As I've gotten used to using Krita for years now, one thing has always bothered me: Why separate "Tabs" and "Subwindows" feature?

I mean, should it not be easier and more convenient for the artist to have both tabs and sub-windows to be used at the same time in order to quickly make decisions about their window-layouts, especially depending on the project they're working with? Would it not be an improvement in quality of life to merge the two, rather than constantly having to switch back and forth by going to the Configuration menu, just to either organize via tabs or have multiple windows open via sub-windows?

I've always thought this was self-evident, so the decision of splitting the features with such an inconvenience has always baffled me. Which is why I'm curious why such a split exists, or if I'm missing something in regards to how this split could theoretically be better than effectively merging them.

Or could it be that this is mostly a technical limitation with the UI / UK toolkits that Krita is working with, and currently there is no way for Krita to find a way around what the toolkits themselves don't allow?

Because it almost feels like it's the latter. And if it is the latter... Is there a way the community can help in order to overcome these limitations?

In the first place, because that's what Qt's QMdiArea gives us. In the second place, because many artists use the subwindow mode to hide the tabbar, which they feel takes up space they have a better use for.

halla wrote:In the first place, because that's what Qt's QMdiArea gives us. In the second place, because many artists use the subwindow mode to hide the tabbar, which they feel takes up space they have a better use for.

The first one is understandable. But for the second one, can't that simply be resolved with a button or setting to quickly hide-unhide tabs? That's just one solution that I was able to think of from the top of my head. I'm sure if we brainstormed a bit more, we could come up with even more solutions.

But yeah, I guess my hunch was on the mark -- seems to be a technical limitation than an intentional one.

Yes, there could be a button, but there isn't and I don't think it's a good idea to hack around in QMdiArea for something this minor. The only thing I'm considering is adding a switch between modes in the Window menu.

Do you believe it would be a good idea to add a simple tiling-feature (without free subwindows) in the Tab mode? As in, something like how Krita does with the dockers?

I sometimes use Clip Studio Paint, and I really like how it does it. Though, I don't think we necessarily need to copy them if we can have an even better system.

The main problem is that we'd need to extend QMDIArea, and we're actually hoping to replace that with something else. Until that's done, it'd be cruel to have someone work on it, because it would get lost in the port anyhow

tushantin wrote:Do you believe it would be a good idea to add a simple tiling-feature (without free subwindows) in the Tab mode? As in, something like how Krita does with the dockers?

I don't think that's possible, not without implementing a new/other existing variant of an MDI area. The API of QMdiArea only exposes the bare minimum to interact with the subwindows, and the subwindows are basically treated like real windows on a typical window-like desktop.

Though incidentally, I have been experimenting last week to implementing an "external" tab bar that also works with subwindow mode. It's a little fragile though, mostly because QMdiArea not even notifies about new subwindows, so our main window has to manage it itself, but it works.

Looks like this:
https://imgur.com/a/vMpiNCn

Lynx3d wrote:

tushantin wrote:Do you believe it would be a good idea to add a simple tiling-feature (without free subwindows) in the Tab mode? As in, something like how Krita does with the dockers?

Though incidentally, I have been experimenting last week to implementing an "external" tab bar that also works with subwindow mode. It's a little fragile though, mostly because QMdiArea not even notifies about new subwindows, so our main window has to manage it itself, but it works.

Looks like this:
https://imgur.com/a/vMpiNCn

I'm liking it!

One of the reasons I barely use the subwindows mode (well, besides the lack of automatic tiling for canvases, but which exists for dockers) is that it becomes hard to organize or locate windows, especially when you need to maximize one or two. Of course, the "Windows" menu exists for that, but being able to quickly switch between windows by sight can be helpful.

That said, if other artists rely upon hiding tiles for screen real-estate, and thus use subwindows mode for that purpose, I think it's worth considering how we could get the best of both worlds without the drawbacks of either.