Summary
Add an option to auto-hide the sidebar so it stays out of the way while browsing. It would slide out when the pointer reaches the window edge and collapse again when the pointer leaves.
Motivation
- The sidebar takes up a fixed amount of horizontal space, and that hurts most on smaller displays and split-screen layouts.
- People who are used to a full-width page view (for example, on docs, notebooks or dashboards) currently have to pick between a permanently visible sidebar and a manual collapse.
- Other vertical-tab browsers offer this, and it's a common request.
Proposed behavior
- Add a setting, off by default so existing behavior doesn't change, to enable "Auto-hide sidebar".
- When enabled, the sidebar is hidden and the page content uses the full window width.
- Moving the pointer to the left (or right, depending on sidebar position) edge of the window reveals the sidebar as an overlay, so the page doesn't reflow or resize.
- The sidebar hides again shortly after the pointer leaves it. A short delay avoids flicker.
- The sidebar stays open while a tab is being dragged, a context menu is open, or an input in it (such as search) has focus.
- Add a keyboard shortcut to toggle the sidebar or reveal it temporarily.
Alternatives considered
- Manually collapsing the sidebar every time. This works but is tedious, and it doesn't give a quick way to peek at tabs.
Summary
Add an option to auto-hide the sidebar so it stays out of the way while browsing. It would slide out when the pointer reaches the window edge and collapse again when the pointer leaves.
Motivation
Proposed behavior
Alternatives considered