[arch-general] Where did the touch pad tapping go?

[Mauro Santos]

On 17-06-2016 06:52, Javier Vasquez via arch-general wrote:
>> On Thu, Jun 16, 2016 at 7:50 PM, Kyle Terrien <kyleterrien at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Javier Vasquez via arch-general wrote:
>>> ...
>>>
>>> https://git.archlinux.org/svntogit/packages.git/tree/trunk/xf86-input-synaptics.install?h=packages/xf86-input-synaptics
>>
>> I saw that message while upgrading a couple of days ago.
>>
>>     xf86-input-synaptics driver is on maintenance mode and
>>     xf86-input-libinput driver must be prefered over.
>>
>> But I didn't understand what "must be prefered over" means (grammar
>> error).
>>
>> You suggested that libinput is the default now.  That would make more
>> sense.  So is this a warning of some sort, or is it a notification to
>> try to encourage people to switch to libinput?
>>
>> Does switching break any older desktop environments?  (e.g. MATE, Window
>> Maker)
> 
> Hi Kyle,
> 
> Although stalling development (just maintenance for now) on the Xorg
> synaptics driver doesn't mean it's deprecated, I prefer the move onto
> libinput as I did some time back.  Not related to what Arch might
> encourage, but I would encourage the move.
> 
> BTW, I have a libinput config to enable tapping, without specifying
> the "Driver" since november, and if present, Xorg has always treated
> libinput as the default over Synaptics.  The thing is that now the
> Arch xorg-server package requires the libinput driver as well as the
> evdev one.  And that makes libinput the default no matter you wanted
> it (as I did by installing it) or not (you can still opt for the
> synaptics driver through config).
> 
> I use plain fluxbox WM, no DE, so I guess other more used and/or
> supported WMs/DEs might work just fine.  The support for libinput on
> Xorg by Arch is not new.  The anouncement of the availability to chose
> for it is from 2015-11-13:
> 
> https://www.archlinux.org/news/xorg-1180-enters-testing
> 
> So it might be it's been tested on different WMs/DEs by now, and by
> different users.
> 
> One can still keep using the synaptics driver if preferred as
> mentioned.  It provides more options to tweak (for those who
> understand them and care).  Its config is similar to its libinput
> counterpart (just longer), and its main requirement is to specify to
> use the synaptics "Driver" in there.  You can read the wiki for some
> synaptics config basics:
> 
> https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Touchpad_Synaptics
> 
> Or use the config from Fabien on this same thread:
> 
> https://lists.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch-general/2016-June/041457.html
> 

You should also be aware that some bugs are solved in libinput and have
been closed as wontfix in other drivers [1-2]. Although this is for
evdev it can give you an idea of what will happen in the future, if any
hard to solve bugs arise (as was the case with the example I provide).

[1] https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=92897
[2] https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=92896
-- 
Mauro Santos