gear. It took me a while to understand what that symbol is supposed to tell me.
I got used to it though, and I also understand the arguments regarding width when adding a "(running)" suffix to the entry label. So this is not an opinion for or against anything. I just want to second the concerns regarding accessibility (and comprehensibility) of the current symbol.

@jasmin261098

jasmin261098 commented Sep 16, 2026

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I agree that an Icon does look better than writing out the word "running".

But I have to point out, that an emoji is not a valid eclipse IDE icon. A user can see major differences in the intended look and feel of the IDE, plus emojis look different on different operating systems and are inappropriate for a professional software as Eclipse.

I would suggest to use existing solutions for this use case. For example you could use the base "java_app.svg" Icon and add an OVR icon on top of it, like the "run_co.svg" Icon.

image

I currently work on the eclipse Icons myself and with a bachelor degree in graphic design I would like to help solve this issue.

@akurtakov

akurtakov commented Sep 16, 2026

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It misses a whitspace. Is that what you mean with "wrong"?

That is one thing but it also looks like something I have put in the launch configuration name myself e.g. I have launches "Eclipse Gtk4 X11 IBus" so "(running)" I take as part of the name.

@akurtakov

akurtakov commented Sep 16, 2026 •
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FWIW, the "gear" is overcomplicated for the purpose and an indicator I take for "setup" not for "running" , a • (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_(typography) ) fits better as it was proposed somewhere, maybe even initially.

@BeckerWdf

BeckerWdf commented Sep 17, 2026

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I would suggest to use existing solutions for this use case. For example you could use the base "java_app.svg" Icon and add an OVR icon on top of it, like the "run_co.svg" Icon.

image

I just locally implemented what proposal.

Looks like this:

Screenshot 2026-09-17 at 09 01 57 Screenshot 2026-09-17 at 09 01 34

What's your opinion on that proposal?

@SougandhS

SougandhS commented Sep 17, 2026 via email

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@BeckerWdf

BeckerWdf commented Sep 17, 2026 •
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Thanks, similar was proposed earlier See #2652 (comment) & #2652 (comment) Get Outlook for Androidhttps://aka.ms/AAb9ysg
…

So why was is not implemented? What have been the reasons?

@BeckerWdf

BeckerWdf commented Sep 17, 2026

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Just discovered that a tooltip is added for not running launch configs like this:
Screenshot 2026-09-17 at 09 22 42

Why not adding a tooltip for running ones too:
Screenshot 2026-09-17 at 09 19 08

@merks

merks commented Sep 17, 2026

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I wonder how it looks with external tools launches which have the little red toolbar button in the lower right?

@SougandhS

SougandhS commented Sep 17, 2026 via email

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@BeckerWdf

BeckerWdf commented Sep 17, 2026

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Tooltip will require hovering and take 1-3 seconds to show up, with gear indicator users can quickly identify the running launches without hovering and waiting

I mean in addition - not as replacement for the "indicator".

@BeckerWdf

BeckerWdf commented Sep 17, 2026

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I wonder how it looks with external tools launches which have the little red toolbar button in the lower right?

you mean this:
image

@SougandhS

SougandhS commented Sep 17, 2026

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I mean in addition - not as replacement for the "indicator".

That would be great :D

@BeckerWdf

BeckerWdf commented Sep 17, 2026

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I mean in addition - not as replacement for the "indicator".

That would be great :D

Ok. I will provide a separate PR for that as it's independent from the "indicator" discussion.

@BeckerWdf

BeckerWdf commented Sep 17, 2026

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I mean in addition - not as replacement for the "indicator".

That would be great :D

Ok. I will provide a separate PR for that as it's independent from the "indicator" discussion.

see: #2937

@akurtakov

akurtakov commented Sep 17, 2026

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As discussion here has went in full circle I believe it's time to have a poll with all possible options and let the majority decide what is best.
Regarding overly icon alternative - this is really good option for limited scope product and not that good idea at all for generally extensible platform . E.g. imagine run config for plugin with mostly green icon (a top ten MPC download is such https://github.com/cucumber/cucumber-eclipse/wiki/Feature-Runner), color blindness and etc. and green "indicator" - the indicator will be totally lost .

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@akurtakov akurtakov Awaiting requested review from akurtakov
@iloveeclipse iloveeclipse Awaiting requested review from iloveeclipse

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UX of "Running Indicator" for Launch Configurations should be improved

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@BeckerWdf @SougandhS @iloveeclipse @akurtakov @merks @HeikoKlare @jasmin261098