Clarify unmatched output preset fallback

Author: bhack

data/io.github.bhack.mini-eq.metainfo.xml

@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
     <release version="0.5.0" date="2026-05-06">
       <description>
         <ul>
-          <li>Add a Default Preset fallback for outputs without a linked preset.</li>
+          <li>Add a fallback preset for outputs without a linked preset.</li>
           <li>Keep manual preset choices and unsaved curve edits when outputs change.</li>
           <li>Add Start Active at Login and improve analyzer band resolution.</li>
         </ul>

docs/release.md

@@ -55,12 +55,12 @@ and with AT-SPI or live smoke when they require real GTK behavior:
   current curve understandable as an unsaved copy.
 - Link, unlink, miss, and modify auto presets for both port-scoped and
   output-scoped targets.
-- Set, miss, and clear the default preset.
+- Set, miss, and clear the unmatched-output fallback preset.
 - Change output while a curve is clean, modified, auto-applied, missing, or
   unavailable.
 - Turn Monitor on/off and freeze/unfreeze it without leaving hidden frozen
   state behind.
-- Start the app with auto/default preset and auto-route inputs and verify the
+- Start the app with auto/fallback preset and auto-route inputs and verify the
   visible window appears only after startup state is applied.
 - Check Shell extension/D-Bus state after preset, output, background, and
   window-visibility changes.

src/mini_eq/core.py

@@ -475,6 +475,12 @@ def get_default_preset_name() -> str | None:
     return default_preset
 
 
+# The JSON key remains "default" for compatibility; the UI presents the same
+# value as the unmatched-output fallback preset.
+def get_output_preset_fallback_name() -> str | None:
+    return get_default_preset_name()
+
+
 def set_output_preset_link(sink_name: str, preset_name: str) -> str:
     output_key = str(sink_name).strip()
     if not output_key:
@@ -515,12 +521,20 @@ def set_default_preset_name(preset_name: str) -> str:
     return default_preset
 
 
+def set_output_preset_fallback_name(preset_name: str) -> str:
+    return set_default_preset_name(preset_name)
+
+
 def clear_default_preset_name() -> str | None:
     links, previous_default = load_output_preset_config()
     write_output_preset_config(links)
     return previous_default
 
 
+def clear_output_preset_fallback_name() -> str | None:
+    return clear_default_preset_name()
+
+
 def load_mini_eq_preset_file(path: str | Path) -> dict[str, object]:
     file_path = Path(path)
     if not file_path.is_file():

src/mini_eq/window_presets.py

@@ -15,19 +15,19 @@
     DEFAULT_ACTIVE_BANDS,
     PRESET_FILE_SUFFIX,
     PRESET_VERSION,
-    clear_default_preset_name,
+    clear_output_preset_fallback_name,
     clear_output_preset_link,
     delete_preset_file,
     ensure_json_suffix,
     fader_band_count_for_profile,
-    get_default_preset_name,
+    get_output_preset_fallback_name,
     get_output_preset_link,
     list_preset_names,
     load_mini_eq_preset_file,
     preset_path_for_name,
     preset_payload_state_signature,
     sanitize_preset_name,
-    set_default_preset_name,
+    set_output_preset_fallback_name,
     set_output_preset_link,
     write_mini_eq_preset_file,
 )
@@ -155,9 +155,9 @@ def output_preset_link_name(self) -> str | None:
         except Exception:
             return None
 
-    def default_preset_name(self) -> str | None:
+    def fallback_preset_name(self) -> str | None:
         try:
-            return get_default_preset_name()
+            return get_output_preset_fallback_name()
         except Exception:
             return None
 
