Proposal to Expand freedesktop Module's File Tag Support for App Icons

Currently, the freedesktop module in Qbs only supports one file tag related to the default theme hicolor: freedesktop.appIcon. This tag is used for specifying a scalable app icon. However, if a scalable image is not provided, there is no alternative way to specify an image for an application within this module.

Suggestion:

1. Expand File Tag Support: I propose adding more file tags to the freedesktop module to accommodate different icon sizes. This would allow developers to specify non-scalable images for their applications, ensuring better compatibility with various display environments.

2. Avoid Hard-Coding Paths: Is there a way to avoid hard-coding the paths to these icons? Perhaps the module could be enhanced to dynamically detect available icon sizes and directories, reducing the need for developers to manage paths manually.

3. Avoid Cluttering: I understand that there might be concerns about cluttering the module with too many tags or paths. If this is the reason for the current limitations, it would be helpful to discuss potential solutions.

Naming of Tags:

Regarding the names for these new tags, they could be structured based on the icon size, for example:

• freedesktop.appIcon8x8
• freedesktop.appIcon8x8@2
• freedesktop.appIcon16x16
• freedesktop.appIcon16x16@2
• freedesktop.appIcon24x24
• freedesktop.appIcon24x24@2
• freedesktop.appIcon32x32
• freedesktop.appIcon32x32@2
• freedesktop.appIcon48x48
• freedesktop.appIcon48x48@2
• freedesktop.appIcon64x64
• freedesktop.appIcon64x64@2
• freedesktop.appIcon128x128
• freedesktop.appIcon128x128@2
• freedesktop.appIcon256x256
• freedesktop.appIcon256x256@2
• freedesktop.appIcon512x512
• freedesktop.appIcon512x512@2
• freedesktop.appIconSymbolic

Example of Paths Observed:

On my system, I have observed the following icon paths for the hicolor theme:

/usr/share/icons/hicolor/8x8/apps
/usr/share/icons/hicolor/16x16/apps
/usr/share/icons/hicolor/16x16@2/apps
...
/usr/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps
/usr/share/icons/hicolor/symbolic/apps

These paths represent various sizes, and a more comprehensive file tag system would allow developers to target each appropriately.

Conclusion:

Expanding the file tag support in the freedesktop module would enhance flexibility and usability for developers who need to provide non-scalable icons. It would also align the module more closely with the diverse needs of modern applications.