So this might happen if one dares to use linux

iKnowItsLame

Steps:
-) browse around thingiverse, looking for <something>
-) find <thingy>, decide that's something one wants look at later
-) since I hate bookmarks 'cos let's drag the URL from Browser into a folder on my machine

this is what got created from aforementioned drag-n-drop via GUI:

.. here's the same file from CLI:

The question is: how does one get the URL via GUI without firing up a browser?

1st attempt, somewhat naively right-clicking the icon -> Properties yields this:

..mmm... helpful not so much

2nd attempt since one knows that this has to be a text-file (.lnk I'm farting in your general direction) let's fire up an editor via right-click -> open with.. -> editor
(... 5 seconds lag strange..)
and one might see this:

In which trouser-leg of the multiverse is this (e.g. actually firing a https-GET and fetching the output) the expected behavior?

/I do not event dare to think about what happens if <URL> points to a site which requires authentication)
//even less about what happens your machine has no network right now or <site> is down

It really pains me to say this but Win10 with all its warts might actually be the lesser evil compared to Mint 19 (*) since I'm usually wasting more time to figure out howTF get <foo> up and running to do Y instead of simply getting it Y done.

(*) all user-targeted-distros (GUI /DEs?) are shite somewhere; servers are another pair of shoes and I'll happily continue to maintain them
//my first one was redhat ~5 (?), the one where you could run it with 'Klingon' as language

What I really do not get is how even my simple (?) requirements cause quite some :
MUST, no exceptions:
-) Workflow for my MK3S
-> works fine so far, all my needs are satisfied with either some web-app or run via WINE

MUST if I have to burn some midnight-oil (a.k.a. work / maintenance-window at night and so on) from home, happens occasionally
-) Citrix-Receiver (Umlauts; please pass through Windows-Hotkeys into RDP both when windowed AND fullscreen; etc)
-) RDP-Client (currently remmina via snap; was some hassle but works now)
-) good screenshot-tool (nothing fancy, just <shoot>, highlight something and anonymize anotherthing -> done)
-) stable copy-n-paste from here to there (text / image), no re linebreaks and so on

Are even these quite moderate (imo) requirements too much to expect?

Please redirect the "for work you should use a dedicated machine / dualboot"-comments to /dev/null, dedicated won't fly due space-constraints and dualboot is just awful.

Re the "use a VM"-comments allow me to point you to "stable copy-n-paste" from above, I know that it usually works ... until it refuses and by all means we aren't talking about c-n-p of a metrick fuckton of bytes, just the odd screenshot and/or a logfile-snippet; this always happens when it absolutely must not happen

Rant done, I feel better now

boomzilla

laughs in KDE

jinpa

@iKnowItsLame My response is: Linux isn't Windows. If you think it is, you're in for a world of pain. If Linux doesn't tell you that you can do that like that, it probably can't.

Note that I am violating the Golden Rule here. I hate it when people give me responses like that.

TimeBandit

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

since I hate bookmarks 'cos let's drag the URL from Browser into a folder on my machine

The question is: how does one get the URL via GUI without firing up a browser?

If that's what you wanted, why didn't you copy the URL from the browser in the first place

FileUnder: PEBKAC

wft

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

The question is: how does one get the URL via GUI without firing up a browser?

loopback0

@jinpa said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

Linux isn't Windows.

I'm not sure Windows does this either, but I'd need to check on a Windows computer and

Mingan

@loopback0 It creates a *.lnk file pointing at the URL

iKnowItsLame

@TimeBandit ayup... expectations, expectations....

please do not get me started on different behavior of Netflix and Amazon Video on a PS4.

Some things one gets accustomed to be granted and if that doesn't happen people get

/Feel free to say "OK, Boomer"

TimeBandit

@Mingan Yes, I just tried it (despite the ).

But how do you get the URL from that link without opening a browser or a text editor

iKnowItsLame

@wft found the entity which ignored "...via GUI...", opening a shell ain't it.