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ def preset_panel_ui_state(self) -> PresetPanelUiState:
             revert_signature=revert_signature,
         )
         reset_visible = not neutral
-        default_preset = self.default_preset_name()
+        default_preset = self.fallback_preset_name()
         default_set_visible = clean_named_preset
         default_clear_visible = default_preset is not None
         curve_group_visible = has_named_preset or revert_visible or reset_visible
@@ -612,6 +612,12 @@ def refresh_preset_actions(self, state: PresetPanelUiState | None = None) -> Non
 
         self.set_preset_widget_visible("default_preset_set_button", state.default_set_visible)
         self.set_preset_widget_visible("default_preset_clear_button", state.default_clear_visible)
+        self.default_preset_set_button.set_sensitive(state.default_set_visible)
+        self.default_preset_set_button.set_tooltip_text("Use this preset when no auto preset matches")
+        self.default_preset_clear_button.set_sensitive(state.default_clear_visible)
+        self.default_preset_clear_button.set_tooltip_text(
+            "Bypass unmatched outputs instead of loading a fallback preset"
+        )
 
         self.set_preset_widget_visible("preset_default_separator", state.default_separator_visible)
         self.set_preset_widget_visible("preset_file_separator", state.file_separator_visible)
@@ -624,7 +630,7 @@ def refresh_preset_actions(self, state: PresetPanelUiState | None = None) -> Non
         self.set_preset_widget_visible("preset_delete_button", state.delete_visible)
         self.preset_delete_button.set_sensitive(state.delete_visible)
         self.update_output_preset_state()
-        self.update_default_preset_state()
+        self.update_fallback_preset_state()
 
     def refresh_preset_library_popover(self) -> None:
         load_button = getattr(self, "preset_load_button", None)
@@ -698,13 +704,13 @@ def sync_preset_combo_selection(self) -> None:
         finally:
             self.updating_preset_combo = False
 
-    def update_default_preset_state(self) -> None:
+    def update_fallback_preset_state(self) -> None:
         label = getattr(self, "default_preset_state_label", None)
         set_button = getattr(self, "default_preset_set_button", None)
         clear_button = getattr(self, "default_preset_clear_button", None)
 
         try:
-            default_preset = get_default_preset_name()
+            default_preset = get_output_preset_fallback_name()
         except Exception as exc:
             if label is not None:
                 label.set_text("Unavailable")
@@ -725,17 +731,17 @@ def update_default_preset_state(self) -> None:
             return
 
         if default_preset is None:
-            label.set_text("None")
-            label.set_tooltip_text("No default preset")
+            label.set_text("Bypass")
+            label.set_tooltip_text("Unmatched outputs use no fallback preset.")
             return
 
         if default_preset in self.preset_names:
             label.set_text(default_preset)
-            label.set_tooltip_text("Used when the selected output has no auto preset")
+            label.set_tooltip_text("Used when the active output has no auto preset.")
             return
 
         label.set_text("Missing")
-        label.set_tooltip_text(f"Default preset {default_preset} is unavailable")
+        label.set_tooltip_text(f"Fallback preset {default_preset} is unavailable")
 
     def keep_current_curve_as_unsaved_copy(self, preset_name: str) -> None:
         preserve_revert_baseline = (
@@ -917,7 +923,7 @@ def apply_output_preset_for_current_output(
                 self.notify_control_state_changed()
                 return announce_no_output_preset
 
-            default_preset = get_default_preset_name()
+            default_preset = get_output_preset_fallback_name()
             should_apply_default_preset = default_preset is not None and (
                 reset_auto_preset_without_link or self.current_preset_name is None
             )
@@ -927,19 +933,19 @@ def apply_output_preset_for_current_output(
                         default_preset,
                         auto=True,
                         output_preset_auto=False,
-                        status_message="Default preset applied",
+                        status_message="Fallback preset applied",
                     )
                 except Exception:
                     self.output_preset_auto_applied = False
                     self.output_preset_curve_auto_loaded = False
                     self.update_preset_state()
-                    self.set_status("Default preset unavailable")
+                    self.set_status("Fallback preset unavailable")
                     self.notify_control_state_changed()
                 else:
                     return True
 
             if reset_auto_preset_without_link:
-                self.reset_curve_to_neutral("Reset to neutral")
+                self.reset_curve_to_neutral("Unmatched output bypassed")
                 return True
 
             self.output_preset_auto_applied = False
@@ -1141,7 +1147,7 @@ def on_use_preset_for_output_clicked(self, _button: Gtk.Widget) -> None:
         except Exception as exc:
             self.set_status(str(exc))
 
