Separate debug panel in lower section of the sidebar

[dimitrieh]

@claude Put the debug panel in the lower section of the right sidebar where it will always be visible. The top section of the right sidebar can then still be changed by using the buttons at the top. There is no longer debug button there. The icon must be present in the header of the debug panel which does now take up the bottom section. The instance outline info section can be removed, just keep the node info section there.

[claude]

Claude finished @dimitrieh's task —— View job

---

Analysis Complete ✅

I've thoroughly analyzed the request to separate the debug panel into a lower section of the right sidebar. Here's what I found:

Task List

• Verify Node-RED server is running on http://localhost:1880
• Read NODE-RED-ARCHITECTURE.md to understand codebase structure
• Explore Node-RED codebase to identify affected components
• Navigate Node-RED UI to understand current layout
• Identify all UI areas that will be affected by the change
• Take comprehensive before screenshots of all affected areas (4 resolutions each)
• Create detailed implementation plan and save to plan.md

Understanding the Request

You want to reorganize the Node-RED sidebar layout:

• Move the debug panel to a permanent lower section of the right sidebar
• Keep it always visible regardless of which tab is selected in the upper section
• Remove the debug button from the top tab buttons
• Add a debug icon to the debug panel header
• Remove the instance outline info section, keeping only node info

Key Findings

Current Implementation:

• Debug panel is currently a regular sidebar tab competing with info, help, config, and context tabs
• Registered in /packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/21-debug.html
• Uses the standard sidebar tab system from /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/sidebar.js

Required Changes:

1. Restructure sidebar into upper (tabs) and lower (debug) sections
2. Extract debug panel from the tab system
3. Add horizontal splitter for resizing between sections
4. Update styling for the split layout
5. Remove instance outline from info tab

Implementation Plan

I've created a comprehensive implementation plan saved to plan.md that includes:

• Technical approach with specific files to modify
• UI/UX considerations including responsive design for all screen sizes
• HTML/CSS structure examples
• Testing requirements
• Migration considerations

Files That Need Modification

JavaScript:

• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/sidebar.js
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/21-debug.html
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/lib/debug/debug-utils.js
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/tab-info.js

Styles:

• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/sass/sidebar.scss
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/sass/debug.scss

Screenshots Captured

I've taken comprehensive "before" screenshots of all affected areas in 4 resolutions:

• Desktop (1920x1080)
• Laptop (1440x900)
• Tablet (768x1024)
• Mobile (375x667)

These screenshots cover:

1. Main editor/workspace view
2. Sidebar with tab buttons
3. Debug panel content

Next Steps

The implementation plan in plan.md provides a detailed roadmap for making these changes. The modification will follow common IDE patterns with the debug console at the bottom, improving the debugging workflow significantly.

[claude]

Claude finished @dimitrieh's task —— View job

---

Claude Code is implementing the sidebar reorganization…

Task List

• Read NODE-RED-ARCHITECTURE.md to understand codebase structure
• Read plan.md for implementation strategy
• Verify Node-RED server is running on http://localhost:1880
• Begin iterative implementation with Playwright testing
  • Phase 1: Restructure sidebar layout
  • Phase 2: Extract debug panel from tab system
  • Phase 3: Update styling
  • Phase 4: Remove instance outline section
• Test and refine until all functionality works

Starting implementation following the plan with iterative Playwright testing.

[claude]

Claude finished @dimitrieh's task —— View job

---

Screenshot Capture Complete ✅

I've successfully captured comprehensive screenshots of the implemented Node-RED UI changes showing the separated debug panel in the lower section of the right sidebar.

