Release notes and fixes (#4879)

* release notes

* fix some link issues

* rustfmt

* fix click wording

10 files changed, 537 insertions, 136 deletions

diff --git a/default-plugins/about/src/active_component.rs b/default-plugins/about/src/active_component.rs
index 6e6c716a..7041ca5a 100644
--- a/default-plugins/about/src/active_component.rs
+++ b/default-plugins/about/src/active_component.rs
@@ -55,6 +55,16 @@ impl ActiveComponent {
                 run_command(&[&executable.borrow(), &link], Default::default());
                 None
             },
+            Some(ClickAction::LaunchPlugin(plugin_url)) => {
+                open_plugin_pane_floating(
+                    &plugin_url,
+                    Default::default(),
+                    None,
+                    Default::default(),
+                );
+                self.left_click_action = Some(ClickAction::LaunchPlugin(plugin_url));
+                None
+            },
             None => None,
         }
     }
@@ -125,6 +135,7 @@ impl ComponentCoordinates {
 pub enum ClickAction {
     ChangePage(Box<dyn FnOnce() -> Page>),
     OpenLink(String, Rc<RefCell<String>>), // (destination, executable)
+    LaunchPlugin(String),                  // plugin URL (e.g. "zellij:share")
 }
 
 impl std::fmt::Debug for ClickAction {
@@ -134,6 +145,9 @@ impl std::fmt::Debug for ClickAction {
             ClickAction::OpenLink(destination, executable) => {
                 write!(f, "OpenLink: {}, {:?}", destination, executable)
             },
+            ClickAction::LaunchPlugin(url) => {
+                write!(f, "LaunchPlugin: {}", url)
+            },
         }
     }
 }
@@ -148,4 +162,7 @@ impl ClickAction {
     pub fn new_open_link(destination: String, executable: Rc<RefCell<String>>) -> Self {
         ClickAction::OpenLink(destination, executable)
     }
+    pub fn new_launch_plugin(plugin_url: String) -> Self {
+        ClickAction::LaunchPlugin(plugin_url)
+    }
 }
diff --git a/default-plugins/about/src/pages.rs b/default-plugins/about/src/pages.rs
index a1107da3..849e7c26 100644
--- a/default-plugins/about/src/pages.rs
+++ b/default-plugins/about/src/pages.rs
@@ -27,51 +27,70 @@ impl Page {
             .with_title(main_screen_title(zellij_version.clone(), is_release_notes))
             .with_bulletin_list(BulletinList::new(whats_new_title()).with_items(vec![
                     ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(main_menu_item(
-                        "Web Client",
+                        "Windows Support",
                     )))
                     .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                        main_menu_item("Web Client").selected(),
+                        main_menu_item("Windows Support").selected(),
+                    ))
+                    .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_change_page({
+                        move || Page::new_windows_support()
+                    })),
+                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(main_menu_item(
+                        "Remote Sessions",
+                    )))
+                    .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                        main_menu_item("Remote Sessions").selected(),
                     ))
                     .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_change_page({
                         let link_executable = link_executable.clone();
-                        move || Page::new_web_client(link_executable.clone())
+                        move || Page::new_remote_sessions(link_executable.clone())
                     })),
                     ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(main_menu_item(
-                        "Multiple Pane Select",
+                        "Read-Only Session Sharing",
                     )))
                     .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                        main_menu_item("Multiple Pane Select").selected(),
+                        main_menu_item("Read-Only Session Sharing").selected(),
                     ))
-                    .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_change_page(move || {
-                        Page::new_multiple_select()
+                    .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_change_page({
+                        let link_executable = link_executable.clone();
+                        move || Page::new_read_only_sharing(link_executable.clone())
                     })),
                     ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(main_menu_item(
-                        "Key Tooltips for the compact-bar",
+                        "CLI Automation",
                     )))
                     .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                        main_menu_item("Key Tooltips for the compact-bar").selected(),
+                        main_menu_item("CLI Automation").selected(),
                     ))
                     .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_change_page({
                         let link_executable = link_executable.clone();
-                        move || Page::new_key_tooltips_for_compact_bar(link_executable.clone())
+                        move || Page::new_cli_automation(link_executable.clone())
                     })),
                     ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(main_menu_item(
-                        "Stack Keybinding",
+                        "Mouse Resize",
                     )))
                     .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                        main_menu_item("Stack Keybinding").selected(),
+                        main_menu_item("Mouse Resize").selected(),
                     ))
                     .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_change_page(move || {
-                        Page::new_stack_keybinding()
+                        Page::new_mouse_resize()
                     })),
                     ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(main_menu_item(
-                        "Performance Improvements",
+                        "Click-to-Open File Paths",
                     )))
                     .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                        main_menu_item("Performance Improvements").selected(),
+                        main_menu_item("Click-to-Open File Paths").selected(),
                     ))
                     .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_change_page({
-                        move || Page::new_performance_improvements()
+                        move || Page::new_click_to_open()
+                    })),
+                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(main_menu_item(
+                        "Layout Manager",
+                    )))
+                    .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                        main_menu_item("Layout Manager").selected(),