Mingan

@TimeBandit Right-click, Properties. Shows the URL pre-selected

loopback0

@Mingan said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@loopback0 It creates a *.lnk file pointing at the URL

Huh. TIL. I'm still not sure that's much more useful for accessing the URL outside of a browser.

This is still a Layer 8 fault.

Mingan

@loopback0 I find that particular UI interaction to be somewhat obscure and unexpected, TBH.

AyGeePlus

@iKnowItsLame
If you wanted to copy just the URL, just copy the URL.(ctrl-c) or (ctrl-D) If you want to save a webpage locally so you can view it offline, do that. (ctrl-S).

What did you expect to happen when you dragged a webpage onto your desktop? The first two would be , so it must be the third, although that's some real boomer behavior.

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

In which trouser-leg of the multiverse is this (e.g. actually firing a https-GET and fetching the output) the expected behavior?

Are you certain it's doing this? Text editors don't usually optimize for syntax highlighting html. That might be the source of the lag, not network traffic.

TimeBandit

@Mingan said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

Right-click, Properties. Shows the URL pre-selected

Yeah, well... it works but it's still stupid.

right-click the URL in the browser then copy.

Some people like to complicate things

loopback0

@Mingan said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@loopback0 I find that particular UI interaction to be somewhat obscure and unexpected, TBH.

It creates a file that can be used to go to that URL in a browser. The obscure and unexpected thing is the person who then expects this particular file to be amazingly useful in not-a-browser.

iKnowItsLame

@loopback0 said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

This is still a Layer 8 fault.

sure, let's fire up a browser just to get the URL it's pointing to (which may be incomplete 'cos http/https isn't visible) just for "I want to send <URL> to somebody via email"?

Yup, the stupid one is me and I bow my head in shame.

TimeBandit

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

expectations

That I can understand.
I expected Windows Update to work properly and was thoroughly disappointed

AyGeePlus

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

sure, let's fire up a browser just to get the URL it's pointing to (which may be incomplete 'cos http/https isn't visible) just for "I want to send <URL> to somebody via email"?
Yup, the stupid one is me and I bow my head in shame.

The feature you want to exist already exists, it's called copy and paste.

The computer knows how to do what you want, it just doesn't know what you mean, because computers aren't magic.

loopback0

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@loopback0 said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

This is still a Layer 8 fault.

sure, let's fire up a browser just to get the URL it's pointing to (which may be incomplete 'cos http/https isn't visible) just for "I want to send <URL> to somebody via email"?

Yup, the stupid one is me and I bow my head in shame.

You used cat in your own screenshot and it showed you that.

iKnowItsLame

@AyGeePlus said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

Are you certain it's doing this? Text editors don't usually optimize for syntax highlighting html. That might be the source of the lag, not network traffic.

compare <filenameblah.DESKTOP> with <content_of_editor>
-> the editor has to fetch this from <website> and a SSD usually is faster than <website>

TimeBandit

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

sure, let's fire up a browser just to get the URL it's pointing to

You mean, you don't always have a browser opened to WTDWTF?

iKnowItsLame

@loopback0 said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

You used cat in your own screenshot and it showed you that.

please show me the trouser-leg where cat is a GUI-tool

AyGeePlus

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@AyGeePlus said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

Are you certain it's doing this? Text editors don't usually optimize for syntax highlighting html. That might be the source of the lag, not network traffic.

compare <filenameblah.DESKTOP> with <content_of_editor>
-> the editor has to fetch this from <website> and a SSD usually is faster than <website>

well that checks out. The editor is clearly doing behavior intended for 'symlinks to NAS files' to 'symlinks to a webpage'.

ben_lubar

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@AyGeePlus said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

Are you certain it's doing this? Text editors don't usually optimize for syntax highlighting html. That might be the source of the lag, not network traffic.

compare <filenameblah.DESKTOP> with <content_of_editor>
-> the editor has to fetch this from <website> and a SSD usually is faster than <website>

what super-weird text editor are you using that executes files you open?

loopback0

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@loopback0 said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

You used cat in your own screenshot and it showed you that.

please show me the trouser-leg where cat is a GUI-tool

So you want to use a GUI tool but not a browser?

loopback0

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

and a SSD usually is faster than <website>

Have you tried SSDS?

