Aux window: allow views and panels

[Evian-Zhang]

First of all, thank you for implementing the amazing floating window feature!

Most of the developers use a second monitor with portrait orientation to view and write codes. With a full-screen VSCode, the default side bar at left makes it narrower to write codes, so a general workaround is to move the side bar to the bottom.

However, since we are going to have floating window feature, why not push a step forward: move the side bar into a new window. Then we can move the side bar to another screen, and enjoy a real full-screen code view while we still have the ability to navigate between files in the workspace.

Currently, if we create a floating window from a workspace, then click the files in side bar in the original window will re-focus into the original window, and the new file will be in the original window instead of the floating window. So currently we cannot simulate this feature by writing codes in floating window with original window only having side bar.

There are two approaches to implementing the ability to navigate files in side bar in another window:

• Move side bar to another window
• Make side bar at primary window to control all file navigation at all floating windows

I think the first approach is better than the second since the second needs to deal with focus.

[gjsjohnmurray]

a general workaround is to move the activity bar to the bottom.

Please see https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/userinterface and confirm whether you are talking about the Activity Bar or the Side Bar.

[Evian-Zhang]

a general workaround is to move the activity bar to the bottom.

Please see https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/userinterface and confirm whether you are talking about the Activity Bar or the Side Bar.

Thank you for pointing out. Fixed it.

[bpasero]

For clarity: our first version of floating windows will not cover moving non-editors out to separate windows.

[flyingosprey]

In debug session, please "allow debug panel to be floatable. Etc variables/call statck/watch panels can be floatable.". Variable name could be very long. Once floatable, people can move them to a different monitor to see the full name in a much easy way.

Also, in debug session, please "allow output/debug console panel to be flotable", because people may need run gdb command. The output of the gdb command is genenerally very long too.

Thanks.

[flyingosprey]

For clarity: our first version of floating windows will not cover moving non-editors out to separate windows.

@bpasero , may I ask a quick Q: now the tab can be detached (etc floatable). When will "re-attach (etc merge them back to the main window after detach) be supported? Is there a ticket for tracking re-attach? (I can file one if none). Thanks

[bpasero]

@flyingosprey you can just close the window and all editors will merge back to the active group in the main window.

[flyingosprey]

@flyingosprey you can just close the window and all editors will merge back to the active group in the main window.

@bpasero , the workaround should work. But it defintiely not convient (you won't feel for helloworld. but you will feel if the folder has tons of file).

Other edtior/IDE who supports "detach" geneerally supports "re-attach". So is it possible to add this support? Thanks

[gjsjohnmurray]

@flyingosprey you can already drag an individual tab off an auxiliary window and drop it back onto the main window.

[flyingosprey]

@gjsjohnmurray , I am on 1.85.0-insider, which is on Ubuntu 22 LTS with xfce4. I tried "drop it back". No, it does not work. Maybe I am missing sth. Thanks.

[gjsjohnmurray]

@flyingosprey here's what I can do on Windows:

[bpasero]

@flyingosprey I think having an extra command makes good sense. While at it, I feel there should be commands for floating windows in general, so for opening floating windows I am adding:

And for restoring from a floating window:

Happy for feedback on the wording, I quite like the term "detached" over "floating" or "auxiliary".

[gjsjohnmurray]

I also like 'detached'.

Maybe drop 'a' from the first set of new commands?

[bpasero]

I only now found #193267 with more upvotes, merging in.