Shlink 4.5.0: Fixing Sidebar Toggle Visibility Issues
Hey guys! Let's dive into a quirky issue that some of you might have encountered in the Shlink Web Client version 4.5.0. It's all about that sidebar toggle button – a seemingly small thing, but it's been popping up in places it shouldn't! So, let’s break down what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what the expected behavior should be. Grab your coffee, and let’s get started!
Understanding the Issue
In the Shlink Web Client 4.5.0, the sidebar toggle button has decided to make appearances in all sections, which wasn't the plan. Previously, this button was implicitly rendered by the ShlinkWebComponent. However, with the updates in version 4.5.0, it was extracted, as you can see in this GitHub pull request.
The main problem? The sidebar toggle button now stubbornly shows up in sections like settings and other areas where the component sidebar isn't even rendered. Imagine going into your settings and seeing a button that doesn't quite belong there – a bit confusing, right? This unexpected behavior can disrupt the user experience, making the interface look cluttered and less intuitive. To give you a clearer picture, here’s a visual representation of the issue:
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/7178cd10-af87-43e2-9fd6-c87084be0b56
As you can see, the sidebar toggle button is visible in the upper-right corner, even in sections where the sidebar itself isn't present. This is definitely not the intended behavior, and it’s something we need to address.
Expected Behavior
So, what’s the ideal scenario here? The expected behavior is pretty straightforward: the toggle button should only appear on pages where the ShlinkWebComponent is actively rendered. Think of it as a guest who knows when to arrive and when to stay out of sight. It should be present when the sidebar is needed and gracefully disappear when it's not.
In essence, the sidebar toggle button's visibility should be contextual. It should be tied directly to the presence of the sidebar. This ensures a clean and logical user interface, where elements appear only when they’re relevant and useful. No more rogue buttons cluttering up your settings page!
By restricting the toggle button to the appropriate sections, we maintain a consistent and intuitive user experience. This means that users won't be scratching their heads wondering why a sidebar toggle is hanging around in a section where there's no sidebar to toggle. It's all about keeping things tidy and user-friendly.
Steps to Reproduce
If you’re curious and want to see this in action yourself, here’s how you can reproduce the issue:
- Using Shlink Web Client 4.5.0: Make sure you’re running version 4.5.0 of the Shlink Web Client. This is crucial because the issue was introduced with this version.
- Mobile Screen Resolution: Access the Shlink Web Client on a device or browser window with a mobile screen resolution. This is important because the issue is more noticeable on smaller screens where the button's presence is more prominent.
- Open Home or Settings Sections: Navigate to either the home or settings sections within the Shlink Web Client.
- Notice the Sidebar Button: Take a look at the upper-right corner of the screen. You should see the sidebar button rendered, even though the sidebar isn't actually present in these sections.
By following these simple steps, you can quickly confirm the sidebar toggle button issue and understand the context in which it occurs. This can be helpful for anyone looking to report the bug, discuss it with the community, or even contribute to fixing it.
Diving Deeper: The Technical Side
Let’s get a bit more technical, shall we? The root of this issue lies in how the sidebar toggle button was extracted and rendered in version 4.5.0. Previously, the ShlinkWebComponent implicitly handled the rendering of this button. However, with the changes, the button's rendering became more independent, which, while aiming for modularity, inadvertently caused it to appear in unintended sections.
The key file to look at is the one mentioned in the pull request: this GitHub pull request. This link points directly to the part of the code where the sidebar toggle was extracted. By examining the changes made, you can see how the rendering logic shifted and why the button might now be rendered globally instead of contextually.
Understanding this technical background can be super helpful if you're a developer looking to contribute a fix or if you're just curious about the inner workings of the Shlink Web Client. It highlights the importance of considering the broader implications when making changes to UI components and ensuring that they behave as expected across different sections of the application.
Why This Matters: User Experience
Now, you might be thinking,
