Improve workspace management

[tukusejssirs]

I think Floorp should improve workspace management. I think it should be quite similar to how Workona does it (granted, it does much more than just workspace management).

Features I miss in comparison with Workona:

• a shortcut to search and open a workspace using a keyboard shortcut (cf [Feature Request] Switch to a workspace other than the next workspace with a keyboard shortcut that switches the workspace #410):
  • similar to command palettes in IDEs (like JetBrains IDEs, VS Code or Sublime Text): when you press a keyboard shortcut, an overlay dropdown is shown, you type in a string which is used to filter the results (ideally, it should be a fuzzy search);
  • it might be a good idea to integrate it with other stuff/commands; Firefox started adding a similar feature to the URL bar (e.g. % would start searching for Tabs or * in Bookmarks); I don’t necessarily like it (I prefer having a separate keyboard shortcut for searching these separately and another shortcut for searching anywhere), however, it might be easier for you to implement by adding a new symbol to search in existing workspaces and on pressing Enter it would be open;
• closing a workspace (using a keyboard shortcut) so that pages open in a closed workspace are not actually open (but hidden) in the background (somewhat related to Add ability to save workspaces #1445):
  • I am a tab hoarder and the reason I started using workspaces is to sort all open tabs; I had 700-900 tabs open before I started using workspaces; now image having that open in all workspaces in the background;
  • I have dozens of workspaces for any project or project feature or idea I am exploring until I don’t need the workspace (then, I’ll delete the workspace);
  • I know we can suspend long unused tabs, however, I don’t like that option (even in Workona, I have turned it off), as I have my computer turned for several days, and I have opened multiple workspaces at the same time (cf Workspaces in different windows #1569);
• sorting workspaces into multi-level groups/folders (partially related to Ability To Rearrange/Nest/Search/Sort Through Workspaces #1566):
  • this would require some kind of workspace management page (I suggest putting it into the sidebar);
  • it might be added to Floorp View;
  • either way, I would like to be able to open the workspace management view directly using a keyboard shortcut;
• other features which would be nice to add to the workspace manager related to tab management (I wish everything is possible to do using keyboard):
  • select multiple tabs;
  • close all or selected tabs;
  • move (or duplicate) all or selected tabs to another (existing or new) workspace (cf [Feature Request] Move tabs to another workspace by hovering workspace name #406, Support shortcut for Moving tabs and switch between Workspaces #1157, Move tabs between workspaces using tree-style tabs #1280 and Moving tabs across workspaces #1290);
  • close all duplicate tabs (in the workspace only);
  • [nice to have] add a workspace description besides the title;
  • [nice to have] reload all or selected tabs;
  • [nice to have] copy all URLs of all open tabs (or only URLs of the selected tabs);
  • [nice to have] sort tabs alphabetically or by domain;
• open a workspace in the current window or in a new window (cf Support having multiple workspaces open in different windows, and for a workspace to contain multiple windows #576);
• allow manually re-order workspaces or (manually and/or automatically) sort them (e.g. alphabetically asc/desc; cf comment in Floorp's Workspace is awesome, but do you know how to use it effectively ? #876, change order of workspaces in menu #904 and partially Ability To Rearrange/Nest/Search/Sort Through Workspaces #1566);
• sync all workspace data via Firefox Sync to be able to open them anywhere:
  • ideally, I want to manage the workspaces from any device synced via Firefox Sync and even changes to workspaces open on different computers would be reflected to all of them in real time;
  • at least, we should be notified that a workspace we are about to open on one computer (PC1) is already open on a different computer (PC2) and ask whether the workspace on PC2 should be closed and re-opened on PC1, or do nothing;
• [nice to have] assign a colour to a workspace;
• [nice to have] attach other resources (other than open tabs) to the workspaces, like quick URLs to open (kind of speed dial or favourites for a workspace), or Google Drive documents/folder, possible attaching a local file;
• [nice to have] statistics, like:
  • how many workspaces I have open out of total number of workspaces;
  • how many tabs I have open in all open workspaces out of the total number of tabs in all workspaces;
  • average number of tabs open in a workspace;
• [nice to have] quick notes;
• [nice to have] TODO/task list, possibly with integration with Todoist, ClickUp, Asana, etc;
• [nice to have] ability to archive workspaces:
  • I personally never archive workspaces, however, there are people who would like to have this feature.

Workspace (space) management menu in Workona:

Tab management menu in Workona:

Features I miss even from Workona and its issues:

• deep integration with container tabs used in Firefox-based browsers (Workona does not restore tabs in containers in which they were previously open; this is an issue when using the Always in Container add-on and when a domain is not assigned a container and I get a prompt like this):
  • moreover, on browser startup / session restoration, the tabs are get open in the currently active window instead of the workspace window, or mangled between workspaces; also, some tabs are open multiple times;
  • I presume all these issues are caused by using the Firefox containers;
• forcing me to choose a workspace upon opening a new browser window (I prefer using a single window per workspace);
• allow pinned tabs to be part of a workspace:
  • in Workona, pinned tabs are not part of an opened workspace and in Floorp, they are global (cf Make pinned tabs only show up in their current workspace and not globally #1444, Stop pinned tabs staying in every workspace #1398 and Separate pinned tabs for different workspaces #1058);
  • I wish pinned tabs would be part of the workspace, and after opening a workspace, the pinned state of each tab would be restored;
  • [nice to have] however, ideally, I want to choose which pinned tabs are global and which are part of a workspace;
• [nice to have] storing workspace data locally only (however, it might be a nice addition to be able to sync them via Firefox Sync);
• [nice to have] saving forms and tab browsing history.

Other related issues:

• Setting to retain workspaces even if empty #599 (Workona keeps empty workspaces);
• [Bug] New window doesn't show already created workspaces #768.

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According to this comment, @CutterKnife said the workspaces will be re-implemented, however, in this comment @surapunoyousei said he will abandon workspaces and suggests (in the follow-up comments) to use Simple Tab Groups which are nice (it misses fewer features), but it is not exactly the same. 🤔