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This idea is aimed to obtain the best of both worlds: fixed and autohide panels.

Suppose we start with a hidden panel on the bottom screen edge. Pushing the mouse to that edge will show a small “sub-panel” with two functions (see attached image): if you click on the left part (the up triangles) the panel will open as “fixed”, but if you click on the right it will open in “autohide mode” (it will hide as soon as you move the mouse pointer outside the panel).


If the panel was open as fixed, hovering over it will show again the small sub-panel, this time with the “down triangles” to hide it.

If the panel was open in autohide mode, no sub-panel will be shown.

As an option, a “no click interaction” for the sub-panel could be implemented, something like Lancelot: hovering over the sub-panel for a configurable amount of time will activate the proper option (autohide mode or fixed mode).

NOTE 1: the sub-panel shown on the mockup is too high, obviously a better design is needed

NOTE 2: there is another idea about “hide on demand”, but I don't think this is a duplicate because here I suggest a different approach to the problem.

You should also implemented double click on this triangles. Once first click, triangles should disappear and wait some time to show panel.

But, I can click twice. In this mode triangle will disappear and not panel is displayed(Window below triangles will get click event).

I must admit panels support something similar - i can move cursor to bottom rectangle and little line is displayed. When I move cursor below this line, panel is displayed.

The line gives feedback about where the panel is, but do not give control when it opens. Specially if you use a touchpad, opening an autohided panel by accident (disturbing what are you trying to do) is high. Something similar to this idea could give great control over panels without loosing the easy to use of autohide.