+                    ))
+                    .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_change_page({
+                        move || Page::new_layout_manager()
                     })),
                 ]))
             .with_paragraph(vec![ComponentLine::new(vec![
@@ -113,110 +132,183 @@ impl Page {
                 })
             })
     }
-    pub fn new_web_client(link_executable: Rc<RefCell<String>>) -> Page {
+    fn new_windows_support() -> Page {
         Page::new()
-            .with_title(Text::new("Web Client").color_range(0, ..))
+            .with_title(Text::new("Windows Support").color_range(0, ..))
             .with_paragraph(vec![
-                ComponentLine::new(vec![
-                    // ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(Text::new("This version includes a new resizing algorithm that helps better manage panes"))),
-                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(Text::new("This version includes a web client, allowing you to share sessions in the browser."))),
-                ]),
-            ])
-            .with_bulletin_list(BulletinList::new(Text::new("The web client:").color_range(2, ..))
-                .with_items(vec![
-                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                            Text::new("Allows you to bookmark sessions")
-                                .color_substring(3, "bookmark sessions")
-                    )),
-                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                            Text::new("Includes built-in authentication")
-                    )),
-                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                            Text::new("Can be used as a daily-driver, making your terminal emulator optional")
-                    )),
-                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                            Text::new("Is completely opt-in")
-                    )),
-                ])
-            )
-            .with_paragraph(vec![
-                ComponentLine::new(vec![
-                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                        Text::new("For more details, see: ")
-                            .color_range(2, ..)
-                    )),
-                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(Text::new("https://zellij.dev/tutorials/web-client")))
-                        .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::CustomRender(Box::new(web_client_screencast_link_selected), Box::new(web_client_screencast_link_selected_len)))
-                        .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_open_link("https://zellij.dev/tutorials/web-client".to_owned(), link_executable.clone()))
-                ])
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("Zellij now runs natively on Windows."),
+                ))]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("Windows users can now enjoy the same workspace management, plugin ecosystem"),
+                ))]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("and multiplayer capabilities that have been available on Linux and macOS."),
+                ))]),
             ])
-            .with_help(Box::new(|hovering_over_link, menu_item_is_selected| esc_go_back_plus_link_hover(hovering_over_link, menu_item_is_selected)))
+            .with_help(Box::new(|_hovering_over_link, _menu_item_is_selected| {
+                esc_to_go_back_help()
+            }))
     }
-    fn new_multiple_select() -> Page {
+    pub fn new_remote_sessions(link_executable: Rc<RefCell<String>>) -> Page {
         Page::new()
-            .with_title(Text::new("Multiple Pane Select").color_range(0, ..))
+            .with_title(Text::new("Remote Sessions").color_range(0, ..))
             .with_paragraph(vec![
                 ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                    Text::new("This version adds the ability to perform bulk operations on panes"),
+                    Text::new("Attach to remote Zellij sessions over HTTPS, directly from the terminal."),
                 ))]),
                 ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                    Text::new("eg. close, make floating, break to a new tab, etc."),
+                    Text::new("The remote session needs to be running the Zellij web client."),
+                ))]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("Zellij will attach to it exactly as a browser would, through the same interface."),
                 ))]),
             ])
             .with_bulletin_list(
-                BulletinList::new(
-                    Text::new(format!("To select multiple panes: ")).color_range(2, ..),
-                )
-                .with_items(vec![
-                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                        Text::new(format!("Alt <left-click> them"))
-                            .color_substring(3, "Alt <left-click>"),
-                    )),
-                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                        Text::new(format!("Toggle with Alt p")).color_substring(3, "Alt p"),
-                    )),
-                ]),
+                BulletinList::new(Text::new("Try it:").color_range(2, ..))
+                    .with_items(vec![
+                        ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                            Text::new("Run the Zellij web server on one machine")
+                                .color_substring(3, "Zellij web server"),
+                        ))
+                        .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                            Text::new("Run the Zellij web server on one machine")
+                                .color_substring(3, "Zellij web server")
+                                .selected(),
+                        ))
+                        .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_launch_plugin(
+                            "zellij:share".to_owned(),
+                        )),
+                        ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                            Text::new("From another: zellij attach https://<ip>/<session-name>")
+                                .color_substring(3, "zellij attach")
+                                .color_substring(2, "https://<ip>/<session-name>"),
+                        )),
+                    ]),
             )
+            .with_paragraph(vec![ComponentLine::new(vec![
+                ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("Learn more about the web client: ").color_range(2, ..),
+                )),
+                ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(Text::new(
+                    "https://zellij.dev/tutorials/web-client/",
+                )))