TimeBandit

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

please show me the trouser-leg where cat is a GUI-tool

Right-click the link file, then "Open with" and select a text editor.

CLOSED_WOMM

iKnowItsLame

@AyGeePlus said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@AyGeePlus said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

Are you certain it's doing this? Text editors don't usually optimize for syntax highlighting html. That might be the source of the lag, not network traffic.

compare <filenameblah.DESKTOP> with <content_of_editor>
-> the editor has to fetch this from <website> and a SSD usually is faster than <website>

well that checks out. The editor is clearly doing behavior intended for 'symlinks to NAS files' to 'symlinks to a webpage'.

ah yes, well:
what If one wants|needs to change the fucking URL itself because <server> has moved and aforementioned URLis therefore invalid?

/I now understand why Blakey quit and I sadly I neither have asperger nor am I that fluent in swearing.

honestly: you guys do nothing but confirm my decision to abandon this dual-os-shite here and going full Win10.

If my lack of 'English' caused some confusion or other -> yes, well..

TimeBandit

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

abandon this dual-os-shite here and going full Win10

IOW, you're going for single-os-shite

iKnowItsLame

@ben_lubar said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@AyGeePlus said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

Are you certain it's doing this? Text editors don't usually optimize for syntax highlighting html. That might be the source of the lag, not network traffic.

compare <filenameblah.DESKTOP> with <content_of_editor>
-> the editor has to fetch this from <website> and a SSD usually is faster than <website>

what super-weird text editor are you using that executes files you open?

that is the question, yes...
I just used "Text Editor" from "other applications" since I didn't want to use "Libre Office Writer"
-> xed it is/was.

loopback0

@TimeBandit said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

abandon this dual-os-shite here and going full Win10

IOW, you're going for single-os-shite

His URLs are right where he left them.

AyGeePlus

@iKnowItsLame

You want to look at webpages and also remember webpages, but don't want to use a browser or bookmarks.

This is like complaining the directions on a frozen pizza don't do what you expect if you replace the pizza with a watermelon and the oven with a Jeep.

"My Jeep is so inconvenient! I have to open the hood to set the temperature to bake watermelon properly. Piece of shit car."

topspin

@TimeBandit said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

please show me the trouser-leg where cat is a GUI-tool

Right-click the link file, then "Open with" and select a text editor.

CLOSED_WOMM

He did open it in a text editor, and it didn't show the contents.

Unpatched KDE vulnerability disclosed on Twitter

Just viewing --not running-- a malicious .desktop or .directory file inside a file browser can run malicious code on a user's system.

ObjectMike

@topspin said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@boomzilla said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@ben_lubar said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@AyGeePlus said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

Are you certain it's doing this? Text editors don't usually optimize for syntax highlighting html. That might be the source of the lag, not network traffic.

compare <filenameblah.DESKTOP> with <content_of_editor>
-> the editor has to fetch this from <website> and a SSD usually is faster than <website>

what super-weird text editor are you using that executes files you open?

I don't think it executed file. It just saw a shortcut/link type thing and tried to open whatever was at the destination.

Yeah, but this is kind of Windows-ish in its "oh, let's run whatever this autorun.inf tells me without asking" behavior.

See also (and that's KDE ):

Unpatched KDE vulnerability disclosed on Twitter

Just viewing --not running-- a malicious .desktop or .directory file inside a file browser can run malicious code on a user's system.

Not really. It's more like a poor man's symlink. It opened the resource pointed at by the URL. It's more link following a symlink pointing to a NFS file.

wft

@iKnowItsLame Why are you so hell-bent on GUIs? Hell, the terminal emulator is a GUI program, for what it's worth. I mean, all your usual GUI stuff works. Copy and paste works there.

