I’m searching for existing JavaScript solutions that can create detachable window functionality before I start building one from scratch. Many popular websites already implement this feature, so I figured there might be ready-made libraries available.
To clarify, I’m not looking for standard popup windows that most JS frameworks already support. What I need is windows that initially appear as modal dialogs or overlays within the same browser tab, but also include an option to “pop out” or detach into a separate browser window. This is similar to how Gmail’s chat windows work or how Meebo used to function.
Has anyone worked with libraries that provide this specific detachable window behavior? I want to avoid reinventing the wheel if good solutions already exist.
windowing.js might be exactly what you need - handles modal to popup transitions really well. Just used it on a project and the detachment was smooth, but you’ll have to sync data between windows yourself.
I’ve done this before and went with Golden Layout - it’s got solid detachment features built in. Handles the transition from embedded panels to separate windows pretty well, though you’ll need to customize it for Gmail-style behavior. Heads up: popup blockers will mess with the detachment, so make sure the pop-out happens from direct user clicks. The docs are rough, but once you get through setup, it manages windows and layout persistence well. I’d try this before building your own.
For implementing detachable chat-style windows, I had success with a combination of different tools. I utilized Draggable.js for managing the placement of the modal within the primary window smoothly. To enable the pop-out feature, I employed window.open() while ensuring proper state management for data synchronization between the modal and the detached window. The most challenging aspect was maintaining communication between both interfaces, for which I relied on the postMessage API to allow real-time chat updates. Although there’s no all-in-one library, integrating jQuery UI Dialog with personalized detachment functionality proved effective.