+                .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::CustomRender(
+                    Box::new(web_client_link_selected),
+                    Box::new(web_client_link_selected_len),
+                ))
+                .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_open_link(
+                    "https://zellij.dev/tutorials/web-client/".to_owned(),
+                    link_executable.clone(),
+                )),
+            ])])
+            .with_help(Box::new(|hovering_over_link, menu_item_is_selected| {
+                esc_go_back_plus_link_hover(hovering_over_link, menu_item_is_selected)
+            }))
+    }
+    fn new_read_only_sharing(link_executable: Rc<RefCell<String>>) -> Page {
+        Page::new()
+            .with_title(Text::new("Read-Only Session Sharing").color_range(0, ..))
             .with_paragraph(vec![
                 ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                    Text::new("To disable this behavior (and the associated hover effects)"),
+                    Text::new("Sessions can now be shared in read-only mode."),
+                ))]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new(
+                        "Useful for demonstrations, teaching, monitoring and pair programming",
+                    )
+                    .color_substring(2, "demonstrations")
+                    .color_substring(2, "teaching")
+                    .color_substring(2, "monitoring")
+                    .color_substring(2, "pair programming"),
                 ))]),
                 ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                    Text::new(format!("add advanced_mouse_actions false to the config."))
-                        .color_substring(3, "advanced_mouse_actions false"),
+                    Text::new("where one participant should observe without interfering."),
                 ))]),
             ])
-            .with_help(Box::new(|_hovering_over_link, _menu_item_is_selected| {
-                esc_to_go_back_help()
+            .with_paragraph(vec![
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("Create a read-only web token with:")
+                        .color_substring(2, "read-only web token"),
+                ))]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("zellij web --create-read-only-token").color_range(3, ..),
+                ))]),
+            ])
+            .with_paragraph(vec![ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(
+                TextOrCustomRender::Text(Text::new(
+                    "Share the token for view-only access without risk of unintended input.",
+                )),
+            )])])
+            .with_paragraph(vec![ComponentLine::new(vec![
+                ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("Learn more: ").color_range(2, ..),
+                )),
+                ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(Text::new(
+                    "https://zellij.dev/tutorials/web-client/",
+                )))
+                .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::CustomRender(
+                    Box::new(web_client_link_selected),
+                    Box::new(web_client_link_selected_len),
+                ))
+                .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_open_link(
+                    "https://zellij.dev/tutorials/web-client/".to_owned(),
+                    link_executable.clone(),
+                )),
+            ])])
+            .with_help(Box::new(|hovering_over_link, menu_item_is_selected| {
+                esc_go_back_plus_link_hover(hovering_over_link, menu_item_is_selected)
             }))
     }
-    fn new_key_tooltips_for_compact_bar(link_executable: Rc<RefCell<String>>) -> Page {
+    fn new_cli_automation(link_executable: Rc<RefCell<String>>) -> Page {
         Page::new()
-            .with_title(Text::new("Key Tooltips for the compact-bar").color_range(0, ..))
+            .with_title(Text::new("CLI Automation").color_range(0, ..))
             .with_paragraph(vec![
                 ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                    Text::new(
-                        "Starting this version, it's possible to add toggle-able key tooltips",
-                    )
-                    .color_range(3, 37..=58),
+                    Text::new("This release significantly expands the CLI's control surface,"),
                 ))]),
                 ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                    Text::new("when using the compact-bar.").color_substring(3, "compact-bar"),
+                    Text::new("enabling the building of powerful workspace automations."),
                 ))]),
             ])
+            .with_bulletin_list(
+                BulletinList::new(Text::new("New and expanded capabilities:").color_range(2, ..))
+                    .with_items(vec![
+                        ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                            Text::new("list-panes, list-tabs, dump-screen, dump-layout with --json output")
+                                .color_substring(3, "list-panes")
+                                .color_substring(3, "list-tabs")
+                                .color_substring(3, "dump-screen")
+                                .color_substring(3, "dump-layout")
+                                .color_substring(3, "--json"),
+                        )),
+                        ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                            Text::new("zellij run optionally blocks until success/failure")
+                                .color_substring(3, "zellij run"),
+                        )),
+                        ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                            Text::new("zellij subscribe can stream pane scrollback in real time")
+                                .color_substring(3, "zellij subscribe"),
+                        )),
+                        ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                            Text::new("zellij send-keys/paste can send human readable keys to other panes or sessions")
+                                .color_substring(3, "zellij send-keys/paste"),
+                        )),
+                    ]),
+            )
             .with_paragraph(vec![ComponentLine::new(vec![
                 ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                    Text::new("For more information: ").color_range(2, ..),
+                    Text::new("Learn more: ").color_range(2, ..),
                 )),
                 ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(Text::new(
-                    "https://zellij.dev/documentation/faq.html",
+                    "https://zellij.dev/documentation/controlling-zellij-through-cli.html",
                 )))
                 .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::CustomRender(
