Bug 486701

Summary:	Windows can cover is missing from panels
Product:	[Plasma] plasmashell	Reporter:	myusualnickname <myusualnickname>
Component:	Panel	Assignee:	Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs>
Status:	CLOSED INTENTIONAL
Severity:	normal	CC:	nate, niccolo.venerandi, ossi, paulatz
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	6.0.4
Target Milestone:	1.0
Platform:	Neon
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description myusualnickname@gmail.com 2024-05-07 06:22:30 UTC

I am installing a testing version of neon
When I go to help/about KDE it does not give me any version info, that is another bug..
Qt is 6.7 frameworks is 6.2, dolphin is 24.02.2

The premier feature on KDE for me that I show everybody, is the "Windows can cover" option in the edit mode for panels. It makes the panel discoverable, and it pops over other windows when the mouse goes to thr bottom, it is a great compromise between hidden panels and normal panels.
I don't know what the Dodge windows does other than make the panel harder to find. It may be what someone wants, but I've been promoting KDE to people for years and windows can cover is just the coolest.

I consider it a bug to be missing from the visibility options. Please add it back, I'll put money where my mouth is on this one.

I honestly think floating panels are a miss-feature, as they make computers harder to use, but if someone thinks they look nice, I'm not gonna be able to stop it.
I do think they should not be default, it wastes screen space and well, that is a different topic.

thank you.
***
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***

SUMMARY

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
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OBSERVED RESULT

EXPECTED RESULT

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows:
macOS:
Linux/KDE Plasma:
(available in About System)
KDE Plasma Version:
KDE Frameworks Version:
Qt Version:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Comment 1 Nate Graham 2024-05-07 20:23:43 UTC

Yep, this was replaced with "Dodge Windows" in Plasma 6, as you've observed. I'm afraid there are no plans to bring back "Windows Can Cover", sorry.

JFYI, one more thing...

> I honestly think floating panels are a miss-feature, as they make computers harder to use
Can you explain how? Are you not aware of the input redirection feature that means floating panels have click areas that continue to respect Fitts Law? As such the feature should not make the computer any harder to use at all?

Comment 2 Nate Graham 2024-11-13 19:36:54 UTC

*** Bug 494289 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 3 lp 2024-11-13 21:21:20 UTC

(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #1)
> Yep, this was replaced with "Dodge Windows" in Plasma 6, as you've observed.
> I'm afraid there are no plans to bring back "Windows Can Cover", sorry.
> 

I've noticed while setting up some kwin rules that layers seem to have changed w.r.t plasma 5, and also the layer is affecting the behavior of a window (I.e. if I force a panel into the fullscreen layer it does not always manage get focus). Is this a technical problem preventing the "window can cover" behavior, or a choice?

Comment 4 Filip 2025-01-03 10:08:16 UTC

*** Bug 498032 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 5 Oswald Buddenhagen 2025-01-03 12:02:32 UTC

as noted in the duplicate, "dodge windows" mode is NOT an adequate replacement - it's "jumpy", and it's counter-productive to hide the entire panel when it would be only partially occluded.