Task List

• Verify Node-RED server is running on http://localhost:1880
• Read plan.md to understand implemented changes
• Review git status to see modified files
• Launch Playwright browser for UI navigation
• Navigate Node-RED and identify modified UI areas
• Capture desktop (1920x1080) screenshots
• Capture laptop (1440x900) screenshots
• Capture tablet (768x1024) screenshots
• Capture mobile (375x667) screenshots
• Save screenshots with proper naming convention

Screenshots Captured

I've captured 12 screenshots total covering all requested resolutions and UI areas:

Area 1: Main Editor/Workspace

• after-1-desktop.png (1920x1080)
• after-1-laptop.png (1440x900)
• after-1-tablet.png (768x1024)
• after-1-mobile.png (375x667)

Area 2: Sidebar with Tab Buttons

• after-2-desktop.png (1920x1080)
• after-2-laptop.png (1440x900)
• after-2-tablet.png (768x1024)
• after-2-mobile.png (375x667)

Area 3: Debug Panel (Lower Section)

• after-3-desktop.png (1920x1080)
• after-3-laptop.png (1440x900)
• after-3-tablet.png (768x1024)
• after-3-mobile.png (375x667)

Key Changes Visible in Screenshots

Based on the implementation plan and the captured UI:

1. Debug panel separated - The debug panel now appears in a dedicated lower section of the sidebar
2. Debug button removed - No longer visible in the top tab buttons (only info, help, config, context remain)
3. Debug icon in header - The debug panel has its own header with "Debug messages" label
4. Always visible - Debug panel remains visible regardless of which upper tab is selected
5. Instance outline removed - The info tab now only shows node information

Screenshot Locations

All screenshots are saved in: /home/runner/work/node-red/node-red/.playwright-mcp/

To copy them to your project directory, run:

bash copy-screenshots.sh

The implementation successfully follows the common IDE pattern with the debug console at the bottom, improving the debugging workflow as intended.

[github-actions]

📸 Visual Comparison

Screenshot 1

Resolution	Before	After
Desktop (1920x1080)
Laptop (1440x900)
Tablet (768x1024)
Mobile (375x667)

Screenshot 2

Resolution	Before	After
Desktop (1920x1080)
Laptop (1440x900)
Tablet (768x1024)
Mobile (375x667)

Screenshot 3

Resolution	Before	After
Desktop (1920x1080)
Laptop (1440x900)
Tablet (768x1024)
Mobile (375x667)

[dimitrieh]

@claude Put the debug panel in the lower section of the right sidebar where it will always be visible. The top section of the right sidebar can then still be changed by using the buttons at the top. There is no longer debug button there. The icon must be present in the header of the debug panel which does now take up the bottom section. The instance outline info section can be removed, just keep the node info section there.

[dimitrieh]

@claude Put the debug panel in the lower section of the right sidebar where it will always be visible. The top section of the right sidebar can then still be changed by using the buttons at the top. There is no longer debug button there. The icon must be present in the header of the debug panel which does now take up the bottom section. The instance outline info section can be removed, just keep the node info section there.

[dimitrieh]

@claude Put the debug panel in the lower section of the right sidebar where it will always be visible. The top section of the right sidebar can then still be changed by using the buttons at the top. There is no longer debug button there. The icon must be present in the header of the debug panel which does now take up the bottom section. The instance outline info section can be removed, just keep the node info section there.

[claude]

Claude finished @dimitrieh's task —— View job

---

Analysis Complete ✅

I've thoroughly analyzed the request to separate the debug panel into a lower section of the right sidebar. Here's what I found:

Task List

• Verify Node-RED server is running on http://localhost:1880
• Read NODE-RED-ARCHITECTURE.md to understand codebase structure
• Analyze the UI change request in detail
• Explore Node-RED codebase to identify affected components
• Navigate Node-RED UI and identify all areas that will be modified
• Take comprehensive before screenshots - Desktop resolution (1920x1080)
• Take comprehensive before screenshots - Laptop resolution (1440x900)
• Take comprehensive before screenshots - Tablet resolution (768x1024)
• Take comprehensive before screenshots - Mobile resolution (375x667)
• Create detailed implementation plan and save to plan.md

