Opening a new sketch doesn't replace the default empty window

[SableRaf]

Most relevant area for this enhancement?

PDE

Feature to enhance

Sketch window behavior on startup

Desired enhancement

When starting Processing and immediately opening a sketch (like an example or a recent sketch), the initial sketch window remains open even though it wasn't used.

When opening an existing sketch from the Examples browser or the File menu, the default empty sketch window (sketch_XXXXXa) should automatically close or be reused, instead of remaining open in the background.

Potential benefits

It makes the interface feel more intentional and avoids unnecessary windows.

Possible drawbacks

No response

Additional context

No response

Would you like to work on the issue?

This can be assigned to a contributor

[toniab]

Hello Raf,

Thanks for pointing out this behavior.

When opening an example from the example list, the current behavior could be helpful to those opening the example simply as a potential reference for their sketch.

However, I could see other situations where the extra blank window feels redundant.
If opening Processing by clicking on a sketch.pde file in your file browser or by clicking on a "view in processing" web link then I expect Processing to open straight to that sketch and that sketch only, and would expect to add a new blank sketch myself if I want one.

What do you think?

[SableRaf]

Good points! That distinction between opening an example vs. launching a sketch directly makes a lot of sense.

Maybe @Stefterv will have some thoughts on how we could handle these cases differently.

Let us know if you feel like digging into it. No pressure to do so though :)