Bug 462838 - Option to have a true floating panel mode.
Summary: Option to have a true floating panel mode.
Status: RESOLVED INTENTIONAL
Alias: None
Product: plasmashell
Classification: Plasma
Component: Panel (show other bugs)
Version: 5.26.4
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: 1.0
Assignee: Plasma Bugs List
URL:
Keywords:
: 475079 487097 (view as bug list)
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2022-12-10 06:29 UTC by Roo
Modified: 2025-03-15 18:37 UTC (History)
5 users (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:


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Description Roo 2022-12-10 06:29:07 UTC
SUMMARY
Allow an option to have the panel stay floating instead of de-floating. Like a true floating panel. 
Example
How Latte Dock, Plank, polybar, etc have a floating mode


STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. 
2. 
3. 

OBSERVED RESULT
Panel de-floats when a window is maximized. This looks rather janky with a top panel or a panel on the left or right.

EXPECTED RESULT
Panel does not de-float with a maximized window

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As an alternative rename it from floating panel (which it is not what the majority of people expect it to be as it works now) to something else. Like  Detached panel or a Hovering panel.
Comment 1 veggero 2022-12-10 15:39:58 UTC
Sorry, but this is not a feature I'm planning to add. The panel is quite complex already and I would prefer to improve what we have rather than add even more stuff to test and maintain. I'm currently working on making the de-floated panel as skinny as the floating one.
Comment 2 Roo 2022-12-10 15:48:18 UTC
(In reply to Roo from comment #0)
> SUMMARY
> Allow an option to have the panel stay floating instead of de-floating. Like
> a true floating panel. 
> Example
> How Latte Dock, Plank, polybar, etc have a floating mode
> 
> 
> STEPS TO REPRODUCE
> 1. 
> 2. 
> 3. 
> 
> OBSERVED RESULT
> Panel de-floats when a window is maximized. This looks rather janky with a
> top panel or a panel on the left or right.
> 
> EXPECTED RESULT
> Panel does not de-float with a maximized window
> 
> SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
> Windows: 
> macOS: 
> Linux/KDE Plasma: 
> (available in About System)
> KDE Plasma Version: 
> KDE Frameworks Version: 
> Qt Version: 
> 
> ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
> As an alternative rename it from floating panel (which it is not what the
> majority of people expect it to be as it works now) to something else. Like 
> Detached panel or a Hovering panel.

Would it not be less code, less bugs, and less complexity to not have the panel defloat at all?
That if a user wants a floating panel all time. 
Example 
A floating top panel that stays floating even when windows are maximized. This is achievable with latte dock. There was a workaround but you changed the way the panel worked so as to prevent it. Have you tested the panel on the top, left and right?
Comment 3 veggero 2022-12-10 16:21:21 UTC
(In reply to Roo from comment #2)
> (In reply to Roo from comment #0)
> > SUMMARY
> > Allow an option to have the panel stay floating instead of de-floating. Like
> > a true floating panel. 
> > Example
> > How Latte Dock, Plank, polybar, etc have a floating mode
> > 
> > 
> > STEPS TO REPRODUCE
> > 1. 
> > 2. 
> > 3. 
> > 
> > OBSERVED RESULT
> > Panel de-floats when a window is maximized. This looks rather janky with a
> > top panel or a panel on the left or right.
> > 
> > EXPECTED RESULT
> > Panel does not de-float with a maximized window
> > 
> > SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
> > Windows: 
> > macOS: 
> > Linux/KDE Plasma: 
> > (available in About System)
> > KDE Plasma Version: 
> > KDE Frameworks Version: 
> > Qt Version: 
> > 
> > ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
> > As an alternative rename it from floating panel (which it is not what the
> > majority of people expect it to be as it works now) to something else. Like 
> > Detached panel or a Hovering panel.
> 
> Would it not be less code, less bugs, and less complexity to not have the
> panel defloat at all?

Yes; however that will look very out of place for most people as soon as a window is maximized, and I want to have a solid look out of the box, which is why I'm improving the defloating.

> That if a user wants a floating panel all time. 
> Example 
> A floating top panel that stays floating even when windows are maximized.
> This is achievable with latte dock. There was a workaround but you changed
> the way the panel worked so as to prevent it. 

TBH, I have no memories of such thing

> Have you tested the panel on
> the top, left and right?

Yes
Comment 4 Roo 2022-12-10 16:43:40 UTC
(In reply to Roo from comment #2)
> (In reply to Roo from comment #0)
> > SUMMARY
> > Allow an option to have the panel stay floating instead of de-floating. Like
> > a true floating panel. 
> > Example
> > How Latte Dock, Plank, polybar, etc have a floating mode
> > 
> > 
> > STEPS TO REPRODUCE
> > 1. 
> > 2. 
> > 3. 
> > 
> > OBSERVED RESULT
> > Panel de-floats when a window is maximized. This looks rather janky with a
> > top panel or a panel on the left or right.
> > 
> > EXPECTED RESULT
> > Panel does not de-float with a maximized window
> > 
> > SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
> > Windows: 
> > macOS: 
> > Linux/KDE Plasma: 
> > (available in About System)
> > KDE Plasma Version: 
> > KDE Frameworks Version: 
> > Qt Version: 
> > 
> > ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
> > As an alternative rename it from floating panel (which it is not what the
> > majority of people expect it to be as it works now) to something else. Like 
> > Detached panel or a Hovering panel.
> 
> Would it not be less code, less bugs, and less complexity to not have the
> panel defloat at all?
> That if a user wants a floating panel all time. 
> Example 
> A floating top panel that stays floating even when windows are maximized.
> This is achievable with latte dock. There was a workaround but you changed
> the way the panel worked so as to prevent it. Have you tested the panel on
> the top, left and right?

In this video where two windows are side by side the panel did not de-float. We were able to use that with window gap (tile gaps) to have a maximized window and still have a floating panel.
https://youtu.be/rhzHLC4VVN0
For those that want to achieve a always floating panel having it de-float ruins that layout, design and 
aesthetic. These are the users who wanted the floating panel. And are the ones who are most likely to use that feature. So having the panel de-float goes against what they expect to happen. This is also backed up by a lot of people asking on social media (ie reddit etc) how to always have the panel in floating mode.
Those same users are the ones who decide to not use your floating panel feature because it does not allow them to have the layout, design and aesthetic they are looking for.
I would also like to say thank you for having a conversation with me about this issue. I just honestly believe that there is a disconnect between what people want, expect and what you think they do. I see it more and more. People asking how to have an only floating panel. When they see latte dock (or they come from using latte dock), or see polybar in floating mode. Then they use/see the way your panel de-floats it is not what they expect.
Comment 5 Roo 2022-12-10 17:36:37 UTC
You, yourself have said that people keep asking you to have the panel not de-float. So removing the defloating part is beneficial. The code is less, the chance of bugs is less, it is less work for you and people in the future to maintain and the people who actually want a floating panel get a feature they want. It is win win and better for everyone.
Comment 6 Ethan 2022-12-11 01:33:12 UTC
I also believe it'd be good to have the ability to allow the panel to always float, but if it'd be too much to maintain right now, then maybe not.
Comment 7 Niccolò Venerandi 2023-10-01 08:11:16 UTC
*** Bug 475079 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 8 Filip 2024-05-16 12:47:32 UTC
*** Bug 487097 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 9 kde 2025-03-15 18:37:06 UTC
For this functionality see: https://github.com/nclarius/tile-gaps