Hello KDE community.
First of all, I do not know if I’m posting in correct place. If so, I’m sorry and moderators feel free to close this topic or move it to proper place.
I would like to discuss a possibility to add a new Flatpak runtime extension, specifically for QtQuick styles so Kirigami apps can be themed easily. There’s one already for KStyle and one could argue that technically it could be used but since QtQuick is distinct thing, I think it deserves distinct extension point.
I did a little research on styling of QtQuick apps and from my understanding, it can be technically done today without any changes: (ab)use KStyle extension entrypoint to install custom theme into Flatpak application, extend Qml import path by setting QML_IMPORT_PATHto style module and choose the style by setting QT_QUICK_CONTROLS_STYLE. Reference: Import Statements | Qt Qml | Qt 6.10.2 and Supported Environment Variables in Qt Quick Controls | Qt Quick Controls | Qt 6.10.2 and org.kde.Sdk.json.in · qt6.10 · Packaging / Flatpak KDE Runtime · GitLab
What I would like to see is for Flatpak KDE runtime to have native supports for QtQuick themes. It would require most probably:
- changes to code, if Flatpak is treated as platform in Qt sense (I think it should be) as per: Import Statements | Qt Qml | Qt 6.10.2
- defining new runtime extension entrypoint in org.kde.Sdk.json.in · qt6.10 · Packaging / Flatpak KDE Runtime · GitLab
- some documentation to let users know they can theme Kirigami Flatpaks with
QT_QUICK_CONTROLS_STYLEand custom theme installed.
My lack of expertise in Qt/Qml/KDE as a developer would prohibit me from implementing those changes (maybe except for Flatpak extension entrypoint) but I do understand that KDE is mostly done by volunteers. However, I would greatly appreciate considering this topic as in my world, KDE is better than GNOME thanks to being customizable, among other things. And this change would greatly help with customizing Kirigami apps installed via Flatpak.