Should Brief browser action open a new tab or activate an existing one?

[tanriol]

There are arguments for both options... maybe this should be a configuration option instead.

Or maybe one of these could be bound to middle-click after it's implemented.

[fichtennadel]

I'd vote for an option, but actually this is really low prio for me, I can live with the current behavior as well (I just thought it was different in Brief version <2.5).

[Keith94]

Activating an existing one is better IMO and that's how Brief always worked.

[tron2k]

I would preferred that Brief use only one tab.

[jtrulson]

I'd prefer it just opened the tab according to the default FF preference -- which for me is to open a new tab in the foreground.

[rhendric]

I also vote for reusing an existing Brief tab, if there is one in the window.

[Sxderp]

If no Brief tab exists in the current window then open a new tab. If a Brief tab exists in the current window then switch to the existing tab unless you're already on the Brief tab. If you're already on the Brief tab then open a new one.

*Current active window is an important distinction.

[tanriol]

Everyone who wants Brief to reuse the same tab, could you please clarify how exactly you want to use it? In particular, what would you expect to happen if there are multiple Brief tabs? Should this search work "nearby", in one window or in all open Firefox windows?

The option I'm considering is to reopen the same pinned Brief tab if there is one, but open a new one otherwise. Would it work for you?

[popovn]

I need "not open new tab if exist one" - the rest is not important if you will filter pinned - i will use pinned always

[rhendric]

In my personal preference order, from best to worst (but still acceptable):

1. On button click, activate a Brief tab in this window if it exists; if not, activate a Brief tab in another window (and focus the window), if one exists; if not, create a new Brief tab in this window.
2. On button click, activate a Brief tab in this window if it exists; if not, create a new Brief tab in this window.
3. On button click, activate a Brief tab in this window if it exists and is pinned; if not, create a new Brief tab in this window and pin it.
4. On button click, activate a Brief tab in this window if it exists and is pinned; if not, create a new Brief tab in this window.

In any scenario, if more than one Brief tab is eligible, I suppose preferring a pinned tab over a non-pinned tab makes sense, but otherwise, I don't care which one is activated. Once whatever change you decide is best is implemented, it would take some effort to end up with more than one Brief tab in a ‘scope’ (browser session, window, or a window's set of pinned tabs)—you'd have to duplicate a tab explicitly, or copy and paste the extension URL into another tab, or something equally intentional—so I wouldn't be too worried about possibly surprising behavior in that case (as long as some tab gets activated).

[Sxderp]

3 is a no-go. I most definitely do not want an extension forcibly pinning themselves.

[Sxderp]

Number 1 behaves similar to the omnibar and the ability to switch to open tabs.

[vicencb]

Hi, just adding more feedback. Similar to @rhendric my personal preference would use the middle click:

1. On button click, activate a Brief tab in this window if it exists; if not, activate a Brief tab in another window (and focus the window), if one exists; if not, create a new Brief tab in this window if it was a middle click; else load Brief in current tab if it was a left click.
2. On button click, activate a Brief tab in this window if it exists; if not, create a new Brief tab in this window if it was a middle click; else load Brief in current tab if it was a left click.

My most frequent use case is to open a new FF window which loads an about:blank tab, then clicking the Brief button should use the blank tab to show the news.

Regards.