-                    Box::new(compact_bar_link_selected),
-                    Box::new(compact_bar_link_selected_len),
+                    Box::new(cli_automation_link_selected),
+                    Box::new(cli_automation_link_selected_len),
                 ))
                 .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_open_link(
-                    "https://zellij.dev/documentation/faq.html".to_owned(),
+                    "https://zellij.dev/documentation/controlling-zellij-through-cli.html".to_owned(),
                     link_executable.clone(),
                 )),
             ])])
@@ -224,44 +316,107 @@ impl Page {
                 esc_go_back_plus_link_hover(hovering_over_link, menu_item_is_selected)
             }))
     }
-    fn new_stack_keybinding() -> Page {
+    fn new_mouse_resize() -> Page {
         Page::new()
-            .with_title(Text::new("New Stack Keybinding").color_range(0, ..))
+            .with_title(Text::new("Mouse Resize").color_range(0, ..))
             .with_paragraph(vec![
                 ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                    Text::new("It's now possible to open a stacked pane directly on top of the current pane").color_substring(2, "stacked pane"),
+                    Text::new("Panes can now be resized by dragging their borders with the mouse."),
+                ))]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("Tiled panes can be resized with or without Ctrl held down.")
+                        .color_substring(3, "Ctrl"),
+                ))]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("Floating panes require Ctrl+drag to resize.")
+                        .color_substring(3, "Ctrl+drag"),
                 ))]),
             ])
+            .with_paragraph(vec![ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(
+                TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("Try it: Ctrl+drag on the borders of this pane.")
+                        .color_substring(2, "Try it:")
+                        .color_substring(3, "Ctrl+drag"),
+                ),
+            )])])
+            .with_help(Box::new(|_hovering_over_link, _menu_item_is_selected| {
+                esc_to_go_back_help()
+            }))
+    }
+    fn new_click_to_open() -> Page {
+        Page::new()
+            .with_title(Text::new("Click-to-Open File Paths").color_range(0, ..))
             .with_paragraph(vec![
-                ComponentLine::new(vec![
-                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                        Text::new("By default: Ctrl p + s").color_substring(3, "Ctrl p").color_substring(3, " s"),
-                    )),
-                ]),
-                ComponentLine::new(vec![
-                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                        Text::new("In unlock first: Ctrl g + p + s").color_substring(3, "Ctrl g").color_substring(3, " p").color_substring(3, " s"),
-                    )),
-                ]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("Zellij now detects file paths in the terminal viewport."),
+                ))]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("Alt-Click on a file path to open it.")
+                        .color_substring(3, "Alt-Click"),
+                ))]),
+            ])
+            .with_paragraph(vec![
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("Useful for navigating compiler errors, grep results,")
+                        .color_substring(2, "compiler errors")
+                        .color_substring(2, "grep results"),
+                ))]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("log files, or any output containing file paths.")
+                        .color_substring(2, "log files"),
+                ))]),
             ])
             .with_paragraph(vec![
                 ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                    Text::new("To add to an existing config, see the release notes.")
+                    Text::new("Plugins can also highlight arbitrary text in the viewport,"),
+                ))]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("opening possibilities for custom link handlers")
+                        .color_substring(3, "custom link handlers"),
+                ))]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new("and interactive overlays.")
+                        .color_substring(3, "interactive overlays"),
                 ))]),
             ])
             .with_help(Box::new(|_hovering_over_link, _menu_item_is_selected| {
                 esc_to_go_back_help()
             }))
     }
-    fn new_performance_improvements() -> Page {
+    fn new_layout_manager() -> Page {
         Page::new()
-            .with_title(Text::new("Performance Improvements").color_range(0, ..))
+            .with_title(Text::new("Layout Manager").color_range(0, ..))
+            .with_paragraph(vec![
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![
+                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(Text::new("A new "))),
+                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                        Text::new("layout-manager interface").color_range(3, ..),
+                    ))
+                    .with_hover(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                        Text::new("layout-manager interface")
+                            .color_range(3, ..)
+                            .selected(),
+                    ))
+                    .with_left_click_action(ClickAction::new_launch_plugin(
+                        "zellij:layout-manager".to_owned(),
+                    )),
+                    ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(Text::new(
+                        " allows overriding layouts at runtime.",
+                    ))),
+                ]),
+                ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
+                    Text::new(
+                        "Workspaces can be reconfigured dynamically without restarting sessions.",
+                    ),
+                ))]),
+            ])
             .with_paragraph(vec![
                 ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                    Text::new("This version adds a debounced asynchronous render mechanism"),
+                    Text::new("Access it through the session menu, or run:")
+                        .color_substring(2, "session menu"),
                 ))]),
                 ComponentLine::new(vec![ActiveComponent::new(TextOrCustomRender::Text(
-                    Text::new("making rendering much smoother across the whole application."),
+                    Text::new("zellij plugin -- zellij:layout-manager").color_range(3, ..),
                 ))]),
             ])
             .with_help(Box::new(|_hovering_over_link, _menu_item_is_selected| {
@@ -597,29 +752,30 @@ fn sponsors_link_text_selected_len() -> usize {
     34
 }
 
