Files Feature: Synchronize settings across app instances

What's the Problem?

If multiple instances of Files are open, changing settings in one instance doesn't reflect changes in other instances.

Solution/Idea

Changing settings in one instance should reflect the changes in respective instances. Thanks to the new way we serialize settings, it is possible to make this change.

Requirements

Changing settings in one instance should reflect the changes in other instances.

Files Version

v2

Windows Version

Windows 11 21H2 22000.282

Additional comment

No response

Oct 17 '21 18:10 d2dyno1

@d2dyno1 do you want to work on this?

Apr 20 '23 00:04 yaira2

The only idea I could think of would be to use a FileSystemWatcher to detect file changes, although it'd be also possible to use a NamedPipe (which I think could be more reliable? But harder to maintain). Do you have other ideas? @yaira2

Apr 21 '23 17:04 d2dyno1

A file watcher is a good idea because it would also help if the user manually modified the file.

Apr 21 '23 18:04 yaira2

Sure I can work on this. (I also hope to introduce my 3rd gen settings serialization :eyes:)

Apr 22 '23 20:04 d2dyno1

@d2dyno1 are you still working on this?

Aug 31 '23 14:08 yaira2

I've put this feature on hold for now (it's not as easy to implement as I originally anticipated)

Sep 08 '23 16:09 d2dyno1

This might not be as relevant if we switch to single instance with multi window support.

Sep 08 '23 16:09 yaira2