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Choosing a layout

Peers lets you pick how the desktop shell is arranged. The root layout controls the top-level chrome — tab strip, full-screen header, and whether the Operator Console sits beside your apps as a real panel.

Your choice is stored per device (it does not sync across machines). Changing it takes effect immediately — no restart.

How to switch​

Settings → Appearance

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Open the Appearance tab.
  3. Use the Layout dropdown and pick one of the built-in layouts.

Command palette

Press Cmd+K (macOS) or Ctrl+K (Windows/Linux) and run one of:

  • Use Tabs Layout
  • Use Tabs + Console Layout
  • Use Full-screen Layout

Built-in layouts​

Tabs (default)​

The classic Peers shell: a tab strip across the top and one app per tab. This is the default for new devices.

Tabs + Console​

Same tab strip, with the Operator Console as a docked, resizable panel instead of an overlay. The console and your apps sit side by side (or stacked); neither covers the other.

  • Toggle the console with Ctrl+` (backtick), or the Toggle Console command in the palette.
  • Dock it to the bottom, left, or right from the console header.
  • Drag the divider to resize; maximize from the header to fill the layout body.

The console panel is only part of this layout. On Tabs or Full-screen, toggling the console has no visible effect until you switch to Tabs + Console.

Full-screen​

One screen at a time — no tab strip. A thin header shows the current screen title, an Apps (home) control, and a hint to open the command palette.

  • Navigate with Cmd/Ctrl+K (search apps and commands).
  • Opening an app replaces the current screen instead of adding a tab.
  • Tabs you had open under another layout are left alone and come back if you switch back to Tabs or Tabs + Console.

Tips​

  • Prefer Tabs + Console on a large monitor when you want a persistent console without covering app content.
  • Prefer Full-screen when you want maximum space and are comfortable navigating with the palette.
  • Layout is a device preference, like color mode — set it separately on each machine.