-fn web_client_screencast_link_selected(x: usize, y: usize) -> usize {
+fn cli_automation_link_selected(x: usize, y: usize) -> usize {
     print!(
-        "\u{1b}[{};{}H\u{1b}[m\u{1b}[1;4mhttps://zellij.dev/tutorials/web-client",
+        "\u{1b}[{};{}H\u{1b}[m\u{1b}[1;4mhttps://zellij.dev/documentation/controlling-zellij-through-cli.html",
         y + 1,
         x + 1
     );
-    39
+    68
 }
 
-fn web_client_screencast_link_selected_len() -> usize {
-    39
+fn cli_automation_link_selected_len() -> usize {
+    68
 }
 
-fn compact_bar_link_selected(x: usize, y: usize) -> usize {
+fn web_client_link_selected(x: usize, y: usize) -> usize {
     print!(
-        "\u{1b}[{};{}H\u{1b}[m\u{1b}[1;4mhttps://zellij.dev/documentation/faq.html",
+        "\u{1b}[{};{}H\u{1b}[m\u{1b}[1;4mhttps://zellij.dev/tutorials/web-client/",
         y + 1,
         x + 1
     );
-    41
+    40
 }
-fn compact_bar_link_selected_len() -> usize {
-    41
+
+fn web_client_link_selected_len() -> usize {
+    40
 }
 
 // Text components
diff --git a/default-plugins/link/src/main.rs b/default-plugins/link/src/main.rs
index f2127d44..f27076b5 100644
--- a/default-plugins/link/src/main.rs
+++ b/default-plugins/link/src/main.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use zellij_tile::prelude::*;
 
-const FILE_PATH_REGEX: &str = r#"(?:(?:\./|\.\./|/)[A-Za-z0-9_./\-+@%,#=~!\$\{\}\[\]]+|~/[A-Za-z0-9_./\-+@%,#=~!\$\{\}\[\]]+|\$\{?[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*\}?/[A-Za-z0-9_./\-+@%,#=~!\$\{\}\[\]]+|[a-zA-Z0-9_][a-zA-Z0-9_.\-]*/[A-Za-z0-9_./\-+@%,#=~!\$\{\}\[\]]+)(?::\d+(?::\d+)?)?"#;
+const FILE_PATH_REGEX: &str = r#"(?:^|\s)((?:(?:\./|\.\./|/)[A-Za-z0-9_./\-+@%,#=~!\$\{\}\[\]]+|~/[A-Za-z0-9_./\-+@%,#=~!\$\{\}\[\]]+|\$\{?[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*\}?/[A-Za-z0-9_./\-+@%,#=~!\$\{\}\[\]]+)(?::\d+(?::\d+)?)?)(?:\s|$)"#;
 
 const CWD_CONTEXT_KEY: &str = "cwd";
 
@@ -187,7 +187,11 @@ impl State {
         // Directory-entry patterns for the pane's current CWD
         if let Some(entries) = self.pane_dir_entries.get(&pane_id) {
             for entry_name in entries {
-                let pattern = regex_escape(entry_name);
+                let path_chars = r#"[A-Za-z0-9_./\-+@%,#=~!\$\{\}\[\]]"#;
+                let pattern = format!(
+                    "(?:^|\\s)({}(?:/{path_chars}+)?(?::\\d+(?::\\d+)?)?)(?:\\s|$)",
+                    regex_escape(entry_name),
+                );
                 highlights.push(RegexHighlight {
                     pattern,
                     style: HighlightStyle::None,
@@ -222,6 +226,10 @@ impl State {
 
 /// Scan a directory for first-level file and folder names.
 /// Returns an empty vec on any error.
+/// Maximum number of directory entries to scan. Directories with more entries
+/// than this are skipped entirely to avoid excessive regex pattern count.
+const MAX_DIR_ENTRIES: usize = 500;
+
 fn scan_directory(path: &Path) -> Vec<String> {
     let mut entries = Vec::new();
     let read_dir = match std::fs::read_dir(path) {
@@ -232,6 +240,9 @@ fn scan_directory(path: &Path) -> Vec<String> {
         if let Ok(entry) = entry {
             if let Some(name) = entry.file_name().to_str() {
                 entries.push(name.to_owned());
+                if entries.len() > MAX_DIR_ENTRIES {
+                    return Vec::new();
+                }
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/zellij-server/src/panes/grid.rs b/zellij-server/src/panes/grid.rs
index 0f0e3fb4..07752542 100644
--- a/zellij-server/src/panes/grid.rs
+++ b/zellij-server/src/panes/grid.rs
@@ -458,6 +458,15 @@ fn match_to_selection(
     Some((sel, start_row, start_col, end_row, end_col))
 }
 
