Adding new Experimental category and "Enable Experimental Timeline" option in preferences, plus a new dependency option for preferences.

Author: jonoomph

src/classes/app.py

@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         # Init data objects
         self.settings = settings.SettingStore(parent=self)
         self.settings.load()
+        self.apply_timeline_backend_preference()
         self.project = project_data.ProjectDataStore()
         self.updates = updates.UpdateManager()
         # It is important that the project is the first listener if the key gets update
@@ -201,6 +202,25 @@ def check_libopenshot_version(self, info, openshot):
             level="error",
         ))
 
+    def apply_timeline_backend_preference(self):
+        """Select QWidget timeline backend if enabled and no CLI override exists."""
+        if not hasattr(self, "settings"):
+            return
+
+        # CLI flag overrides preference unless left as 'auto'
+        if getattr(self.info, "WEB_BACKEND", "auto") != "auto":
+            return
+
+        try:
+            use_qwidget = bool(self.settings.get("qwidget-based-timeline"))
+        except Exception:
+            self.log.debug("Unable to read qwidget-based timeline setting", exc_info=True)
+            return
+
+        if use_qwidget:
+            self.info.WEB_BACKEND = "qwidget"
+            self.log.info("Experimental timeline enabled via preferences; using QWidget backend.")
+
     def gui(self):
         """
         Initialize GUI and main window.
@@ -338,4 +358,3 @@ def onLogTheEnd():
         import logging
         log = logging.getLogger(".")
         log.debug('Failed to write session ended log', exc_info=1)
-

src/settings/_default.settings

@@ -431,12 +431,21 @@
     "category": "General",
     "setting": "automatic_transitions"
   },
+  {
+    "value": false,
+    "title": "Enable Experimental Timeline",
+    "type": "bool",
+    "restart": true,
+    "category": "Experimental",
+    "setting": "qwidget-based-timeline"
+  },
   {
     "value": "start",
     "title": "Thumbnail Style",
     "type": "dropdown",
     "restart": false,
     "category": "Experimental",
+    "dependency": "qwidget-based-timeline",
     "setting": "timeline-thumbnail-style",
     "translate_values": true,
     "values": [

src/windows/preferences.py

@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@ def __init__(self):
             if "setting" in item and "value" in item:
                 self.params[item["setting"]] = item
 
+        # Track widgets and dependencies between settings
+        self.setting_widgets = {}
+        self.dependency_map = {}
+
         # Connect signals
         self.txtSearch.textChanged.connect(self.txtSearch_changed)
         self.btnRestoreDefaults.clicked.connect(self.confirm_restore_defaults)
@@ -163,6 +167,10 @@ def Populate(self, filter=""):
         self.category_tabs = {}
         self.visible_category_names = {}
 
+        # Reset widget/dependency trackers each time preferences are rebuilt
+        self.setting_widgets = {}
+        self.dependency_map = {}
+
         # Loop through settings and collect categories
         for item in self.settings_data:
             category = item.get("category")
@@ -438,16 +446,50 @@ def Populate(self, filter=""):
 
                     # Add widget to layout
                     tabWidget.layout().addLayout(layout_hbox)
+                    self.register_setting_widget(param, widget, label)
                 elif (label and filterFound):
                     # Add widget to layout
                     tabWidget.layout().addWidget(label)
 
             # Add stretch to bottom of layout
             tabWidget.layout().addStretch()
 
+        self.apply_all_dependencies()
+
         # Delete all tabs and widgets
         self.DeleteAllTabs(onlyInVisible=True)
 
+    def register_setting_widget(self, param, widget, label=None):
+        """Store widget references and register dependency relationships."""
+        setting_name = param.get("setting")
+        if not setting_name or not widget:
+            return
+
+        self.setting_widgets[setting_name] = widget
+        widget.setObjectName(setting_name)
+
+        dependency = param.get("dependency")
+        if dependency:
+            self.dependency_map.setdefault(dependency, []).append((widget, label))
+
+    def apply_all_dependencies(self):
+        """Apply dependency state to all registered widgets."""
+        for setting_name in list(self.dependency_map.keys()):
+            self.apply_dependency_state(setting_name)
+
+    def apply_dependency_state(self, setting_name):
+        """Enable/disable dependent widgets based on controller state."""
+        controlled_widgets = self.dependency_map.get(setting_name, [])
+        if not controlled_widgets:
+            return
+
+        enabled = bool(self.s.get(setting_name))
+        for widget, label in controlled_widgets:
+            if widget:
+                widget.setEnabled(enabled)
+            if label:
+                label.setEnabled(enabled)
+
     def selectExecutable(self, widget, param):
         _ = get_app()._tr
 
@@ -514,6 +556,10 @@ def bool_value_changed(self, widget, param, state):
         # Check for restart
         self.check_for_restart(param)
 
+        # Update any dependent widgets
+        if param.get("setting"):
+            self.apply_dependency_state(param["setting"])
+
     def spinner_value_changed(self, param, value):
         # Save setting
         self.s.set(param["setting"], value)