-    def on_use_preset_as_default_clicked(self, _button: Gtk.Widget) -> None:
+    def on_use_preset_as_fallback_clicked(self, _button: Gtk.Widget) -> None:
         if self.current_preset_name is None:
             self.set_status("Choose a preset first")
             return
@@ -1150,24 +1156,24 @@ def on_use_preset_as_default_clicked(self, _button: Gtk.Widget) -> None:
             return
 
         try:
-            set_default_preset_name(self.current_preset_name)
+            set_output_preset_fallback_name(self.current_preset_name)
             self.output_preset_curve_auto_loaded = False
             self.update_preset_state()
-            self.set_status("Default preset set")
+            self.set_status("Fallback preset set")
             self.notify_control_state_changed()
         except Exception as exc:
             self.set_status(str(exc))
             self.notify_control_state_changed()
 
-    def on_clear_default_preset_clicked(self, _button: Gtk.Widget) -> None:
+    def on_bypass_unmatched_outputs_clicked(self, _button: Gtk.Widget) -> None:
         try:
-            removed = clear_default_preset_name()
+            removed = clear_output_preset_fallback_name()
             self.output_preset_curve_auto_loaded = False
             self.update_preset_state()
             if removed:
-                self.set_status("Default preset cleared")
+                self.set_status("Unmatched outputs bypassed")
             else:
-                self.set_status("No default preset")
+                self.set_status("Unmatched outputs already bypassed")
             self.notify_control_state_changed()
         except Exception as exc:
             self.set_status(str(exc))

src/mini_eq/window_utility.py

@@ -107,11 +107,11 @@ def make_preset_section(self) -> Gtk.Box:
         self.default_preset_state_label.set_hexpand(True)
         self.default_preset_state_label.add_css_class("dim-label")
         self.default_preset_state_label.set_ellipsize(Pango.EllipsizeMode.END)
-        set_accessible_label(self.default_preset_state_label, "Default Preset Status")
+        set_accessible_label(self.default_preset_state_label, "Unmatched Output Fallback Status")
 
         default_preset_row = Gtk.Box(orientation=Gtk.Orientation.HORIZONTAL, spacing=10)
         default_preset_row.add_css_class("utility-row")
-        default_preset_label = Gtk.Label(label="Default Preset", xalign=0.0)
+        default_preset_label = Gtk.Label(label="Fallback", xalign=0.0)
         default_preset_row.append(default_preset_label)
         default_preset_row.append(self.default_preset_state_label)
         preset_section.append(default_preset_row)
@@ -178,13 +178,13 @@ def make_preset_action(label: str, callback, *, destructive: bool = False) -> tu
         self.preset_default_separator = append_preset_separator()
 
         self.default_preset_set_button, self.default_preset_set_button_label = make_preset_action(
-            "Set as Default",
-            self.on_use_preset_as_default_clicked,
+            "Use as Fallback",
+            self.on_use_preset_as_fallback_clicked,
         )
 
         self.default_preset_clear_button, self.default_preset_clear_button_label = make_preset_action(
-            "Clear Default",
-            self.on_clear_default_preset_clicked,
+            "Bypass Unmatched Outputs",
+            self.on_bypass_unmatched_outputs_clicked,
         )
 
         self.preset_file_separator = append_preset_separator()

tests/test_mini_eq_core.py

@@ -242,12 +242,14 @@ def test_default_preset_roundtrip_preserves_output_links(monkeypatch: pytest.Mon
     monkeypatch.setattr(core, "OUTPUT_PRESET_LINKS_PATH", tmp_path / "output-presets.json")
     core.set_output_preset_link("alsa_output.speakers", "Speakers")
 
-    assert core.set_default_preset_name("../Neutral...") == "Neutral"
+    assert core.set_output_preset_fallback_name("../Neutral...") == "Neutral"
     assert core.get_default_preset_name() == "Neutral"
+    assert core.get_output_preset_fallback_name() == "Neutral"
     assert core.load_output_preset_links() == {"alsa_output.speakers": "Speakers"}
 
-    assert core.clear_default_preset_name() == "Neutral"
+    assert core.clear_output_preset_fallback_name() == "Neutral"
     assert core.get_default_preset_name() is None
+    assert core.get_output_preset_fallback_name() is None
     assert core.load_output_preset_links() == {"alsa_output.speakers": "Speakers"}