+/// Extract the effective match from a set of captures.
+/// If capture group 1 exists, it is used (allowing patterns to include
+/// context such as surrounding whitespace in the full match while
+/// highlighting only the content in group 1). Otherwise the full match
+/// (group 0) is returned.
+fn highlight_match<'t>(captures: &regex::Captures<'t>) -> Option<regex::Match<'t>> {
+    captures.get(1).or_else(|| captures.get(0))
+}
+
 /// Check whether a (row, col) position falls within a display span.
 /// The span is inclusive at start and exclusive at end.
 fn position_in_span(
@@ -2163,7 +2172,10 @@ impl Grid {
         )> = None;
         for (plugin_id, pattern_map) in &self.plugin_highlights {
             for (pattern, compiled) in pattern_map {
-                for mat in compiled.regex.find_iter(&logical_text) {
+                for captures in compiled.regex.captures_iter(&logical_text) {
+                    let Some(mat) = highlight_match(&captures) else {
+                        continue;
+                    };
                     if let Some((_sel, start_row, start_col, end_row, end_col)) =
                         match_to_selection(&mat, &boundaries, &self.viewport)
                     {
@@ -2250,7 +2262,10 @@ impl Grid {
                 if !compiled.on_hover || compiled.tooltip_text.is_none() {
                     continue;
                 }
-                for mat in compiled.regex.find_iter(&logical_text) {
+                for captures in compiled.regex.captures_iter(&logical_text) {
+                    let Some(mat) = highlight_match(&captures) else {
+                        continue;
+                    };
                     if let Some((_sel, start_row, start_col, end_row, end_col)) =
                         match_to_selection(&mat, &boundaries, &self.viewport)
                     {
@@ -2306,7 +2321,10 @@ impl Grid {
                                 if !compiled.on_hover || !compiled.has_visual_effect() {
                                     continue;
                                 }
-                                for mat in compiled.regex.find_iter(&logical_text) {
+                                for captures in compiled.regex.captures_iter(&logical_text) {
+                                    let Some(mat) = highlight_match(&captures) else {
+                                        continue;
+                                    };
                                     if let Some((sel, start_row, start_col, end_row, end_col)) =
                                         match_to_selection(&mat, &boundaries, &self.viewport)
                                     {
@@ -2340,7 +2358,10 @@ impl Grid {
                     if compiled.on_hover || !compiled.has_visual_effect() {
                         continue;
                     }
-                    for mat in compiled.regex.find_iter(&logical_text) {
+                    for captures in compiled.regex.captures_iter(&logical_text) {
+                        let Some(mat) = highlight_match(&captures) else {
+                            continue;
+                        };
                         if let Some((sel, _, _, _, _)) =
                             match_to_selection(&mat, &boundaries, &self.viewport)
                         {
diff --git a/zellij-server/src/plugins/zellij_exports.rs b/zellij-server/src/plugins/zellij_exports.rs
index c96f028d..9b6f022f 100644
--- a/zellij-server/src/plugins/zellij_exports.rs
+++ b/zellij-server/src/plugins/zellij_exports.rs
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ use zellij_utils::data::{
     OpenEditPaneInPlaceOfPaneIdResponse, OpenFileFloatingNearPluginResponse,
     OpenFileFloatingResponse, OpenFileInPlaceOfPluginResponse, OpenFileInPlaceResponse,
     OpenFileNearPluginResponse, OpenFileResponse, OpenPaneInNewTabResponse,
-    OpenTerminalFloatingNearPluginResponse, OpenTerminalFloatingResponse,
-    OpenTerminalInPlaceOfPluginResponse, OpenTerminalInPlaceResponse,
+    OpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse, OpenTerminalFloatingNearPluginResponse,
+    OpenTerminalFloatingResponse, OpenTerminalInPlaceOfPluginResponse, OpenTerminalInPlaceResponse,
     OpenTerminalNearPluginResponse, OpenTerminalPaneInPlaceOfPaneIdResponse, OpenTerminalResponse,
     OriginatingPlugin, PaneScrollbackResponse, PermissionStatus, PermissionType, PluginPermission,
     RegexHighlight, RenameLayoutResponse, SaveLayoutResponse, TabMetadata,
@@ -94,9 +94,10 @@ use zellij_utils::{
             ProtobufOpenFileFloatingNearPluginResponse, ProtobufOpenFileFloatingResponse,
             ProtobufOpenFileInPlaceOfPluginResponse, ProtobufOpenFileInPlaceResponse,
             ProtobufOpenFileNearPluginResponse, ProtobufOpenFileResponse,
-            ProtobufOpenPaneInNewTabResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalFloatingNearPluginResponse,
-            ProtobufOpenTerminalFloatingResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalInPlaceOfPluginResponse,
-            ProtobufOpenTerminalInPlaceResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalNearPluginResponse,
+            ProtobufOpenPaneInNewTabResponse, ProtobufOpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse,
+            ProtobufOpenTerminalFloatingNearPluginResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalFloatingResponse,
+            ProtobufOpenTerminalInPlaceOfPluginResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalInPlaceResponse,
+            ProtobufOpenTerminalNearPluginResponse,
             ProtobufOpenTerminalPaneInPlaceOfPaneIdResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalResponse,
             ProtobufParseLayoutResponse, ProtobufPluginCommand, ProtobufRenameLayoutResponse,
             ProtobufSaveLayoutResponse, ProtobufSaveSessionResponse,
@@ -700,6 +701,20 @@ fn host_run_plugin_command(mut caller: Caller<'_, PluginEnv>) {
                     } => {
                         open_plugin_pane_in_new_tab(env, plugin_url, configuration, context);
                     },
+                    PluginCommand::OpenPluginPaneFloating {
+                        plugin_url,
+                        configuration,
+                        floating_pane_coordinates,
+                        context,
+                    } => {
+                        open_plugin_pane_floating(
+                            env,
+                            plugin_url,
+                            configuration,
+                            floating_pane_coordinates,
+                            context,
+                        );
+                    },
                     PluginCommand::OpenEditorPaneInNewTab(file_to_open, context) => {
                         open_editor_pane_in_new_tab(env, file_to_open, context);
                     },
@@ -1113,6 +1128,53 @@ fn open_plugin_pane_in_new_tab(
         .non_fatal();
 }
 
