grid layout

release-notes/images/1_38/maximized-panel.png

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
+oid sha256:bb87f62cc6e197c6a93aa53d422b04a52b6bd753cf0742cdf866d864d40895c2
+size 37075

release-notes/v1_38.md

@@ -27,6 +27,18 @@ If you find issues or have suggestions, you can enter them in the [VS Code repos
 
 ## Workbench
 
+### Grid layout for the workbench
+
+The layout engine of the workbench has been rewritten to use the same grid widget as the editor area itself. This work has been in progress for some time and insiders have had this enabled by default for the past couple iterations. The setting is `workbench.useExperimentalGridLayout` and will now be enabled by default.
+
+#### Toggling the editor area / Maximizing the panel
+
+The new engine provides more flexibility for the workbench layout in the future. For now, we see this manifest itself with the ability to hide the editor area. There is a new command available with the grid layout: `Toggle Editor Area`. This will hide the editor area and allow the panel to take over completely. The `Toggle Maximized Panel` command has the same effect now. This means that a maximized panel is now truly maximized without the tiny gap previously left of the editor.
+
+![Maximized Panel](images/1_38/maximized-panel.png)
+
+The editor will automatically reappear if you try to open a file from anywhere such as the panel or sidebar.
+
 ### Link protection for outgoing links
 
 VS Code now shows a prompt before opening outgoing links.