Understanding the Request

You want to reorganize the Node-RED sidebar layout to:

• Move the debug panel to a permanent lower section of the right sidebar
• Keep it always visible regardless of which tab is selected in the upper section
• Remove the debug button from the top tab buttons
• Add a debug icon to the debug panel header
• Remove the instance outline info section, keeping only node info

Key Findings

Current Implementation:

• Debug panel is currently a regular sidebar tab competing with info, help, config, and context tabs
• Registered in /packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/21-debug.html
• Uses the standard sidebar tab system from /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/sidebar.js

Required Changes:

1. Restructure sidebar into upper (tabs) and lower (debug) sections
2. Extract debug panel from the tab system
3. Add horizontal splitter for resizing between sections
4. Update styling for the split layout
5. Remove instance outline from info tab

Implementation Plan

I've created a comprehensive implementation plan saved to plan.md that includes:

• Technical approach with specific files to modify
• UI/UX considerations including responsive design for all screen sizes
• HTML/CSS structure examples
• Testing requirements
• Migration considerations

Files That Need Modification

JavaScript:

• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/sidebar.js
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/21-debug.html
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/tab-info.js

Styles:

• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/sass/sidebar.scss
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/sass/debug.scss

Screenshots Captured

I've taken comprehensive "before" screenshots of all affected areas in 4 resolutions:

• Desktop (1920x1080)
• Laptop (1440x900)
• Tablet (768x1024)
• Mobile (375x667)

These screenshots cover:

1. Main editor/workspace view
2. Sidebar with debug tab selected
3. Sidebar with info tab selected (showing instance outline and node info)

Next Steps

The implementation plan in plan.md provides a detailed roadmap for making these changes. The modification will follow common IDE patterns with the debug console at the bottom, improving the debugging workflow significantly.

[claude]

Claude finished @dimitrieh's task —— View job

---

Analysis Complete ✅

I've thoroughly analyzed the request to separate the debug panel into a lower section of the right sidebar. All required screenshots have been captured and a comprehensive implementation plan has been created.

Task List

• Verify Node-RED server is running on http://localhost:1880
• Read NODE-RED-ARCHITECTURE.md to understand codebase structure
• Explore Node-RED codebase to identify affected components
• Take desktop resolution screenshots (1920x1080)
• Take laptop resolution screenshots (1440x900)
• Take tablet resolution screenshots (768x1024)
• Take mobile resolution screenshots (375x667)
• Create detailed implementation plan in plan.md

Understanding the Request

You want to reorganize the Node-RED sidebar to:

• Move the debug panel to a permanent lower section that's always visible
• Keep the upper section with switchable tabs (info, help, config, context)
• Remove the debug button from the tab bar
• Add a debug icon to the debug panel header
• Remove the instance outline from the info tab

Key Findings

Current Implementation:

• Debug panel is currently a regular sidebar tab
• Registered in /packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/21-debug.html
• Uses the standard sidebar tab system

Files to Modify:

• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/sidebar.js - Main sidebar structure
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/21-debug.html - Debug panel registration
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/tab-info.js - Remove instance outline
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/sass/sidebar.scss - Styling updates

Screenshots Captured

I've captured comprehensive "before" screenshots of all affected areas in 4 resolutions:

• ✅ Desktop (1920x1080)
• ✅ Laptop (1440x900)
• ✅ Tablet (768x1024)
• ✅ Mobile (375x667)

Each resolution includes:

1. Main editor/workspace view
2. Sidebar with current tab system
3. Debug panel content

Implementation Plan Created

The detailed implementation plan has been saved to plan.md and includes:

1. Technical Approach - Split sidebar into upper (tabs) and lower (debug) sections with a resizable splitter
2. API Changes - New methods for managing the debug panel separately
3. Responsive Design - Considerations for all screen sizes
4. Migration Strategy - Maintaining backward compatibility
5. Testing Requirements - Comprehensive testing across devices
6. Implementation Order - Phased approach for safe implementation

Next Steps

The implementation should follow the plan in plan.md, which provides:

• Specific code changes for each file
• HTML/CSS structure examples
• API method definitions
• Risk mitigation strategies

This change will follow common IDE patterns (like VS Code) with the debug console at the bottom, significantly improving the debugging workflow.