I agree that your friendly neighborhood file manager could be better by showing the URL somewhere in the properties, but at this point you seem to fail to see the fucking forest for the trees.

ben_lubar

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@ben_lubar said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@AyGeePlus said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

Are you certain it's doing this? Text editors don't usually optimize for syntax highlighting html. That might be the source of the lag, not network traffic.

compare <filenameblah.DESKTOP> with <content_of_editor>
-> the editor has to fetch this from <website> and a SSD usually is faster than <website>

what super-weird text editor are you using that executes files you open?

that is the question, yes...
I just used "Text Editor" from "other applications" since I didn't want to use "Libre Office Writer"
-> xed it is/was.

GitHub - linuxmint/xed: X-Apps [Text] Editor (Cross-DE, backward-compatible, GTK3, traditional UI)

X-Apps [Text] Editor (Cross-DE, backward-compatible, GTK3, traditional UI) - linuxmint/xed

not a single reference to ".desktop" or "URL" or "Type=Link" here

there's also no option to install this editor in my OS's package manager, so my assumption is that you know enough about Linux to have compiled and installed it yourself.

I'm going to go ahead and assume your file manager is Nemo:

GitHub - linuxmint/nemo: File browser for Cinnamon

File browser for Cinnamon. Contribute to linuxmint/nemo development by creating an account on GitHub.

why not report a bug?

jinpa

@ben_lubar said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

what super-weird text editor are you using that executes files you open?

FWIW, AbiWord does that.

Tsaukpaetra

@AyGeePlus said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

What did you expect to happen when you dragged a webpage onto your desktop?

A full copy packed up in a neat little file, same as if I pressed Ctrl-s and navigated to the desktop folder and pressed Enter.

Tsaukpaetra

@wft said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

the fucking forest

I would like to see a fucking forest at some point...

TimeBandit

@Tsaukpaetra said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

I would like to see a fucking forest at some point...

I'm worried for the trees

FileUnder: I'd tap that

Deadfast

@loopback0 said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@AyGeePlus said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

Jeep ... Piece of shit car."

Seems legit.

https://youtu.be/5sVmoOZRypk

Tsaukpaetra

@TimeBandit said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@Tsaukpaetra said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

I would like to see a fucking forest at some point...

I'm worried for the trees

FileUnder: I'd tap that

aitap

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

this is what got created from aforementioned drag-n-drop via GUI:

I tried to do the same in Xfce, but Thunar refused to create the .desktop file because Failed to change directory to file:///home/me: No such file or directory .

When I created the .desktop file manually, the Properties window helpfully contained a "Link" tab with the URL I had typed in, so this part is not a WTF.

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

In which trouser-leg of the multiverse is this (e.g. actually firing a https-GET and fetching the output) the expected behavior?

I'm not sure, but you might get the desired behaviour by disabling the executable bit on the .desktop file (yeah, it doesn't mean what it actually means, but file managers may treat .desktop files slightly differently depending on whether the executable bit is set ).

JBert

@ben_lubar said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@ben_lubar said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@iKnowItsLame said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

@AyGeePlus said in So this might happen if one dares to use linux:

Are you certain it's doing this? Text editors don't usually optimize for syntax highlighting html. That might be the source of the lag, not network traffic.

compare <filenameblah.DESKTOP> with <content_of_editor>
-> the editor has to fetch this from <website> and a SSD usually is faster than <website>

what super-weird text editor are you using that executes files you open?

that is the question, yes...
I just used "Text Editor" from "other applications" since I didn't want to use "Libre Office Writer"
-> xed it is/was.

GitHub - linuxmint/xed: X-Apps [Text] Editor (Cross-DE, backward-compatible, GTK3, traditional UI)

X-Apps [Text] Editor (Cross-DE, backward-compatible, GTK3, traditional UI) - linuxmint/xed

not a single reference to ".desktop" or "URL" or "Type=Link" here

there's also no option to install this editor in my OS's package manager, so my assumption is that you know enough about Linux to have compiled and installed it yourself.

why not report a bug?

Reporting a bug might help but I would expect that this whole open-target-url-rather-than-desktop-file logic is in a helper library. At best they move the bug report and start fixing it, but equally likely is that they refer you to that other project and let you create your own bug report.