Ubuntu question: Flashing apps on the bottom of the screen?

[Syrinx]

I can't remember what you call that thing. But you know where your apps are at the bottom of the screen, and you click on them to bring different windows to the top? What do you call that thing?

Anyway, what does it mean down there when certain apps start slowly blinking?

My best guess is that it means that the program is going into sleep mode.

What's the real reason?

Thanks. (Just something that's been bugging me a little.)

[qnr]

1. I use really simple WMs, so this is just a guess to go with yours:

Generally, the whole thing is called a panel, some will have specific names like fbpanel or kicker.

I don't know about the flashing since I don't use them... perhaps it is an indication that a subprocess has finished inside the app? Or that there is/are new data/results available?

[Syrinx]

3. I guess it's moot now

But thanks for the reply.

I upgraded to Ubuntu 8.04, and I haven't noticed that blinking thing since.

[MeDeMax]

2. in my case (Debian) the blinking program is expecting input

or has had a status change.

Some programs do not force their window to be the topmost, in such cases if the program status has changed, it slow blinks.