+fn open_plugin_pane_floating(
+    env: &PluginEnv,
+    plugin_url: String,
+    configuration: BTreeMap<String, String>,
+    floating_pane_coordinates: Option<FloatingPaneCoordinates>,
+    context: BTreeMap<String, String>,
+) {
+    let run_plugin_or_alias = RunPluginOrAlias::from_url(
+        &plugin_url,
+        &Some(configuration),
+        None,
+        Some(env.plugin_cwd.clone()),
+    );
+    let run_plugin_or_alias = match run_plugin_or_alias {
+        Ok(r) => r,
+        Err(e) => {
+            log::error!("Failed to parse plugin url '{}': {}", plugin_url, e);
+            let response = ProtobufOpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse::from(
+                OpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse::default(),
+            );
+            wasi_write_object(env, &response.encode_to_vec())
+                .with_context(|| {
+                    format!("failed to write open_plugin_pane_floating error response")
+                })
+                .non_fatal();
+            return;
+        },
+    };
+    let _ = context; // context is not currently used for plugin panes
+    let action = Action::NewFloatingPluginPane {
+        plugin: run_plugin_or_alias,
+        pane_name: None,
+        skip_cache: false,
+        cwd: Some(env.plugin_cwd.clone()),
+        coordinates: floating_pane_coordinates,
+    };
+    let error_msg = || format!("Failed to open floating plugin pane");
+    let result = apply_action!(action, error_msg, env);
+
+    let pane_id: OpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse =
+        result.and_then(|r| r.affected_pane_id).map(|p| p.into());
+    let response = ProtobufOpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse::from(pane_id);
+    wasi_write_object(env, &response.encode_to_vec())
+        .with_context(|| format!("failed to write open_plugin_pane_floating response"))
+        .non_fatal();
+}
+
 fn open_editor_pane_in_new_tab(
     env: &PluginEnv,
     file_to_open: FileToOpen,
@@ -5014,6 +5076,8 @@ fn check_command_permission(
         | PluginCommand::OpenTerminalFloatingNearPlugin(..)
         | PluginCommand::OpenTerminalInPlace(..)
         | PluginCommand::OpenTerminalInPlaceOfPlugin(..)
+        | PluginCommand::OpenPluginPaneInNewTab { .. }
+        | PluginCommand::OpenPluginPaneFloating { .. }
         | PluginCommand::OpenTerminalPaneInPlaceOfPaneId(..) => {
             PermissionType::OpenTerminalsOrPlugins
         },
@@ -5173,9 +5237,9 @@ fn check_command_permission(
         PluginCommand::GetSessionEnvironmentVariables => {
             PermissionType::ReadSessionEnvironmentVariables
         },
-        PluginCommand::OpenCommandPaneInNewTab(..)
-        | PluginCommand::OpenPluginPaneInNewTab { .. }
-        | PluginCommand::OpenEditorPaneInNewTab(..) => PermissionType::ChangeApplicationState,
+        PluginCommand::OpenCommandPaneInNewTab(..) | PluginCommand::OpenEditorPaneInNewTab(..) => {
+            PermissionType::ChangeApplicationState
+        },
         _ => return (PermissionStatus::Granted, None),
     };
 
diff --git a/zellij-tile/src/shim.rs b/zellij-tile/src/shim.rs
index 167df3ec..db07548f 100644
--- a/zellij-tile/src/shim.rs
+++ b/zellij-tile/src/shim.rs
@@ -31,13 +31,14 @@ use zellij_utils::plugin_api::plugin_command::{
     ProtobufOpenEditPaneInPlaceOfPaneIdResponse, ProtobufOpenFileFloatingNearPluginResponse,
     ProtobufOpenFileFloatingResponse, ProtobufOpenFileInPlaceOfPluginResponse,
     ProtobufOpenFileInPlaceResponse, ProtobufOpenFileNearPluginResponse, ProtobufOpenFileResponse,
-    ProtobufOpenPaneInNewTabResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalFloatingNearPluginResponse,
-    ProtobufOpenTerminalFloatingResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalInPlaceOfPluginResponse,
-    ProtobufOpenTerminalInPlaceResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalNearPluginResponse,
-    ProtobufOpenTerminalPaneInPlaceOfPaneIdResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalResponse,
-    ProtobufParseLayoutResponse, ProtobufPluginCommand, ProtobufRenameLayoutResponse,
-    ProtobufSaveLayoutResponse, ProtobufSaveSessionResponse, ProtobufShowFloatingPanesResponse,
-    RenameWebTokenResponse, RevokeAllWebTokensResponse, RevokeTokenResponse,
+    ProtobufOpenPaneInNewTabResponse, ProtobufOpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse,
+    ProtobufOpenTerminalFloatingNearPluginResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalFloatingResponse,
+    ProtobufOpenTerminalInPlaceOfPluginResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalInPlaceResponse,
+    ProtobufOpenTerminalNearPluginResponse, ProtobufOpenTerminalPaneInPlaceOfPaneIdResponse,
+    ProtobufOpenTerminalResponse, ProtobufParseLayoutResponse, ProtobufPluginCommand,
+    ProtobufRenameLayoutResponse, ProtobufSaveLayoutResponse, ProtobufSaveSessionResponse,
+    ProtobufShowFloatingPanesResponse, RenameWebTokenResponse, RevokeAllWebTokensResponse,
+    RevokeTokenResponse,
 };
 use zellij_utils::plugin_api::plugin_ids::{ProtobufPluginIds, ProtobufZellijVersion};
 