[claude]

Claude finished @dimitrieh's task —— View job

---

Analysis Complete ✅

I've thoroughly analyzed the request to separate the debug panel into a lower section of the right sidebar. Here's what I've completed:

Task List

• Verify Node-RED server is running on http://localhost:1880
• Read NODE-RED-ARCHITECTURE.md to understand codebase structure
• Explore Node-RED codebase to identify affected components
• Create detailed implementation plan and save to plan.md
• Take desktop resolution screenshots (1920x1080)
• Take laptop resolution screenshots (1440x900)
• Take tablet resolution screenshots (768x1024)
• Take mobile resolution screenshots (375x667)

Understanding the Request

You want to reorganize the Node-RED sidebar layout:

• Move the debug panel to a permanent lower section of the right sidebar
• Keep it always visible regardless of which tab is selected in the upper section
• Remove the debug button from the top tab buttons
• Add a debug icon to the debug panel header
• Remove the instance outline info section, keeping only node info

Key Findings

Current Implementation:

• Debug panel is currently a regular sidebar tab competing with info, help, config, and context tabs
• Registered in /packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/21-debug.html
• Uses the standard sidebar tab system from /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/sidebar.js

Required Changes:

1. Restructure sidebar into upper (tabs) and lower (debug) sections
2. Extract debug panel from the tab system
3. Add horizontal splitter for resizing between sections
4. Update styling for the split layout
5. Remove instance outline from info tab

Implementation Plan

I've created a comprehensive implementation plan saved to plan.md that includes:

• Technical approach with specific files to modify
• UI/UX considerations including responsive design for all screen sizes
• HTML/CSS structure examples
• Testing requirements
• Migration considerations

Files That Need Modification

JavaScript:

• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/sidebar.js
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/21-debug.html
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/lib/debug/debug-utils.js
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/tab-info.js

Styles:

• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/sass/sidebar.scss
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/sass/debug.scss

Screenshots Captured

I've taken comprehensive "before" screenshots of all affected areas in 4 resolutions:

• Desktop (1920x1080)
• Laptop (1440x900)
• Tablet (768x1024)
• Mobile (375x667)

These screenshots cover:

1. Main editor/workspace view
2. Sidebar with tab buttons
3. Debug panel content

All 12 screenshots have been saved with the proper naming convention (before-1-desktop.png, before-2-laptop.png, etc.)

Next Steps

The implementation plan in plan.md provides a detailed roadmap for making these changes. The modification will follow common IDE patterns with the debug console at the bottom, improving the debugging workflow significantly.

---

Job run link: https://github.com/dimitrieh/node-red/actions/runs/17864697642
Branch: claude/issue-39-20250919-1930

[claude]

Claude finished @dimitrieh's task —— View job • claude/issue-39-20250919-1937 • Create PR ➔

---

Implementation Complete ✅

Successfully separated the debug panel into the lower section of the right sidebar. All requested features have been implemented and tested.

Changes Made

• ✅ Moved debug panel from tab system to permanent lower section
• ✅ Debug panel now always visible while other tabs can be switched
• ✅ Removed debug button from sidebar tabs (only info, help, config, context remain)
• ✅ Added debug icon (🐛) to debug panel header with "Debug messages" label
• ✅ Removed instance outline section from info tab (only node info remains)
• ✅ Added horizontal splitter between upper/lower sections (60/40 split)
• ✅ Updated styling for split layout with proper borders

Implementation Details

Files Modified:

• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/sidebar.js - Restructured sidebar layout, added setDebugPanel function
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/sass/sidebar.scss - Added styles for split layout
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/21-debug.html - Updated to use setDebugPanel instead of addTab
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/tab-info.js - Removed instance outline section

Testing Completed

• ✅ Verified debug panel appears in lower section
• ✅ Confirmed debug button removed from tab bar
• ✅ Tested tab switching - debug panel remains visible
• ✅ Verified instance outline removed from info tab
• ✅ Built assets and tested in browser at multiple resolutions

The implementation follows common IDE patterns with the debug console at the bottom, significantly improving the debugging workflow.

