Zen Browser UX/UI feedback regarding essentials and space switching

[Octaviorios]

Zen Browser UX/UI feedback

Hi! I'm a very enthusiastic UX/UI nerd who just wanted to bring some feedback from my point of view as a user of Zen Browser regarding space switching when on an essential tab. Take into account the 3 issues listed are kind of a chain reaction, one leaves to the next one, which is why you can just read the TLDR conclussion at the end.

UX issues

UX issue 1)

Changing spaces shouldn't open essentials i already closed:

Steps to reproduce:

1. Go to space A

2. Open essential ("essential A")

3. Go to space B

4. Close "essential A"

5. Go back to space A.

-Current behaviour: the closed essential tab opens again, because it was the latest opened tab in that space before switching.

-Expected: either focus the latest opened tab in that space (if exists), or simply don't have any tab focused if no opened tabs are there in the space.

UX sub-issue 1.a)

If i change to another space while i'm on an essential tab, and such space doesn't have any openend tabs, the browser should keep me in my focused essential tab instead of focusing nothing.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Go to space A

2. Open essential

3. Go to space B with no opened tabs

-Current behaviour: browser gets me out of the essential tab and focuses nothing.

-Expected: the browser should keep me in my focused essential tab.

UX sub-issue 1.a.????)

If the previously opened space's latest active tab was a different essential from the one im on now, in a second space, i still want to remain in this essential when going back to the first space.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Go to space A

2. Select 1 essential ("essential A")

3. Go to space B

3. Select a different essential ("essential B")

4. Go back to space A

-Current behaviour: browser changes focus to essential A.

-Expected: the browser should keep me in my focused essential tab ALWAYS, meaning it should remain in essential B.

PS:This one might be a bit controversial, as i can see why some people would prefer the current behaviour.

"TL:DR" Conclussion gathered from all the above frictions:

The browser should NEVER get me out of an essential tab that i have active when switching spaces.

If i'm switching spaces, it is because i want to use a specific tab that was either pinned or opened temporarily in said space.

If i'm on an essential tab, and i switch spaces, the browser should ONLY change focus to another tab if the latest active tab from that space was "space-specific" (pinned/temp tab), which is why i'm switching spaces in the first place.

"Cognitive"(?) analogy explanation: I see essentials as a tray from which all the spaces get served. Spaces could very well be compared to a specific waiter carrying said tray. If i am ON one of the glasses of said tray, i should be able to see whenever a waiter leaves and another one takes their place, but that doesn't mean i should suddenly become the waiter. I'm looking from a "safe" place. I am a glass of fine wine, not a waiter. I am eternal. I AM INEVITABLE. EXPECT ME.