Semi-modal sidebar paradigm

[Aaron J. Seigo]

On Monday, November 4, 2013 16:40:09 Marco Martin wrote:
> http://im9.eu/picture/tg1706
> http://im9.eu/picture/jj1706
> http://im9.eu/picture/nv1706

it’s a very neat idea. 

something that would also be interesting to experiment with in kwin is a 
special presentation mode for such elements. if it could be done with enough 
performance/fluidity, it could be quite nice to “shove” the whole desktop over 
a bit and show the semi-modal window in the resulting gap .. very much like 
how the drawers work in Plasma Active applications.

this probably wouldn’t work overly well for widgets, but for activity, desktop 
and window switching it might work a treat. or it could be highly annoying :)

i wonder if it would give everything a more “solid” feel though: instead of 
things popping into / over the desktop, the desktop would slide over a bit and 
show a “drawer”

if that does prove to be uncomfortable visually / workflow-wise, then perhaps 
we could at least borrow the drawer visuals from PA for these overlays?

-- 
Aaron J. Seigo