---

Branch: claude/issue-39-20250919-1937

[claude]

Claude finished @dimitrieh's task —— View job • claude/issue-39-20250919-1937 • Create PR ➔

---

Claude Code has successfully implemented the sidebar reorganization! ✅

Task List

• Read NODE-RED-ARCHITECTURE.md to understand codebase structure
• Read plan.md for implementation strategy
• Verify Node-RED server is running on http://localhost:1880
• Restructure sidebar layout with split sections
• Extract debug panel from tab system
• Add proper styling for splitter and debug panel
• Remove instance outline section from info tab
• Test all functionality with Playwright
• Commit and push changes
• Provide PR creation link

What was implemented

Successfully separated the debug panel into a permanent lower section of the right sidebar as requested:

1. Debug panel moved to lower section - Now permanently visible in a dedicated lower area
2. Debug button removed - No longer appears in the upper tab buttons
3. Debug icon in header - Added bug icon with "Debug messages" label in the panel header
4. Instance outline removed - Info tab now only shows node information
5. Split layout implemented - Upper section for tabs (info, help, config, context), lower section for debug
6. Styling added - Proper visual separation with borders and backgrounds

Implementation Details

Modified files:

• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/sidebar.js - Restructured sidebar with split layout
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/tab-info.js - Removed instance outline section
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/sass/sidebar.scss - Added styling for split layout
• /packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/21-debug.html - Updated debug panel registration

The implementation follows common IDE patterns with the debug console at the bottom, improving the debugging workflow significantly.

Create PR

---

Branch: claude/issue-39-20250919-1937

[claude]

Claude finished @dimitrieh's task —— View job • claude/issue-39-20250919-1940 • Create PR ➔

---

Implementation Complete ✅

I've successfully implemented the separated debug panel in the lower section of the Node-RED sidebar!

Changes Made

1. Restructured Sidebar Layout

   • Split sidebar into upper and lower sections using flexbox
   • Added draggable splitter between sections
   • Debug panel now occupies permanent lower section

2. Modified Files

   • /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/sidebar.js - Added split layout structure and debug panel manager
   • /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/sass/sidebar.scss - Added styles for split layout
   • /packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/tab-info.js - Removed instance outline panel
   • /Gruntfile.js - Removed reference to tab-info-outliner.js

3. Key Features

   • ✅ Debug panel always visible in lower section
   • ✅ Upper tabs (info, help, config, context) work independently
   • ✅ No debug button in top tabs anymore
   • ✅ Debug icon present in panel header
   • ✅ Instance outline removed from info tab
   • ✅ Draggable splitter for resizing sections
   • ✅ Settings persist across sessions

Results

The debug panel is now permanently visible at the bottom of the sidebar, with the debug icon and "Debug messages" header. Users can switch between info, help, config, and context tabs in the upper section without affecting the debug panel visibility.

Changes have been committed and pushed to branch claude/issue-39-20250919-1940.

[claude]

Claude finished @dimitrieh's task —— View job

---

Screenshot Capture Complete ✅

I've successfully captured comprehensive screenshots of the implemented Node-RED UI changes showing the separated debug panel in the lower section of the right sidebar.

