Flow.Launcher
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Flow-Launcher
Enhancement: API Method for showing a simple popup
I've been confused for a while on the subject of why FlowLauncher has such a minimalistic graphical API. There is no way to ask for text input, for instance (it must be provided as part of the query, rather than the command being able to ask for inputs). While more ways for plugins to interact with the user would be nice (of course), one of the most universal features that I feel is needed is the ability to show a popup window. As far as I can tell, right now the only method for displaying messages is ShowMsg. This usually works, but notifications have several downsides. Notifications disappear after a bit or when clicked on, and I may be wrong about this, but I believe you can't copy and paste from them. Additionally, you have no control over them, and they don't always show.
I am thinking about this now because someone just complained that they couldn't see the results of my plugin, suggesting that the notification from ShowMsg failed to deliver the message to them (either because they had notifications disabled, or they didn't notice it).
Describe the solution you'd like
I'm wondering if it would be possible to implement a simple popup window that could be called by plugins. This would be a great way to display data to the user. Most plugins which are meant to show things to the user either copy to the clipboard or display results by creating new Results to the current query. However, a popup window would be much more intuitive and user-friendly.
message bar in green area. (sorry for drawing)
You're referring to a message bar that appears at the top or bottom of the window, right? (Without OK or CANCEL buttons.) I'm wondering if you're thinking of something like a "toast message" as it's called on Android. (It's actually a feature our team has been discussing for quite a long time.)
No, I'm actually thinking of a popup with an "ok" button. This could be for normal messages, and for errors. Though there are of course tons of different features that could be implemented - text inputs, error messages with options, gui-based choice selection, etc. The toast is a good idea, but kind of similar to a notification.
On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, 12:05 AM DB P @.***> wrote:
onesounds left a comment (Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher#3626) https://github.com/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher/issues/3626#issuecomment-2938390553
image.png (view on web) https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b24ca6d0-8383-4754-b4a0-25e65f53e7c1 message bar in green area. (sorry for drawing)
You're referring to a message bar that appears at the top or bottom of the window, right? (Without OK or CANCEL buttons.) I'm wondering if you're thinking of something like a "toast message" as it's called on Android. (It's actually a feature our team has been discussing for quite a long time.)
— Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher/issues/3626#issuecomment-2938390553, or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AZG46AC3WHJKPRV22XLXRRL3BZWBDAVCNFSM6AAAAAB6RLG6HSVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDSMZYGM4TANJVGM . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: @.***>
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No, I'm actually thinking of a popup with an "ok" button. This could be for normal messages, and for errors. Though there are of course tons of different features that could be implemented - text inputs, error messages with options, gui-based choice selection, etc. The toast is a good idea, but kind of similar to a notification. …
Do you mean native Windows notification with additional buttons?
No, I'm actually thinking of a popup with an "ok" button. This could be for normal messages, and for errors. Though there are of course tons of different features that could be implemented - text inputs, error messages with options, gui-based choice selection, etc. The toast is a good idea, but kind of similar to a notification. …
Do you mean native Windows notification with additional buttons?
Sure, that would be a great way to implement it! I'm not giving a detailed specification; my suggestion is just for the functionality. The exact details of the feature don't matter too much to me, at least personally.
This issue is stale because it has been open 60 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 60 days.\n\nAlternatively this issue can be kept open by adding one of the following labels:\nkeep-fresh