Benefits of docked IDE interfaces ?

[FrankBKK]

Looking at other people's screenshots here in the forum and elsewhere I see many of them using docked interfaces.

I usually work on a multi monitor setup and enjoy having windows open and loosely organized in groups (e.g. debugger stuff on the right screen, editor in the middle, other stuff on the left screen etc.

Don't really see any benefits of a docked IDE - what's your opinion on this ?

[FrankBKK]

Never mind - answered here:

https://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,67803.0.html

[Thaddy]

The biggest advantage is with dual monitors.

[VisualLab]

Looking at other people's screenshots here in the forum and elsewhere I see many of them using docked interfaces.

I usually work on a multi monitor setup and enjoy having windows open and loosely organized in groups (e.g. debugger stuff on the right screen, editor in the middle, other stuff on the left screen etc.

Don't really see any benefits of a docked IDE - what's your opinion on this ?

On the contrary, I see only benefits from docked IDE. I have 1 monitor, but a large one (55"). It works very well with Lazarus, after docking windows. Similarly with Delphi and other programs. I usually have several such program windows next to each other.

[Curt Carpenter]

Advantage:  habit of mind and perception for a lot of us that started with the Turbo Pascal IDE.  It was "docked" to fit the CRT monitor.  Not ideal in some ways, but we got comfortable with it after all those hours of use.  Some "muscle memory" involved too I suppose.

I have two monitors on my desk, but just can't get used to using them both.  Too old and set in my ways.

[VisualLab]

Advantage:  habit of mind and perception for a lot of us that started with the Turbo Pascal IDE.  It was "docked" to fit the CRT monitor.  Not ideal in some ways, but we got comfortable with it after all those hours of use.  Some "muscle memory" involved too I suppose.

I have two monitors on my desk, but just can't get used to using them both.  Too old and set in my ways.

Yes, it may be a habit. But not necessarily. I would say that it is a result of habits as well as expectations and needs. At work I have 2 identical 22" monitors placed next to each other (each has Full HD resolution). I use both all the time, basically as if it were one wide monitor. However, at home I have a large monitor (4K resolution), the working surface of which is larger than those two (together) at work. The window of Lazarus, Delphi or any other IDE does not take up the entire screen, only part of it (and it is still large). It makes it easier to move your eyes from one window to another (or subsequent windows), located next to each other. I use the entire screen when I'm drawing something (e.g. diagrams in Libre Office Draw) or editing a complex document, because then I need a large working area (scaling in Windows 10 is set to 100%).