Implementing Dockable Layout and UI Enhancements for RDM (Linux)

Hi evenaoki1,

First of all, we would like to thank you for the feedback and the level of detail you provided, but, unfortunately, there are no immediate plans to implement those features in RDM Linux. The reason is that we're currently in the middle of redoing our graphical user-interface in Avalonia. That will allow for the UI to be cross-platform and share those features across all versions. We don't yet have an estimate date for when that will be done, but we can update this thread once we do.

For now, we would recommend setting your multiple connections to undocked, group them together in the same window and use the split feature. We understand that it won't achieve a result that's as efficient as what you suggested, but we hope you'll find it satisfactory until we can have the UI redone.

Best regards.

Hi evenaoki1,

First of all, we would like to thank you for the feedback and the level of detail you provided, but, unfortunately, there are no immediate plans to implement those features in RDM Linux. The reason is that we're currently in the middle of redoing our graphical user-interface in Avalonia. That will allow for the UI to be cross-platform and share those features across all versions. We don't yet have an estimate date for when that will be done, but we can update this thread once we do.

For now, we would recommend setting your multiple connections to undocked, group them together in the same window and use the split feature. We understand that it won't achieve a result that's as efficient as what you suggested, but we hope you'll find it satisfactory until we can have the UI redone.

Best regards.

@Nicolas Parr
Thank you for your response. I wasn't aware that detached tabs could be regrouped; that is indeed a practical tip and serves as a helpful workaround for the terminal split issue for now.

As a developer myself, I fully understand that modifying a UI framework is no small feat and involves a vast number of changes. I appreciate the complexity involved.

I admit that the "Dockable Layout" I suggested would require significant structural changes. However, my goal in proposing it was to find a comprehensive solution that optimizes both the Navigation Panel and Terminal Split functionality.
Since RDM is currently built on the AvaloniaUI framework, it’s worth noting that many excellent IDEs—such as JetBrains IntelliJ and Android Studio (which I mentioned earlier)—are also built with similar UI philosophies. They typically place various functional buttons on the left and right sidebars. These panels can be expanded when needed and collapsed (or pinned) once the task is done.

In contrast, the current RDM layout uses a fixed navigation panel on the left, where users switch between data sources, opened sessions, favorites, recent entries, and account info within that static area. My primary intention is to see RDM's navigation panel evolve toward a collapsible or popup-style interface, similar to the Windows version of RDM or IntelliJ. This would prevent the content area from being frequently resized.

Furthermore, adopting a sidebar-style layout would be more logical for features like file transfers. A dedicated sidebar tab for a directory tree would be much more intuitive than embedding a file transfer panel directly inside the session tab.

Given that there is a workaround for the Terminal Split, I simply hope the team can consider optimizing the Navigation Panel within the capabilities of the AvaloniaUI framework.

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Thank you again very much for the detailed feedback. We will pass this along to the right team for when the main window will be remade in Avalonia.

Best regards.