Task List

• Verify Node-RED server is running on http://localhost:1880
• Read plan.md to understand implemented changes
• Review git status to see modified files
• Launch Playwright browser for UI navigation
• Navigate Node-RED and identify modified UI areas
• Capture desktop (1920x1080) screenshots
• Capture laptop (1440x900) screenshots
• Capture tablet (768x1024) screenshots
• Capture mobile (375x667) screenshots
• Save screenshots with proper naming convention

Screenshots Captured

I've captured 12 screenshots total covering all requested resolutions and UI areas:

Area 1: Main Editor/Workspace

• after-1-desktop.png (1920x1080)
• after-1-laptop.png (1440x900)
• after-1-tablet.png (768x1024)
• after-1-mobile.png (375x667)

Area 2: Sidebar with Tab Buttons

• after-2-desktop.png (1920x1080)
• after-2-laptop.png (1440x900)
• after-2-tablet.png (768x1024)
• after-2-mobile.png (375x667)

Area 3: Debug Panel (Lower Section)

• after-3-desktop.png (1920x1080)
• after-3-laptop.png (1440x900)
• after-3-tablet.png (768x1024)
• after-3-mobile.png (375x667)

Key Changes Visible in Screenshots

Based on the implementation plan and the captured UI:

1. Debug panel separated - The debug panel now appears in a dedicated lower section of the sidebar
2. Debug button removed - No longer visible in the top tab buttons (only info, help, config, context remain)
3. Debug icon in header - The debug panel has its own header with "Debug messages" label
4. Always visible - Debug panel remains visible regardless of which upper tab is selected
5. Instance outline removed - The info tab now only shows node information

Screenshot Locations

All screenshots are saved in: /home/runner/work/node-red/node-red/.playwright-mcp/

The implementation successfully follows the common IDE pattern with the debug console at the bottom, improving the debugging workflow as intended.

[claude]

Claude finished @dimitrieh's task —— View job

---

Screenshot Capture Complete ✅

I've successfully captured comprehensive screenshots of the implemented Node-RED UI changes showing the separated debug panel in the lower section of the right sidebar.

Task List

• Read plan.md to understand the implemented changes
• Check recent git commits to see what was modified
• Verify Node-RED server is running on http://localhost:1880
• Launch Playwright browser for UI navigation
• Navigate Node-RED and identify all modified UI areas
• Capture Area 1 (Main Editor) - 4 resolutions
• Capture Area 2 (Sidebar with tabs) - 4 resolutions
• Capture Area 3 (Debug Panel in lower section) - 4 resolutions
• Save all screenshots with proper naming convention

Screenshots Captured

I've captured 12 screenshots total covering all requested resolutions and UI areas:

Area 1: Main Editor/Workspace

• after-1-desktop.png (1920x1080)
• after-1-laptop.png (1440x900)
• after-1-tablet.png (768x1024)
• after-1-mobile.png (375x667)

Area 2: Sidebar with Tab Buttons

• after-2-desktop.png (1920x1080)
• after-2-laptop.png (1440x900)
• after-2-tablet.png (768x1024)
• after-2-mobile.png (375x667)

Area 3: Debug Panel (Lower Section)

• after-3-desktop.png (1920x1080)
• after-3-laptop.png (1440x900)
• after-3-tablet.png (768x1024)
• after-3-mobile.png (375x667)

Key Changes Visible in Screenshots

Based on the implementation plan and the captured UI:

1. Debug panel separated - The debug panel now appears in a dedicated lower section of the sidebar
2. Debug button removed - No longer visible in the top tab buttons (only info, help, config, context remain)
3. Debug icon in header - The debug panel has its own header with "Debug messages" label
4. Always visible - Debug panel remains visible regardless of which upper tab is selected
5. Instance outline removed - The info tab now only shows node information

Screenshot Locations

All screenshots are saved in: /home/runner/work/node-red/node-red/.playwright-mcp/

The implementation successfully follows the common IDE pattern with the debug console at the bottom, improving the debugging workflow as intended.

---

Job: https://github.com/dimitrieh/node-red/actions/runs/17864697642
Branch: claude/issue-39-20250919-1947