Add support for virtual keyboard

[wltjr]

Despite a configure option and option in conf file. There is no virtual keyboard support or any implementation for such. Beyond code to load the option from the conf file. Need to add some support for a virtual keyboard at some point.

[rafspiny]

I remember trying a virtual keyboard on E. I am not sure how it can be reused in entrance though.
There is a gadget written by Rasterman here: https://github.com/Enlightenment/enlightenment/tree/master/src/modules/vkbd

Maybe it is a good pointer for a future integration in Entrance.

[wltjr]

I played with the virtual keyboard in E a few times, but it seemed to be more annoying than anything else. It stayed on the screen, I cannot recall if I could move it around. It was not very user friendly, it was just functional. It needed lots of refinement and improvement is my lasting memory.

Ideally, that code is moved into EFL or something similar. Not sure how they are going about it in Tizen. Likely some additional application or library provides the virtual keyboard there. I know Samsung has their own keyboard application in Android.

I would have to borrow/duplicate the code in E for Entrance. Otherwise I would have to add a dependency of E to Entrance. Plus its coded as a module, so, I would need code in Entrance to support that. I really hope something like that is added to EFL, or there is some library I can utilize.

Upstream, EFL and E developers, they rather see Entrance go away. They want to add similar functionality to E itself, make E an login manager. Though, I am not sure how well that will work for other desktops. If they ever get around to coding that feature. I still see a need for Entrance but, sadly, neither Entrance or I get any love from upstream.

I need to get back to the Wayland integration and/or support. I had some code for direct dbus integration, but did an accidental checkout with wip not committed and nuked it... i am hoping to avoid a CLI call to loginctl like is done in spawny.

[TheTechRobo]

They want to add similar functionality to E itself, make E an login manager.

So basically E is turning into every single modern program - trying to do everything. 🤕

[wltjr]

Well for some things it makes sense, as things would have to either be re-coded, duplicating code, and/or pushed into EFL that may further bloat it. I have discussed it, and while I was against it, and some what still am, there are some merits. Virtual keyboard, backlight control for the display, power management, and other things that do make sense. But, I think it would be strange to have E to log into another desktop env. Plus, the size of E is bigger than entrance, although, that is kinda moot given the size of EFL. That is another part of the argument, building EFL just for entrance to log into another desktop, might has well be E to login.

That said, I recall it being conceptualized like 3 years ago, and I am unaware of any efforts to move it forward. It may happen someday, but probably not to soon. Till then, I will likely further entrance. It is possible, the stuff is moved into EFL for both E and Entrance, or other consumers.

[TheTechRobo]

Well let's just hope that it doesn't move forward, because I really like entrance. (And you've spent all this time on it)