Geany TreeBrowser: Fixing Open Folder Icon Display

Hey guys! Today, we're diving into a common issue faced by Geany users who love the TreeBrowser plugin, especially those of us on Linux. It's about those pesky open folder icons not quite behaving as expected. Let's get into it and see how we can potentially fix it!

Understanding the Problem

So, the main issue? Open folder icons in the TreeBrowser plugin aren't displaying correctly. Specifically, the TreeBrowser plugin by default uses 16x16 folder icons. Instead of showing the themed "opened folder" icon from your icon set, it defaults to a generic-looking icon – often a white square with a tiny white folder inside. This can be particularly jarring when you've meticulously set up your desktop environment (DE) and Geany with consistent themes. This discrepancy breaks the visual harmony, making it feel a bit off for those who appreciate a polished look. We want our open folders to look as good as our regular folders, right? This issue becomes even more apparent when comparing the TreeBrowser’s icons with those in file pickers or file managers, where the correct themed icons are displayed without a hitch. It’s like your file system is throwing a visual party, but the TreeBrowser missed the dress code memo. The inconsistency can be a minor annoyance, but for users who rely on visual cues for navigation, it can also impact workflow and efficiency. Imagine quickly scanning your file structure and needing to distinguish between open and closed folders at a glance; a generic icon can slow you down and introduce errors. Addressing this issue is not just about aesthetics; it’s about enhancing the user experience and making Geany a more visually cohesive and intuitive tool for developers and writers alike. So, let's dive deeper into how we can tackle this problem and bring those themed open folder icons into the TreeBrowser.

The Papirus Icon Set Example

To really illustrate the issue, let's use the Papirus icon set as a prime example. Many of us on Linux love Papirus for its clean, modern look. Papirus uses a gray folder icon for regular folders and a distinctive flat gray horizontal icon for opened folders. This makes it super easy to tell at a glance which folders are open and which are closed in your file manager or any other application that uses these icons. Now, if you're rocking a dark theme on your desktop environment (DE) – and let's be real, dark themes are where it's at – and a dark theme in Geany like