@@ -998,6 +999,30 @@ pub fn open_plugin_pane_in_new_tab(
     (result.tab_id, result.pane_id)
 }
 
+/// Open a new floating plugin pane with the specified plugin URL and configuration.
+/// Returns the pane ID of the newly created plugin pane, if successful.
+pub fn open_plugin_pane_floating(
+    plugin_url: &str,
+    configuration: BTreeMap<String, String>,
+    coordinates: Option<FloatingPaneCoordinates>,
+    context: BTreeMap<String, String>,
+) -> Option<PaneId> {
+    let plugin_command = PluginCommand::OpenPluginPaneFloating {
+        plugin_url: plugin_url.to_owned(),
+        configuration,
+        floating_pane_coordinates: coordinates,
+        context,
+    };
+    let protobuf_plugin_command: ProtobufPluginCommand = plugin_command.try_into().unwrap();
+    object_to_stdout(&protobuf_plugin_command.encode_to_vec());
+    unsafe { host_run_plugin_command() };
+
+    let response =
+        ProtobufOpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse::decode(bytes_from_stdin().unwrap().as_slice())
+            .unwrap();
+    OpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse::try_from(response).unwrap()
+}
+
 /// Opens a new tab with an editor pane for `file_to_open`.
 /// Returns `(tab_id, pane_id)` of the created tab and pane.
 pub fn open_editor_pane_in_new_tab(
diff --git a/zellij-utils/assets/prost/api.plugin_command.rs b/zellij-utils/assets/prost/api.plugin_command.rs
index ccb77f81..52626ac6 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/assets/prost/api.plugin_command.rs
+++ b/zellij-utils/assets/prost/api.plugin_command.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 pub struct PluginCommand {
     #[prost(enumeration="CommandName", tag="1")]
     pub name: i32,
-    #[prost(oneof="plugin_command::Payload", tags="2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159")]
+    #[prost(oneof="plugin_command::Payload", tags="2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160")]
     pub payload: ::core::option::Option<plugin_command::Payload>,
 }
 /// Nested message and enum types in `PluginCommand`.
@@ -301,6 +301,8 @@ pub mod plugin_command {
         SetPaneRegexHighlightsPayload(super::SetPaneRegexHighlightsPayload),
         #[prost(message, tag="159")]
         ClearPaneHighlightsPayload(super::ClearPaneHighlightsPayload),
+        #[prost(message, tag="160")]
+        OpenPluginPaneFloatingPayload(super::OpenPluginPaneFloatingPayload),
     }
 }
 #[allow(clippy::derive_partial_eq_without_eq)]
@@ -1879,6 +1881,24 @@ pub struct ClearPaneHighlightsPayload {
     #[prost(message, optional, tag="1")]
     pub pane_id: ::core::option::Option<PaneId>,
 }
+#[allow(clippy::derive_partial_eq_without_eq)]
+#[derive(Clone, PartialEq, ::prost::Message)]
+pub struct OpenPluginPaneFloatingPayload {
+    #[prost(string, tag="1")]
+    pub plugin_url: ::prost::alloc::string::String,
+    #[prost(map="string, string", tag="2")]
+    pub configuration: ::std::collections::HashMap<::prost::alloc::string::String, ::prost::alloc::string::String>,
+    #[prost(message, optional, tag="3")]
+    pub floating_pane_coordinates: ::core::option::Option<FloatingPaneCoordinates>,
+    #[prost(message, repeated, tag="4")]
+    pub context: ::prost::alloc::vec::Vec<ContextItem>,
+}
+#[allow(clippy::derive_partial_eq_without_eq)]
+#[derive(Clone, PartialEq, ::prost::Message)]
+pub struct OpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse {
+    #[prost(message, optional, tag="1")]
+    pub pane_id: ::core::option::Option<PaneId>,
+}
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord, ::prost::Enumeration)]
 #[repr(i32)]
 pub enum CommandName {
@@ -2070,6 +2090,7 @@ pub enum CommandName {
     SetPaneColor = 206,
     SetPaneRegexHighlights = 207,
     ClearPaneHighlights = 208,
+    OpenPluginPaneFloating = 209,
 }
 impl CommandName {
     /// String value of the enum field names used in the ProtoBuf definition.
@@ -2266,6 +2287,7 @@ impl CommandName {
             CommandName::SetPaneColor => "SetPaneColor",
             CommandName::SetPaneRegexHighlights => "SetPaneRegexHighlights",
             CommandName::ClearPaneHighlights => "ClearPaneHighlights",
+            CommandName::OpenPluginPaneFloating => "OpenPluginPaneFloating",
         }
     }
     /// Creates an enum from field names used in the ProtoBuf definition.
@@ -2459,6 +2481,7 @@ impl CommandName {
             "SetPaneColor" => Some(Self::SetPaneColor),
             "SetPaneRegexHighlights" => Some(Self::SetPaneRegexHighlights),
             "ClearPaneHighlights" => Some(Self::ClearPaneHighlights),
+            "OpenPluginPaneFloating" => Some(Self::OpenPluginPaneFloating),
             _ => None,
         }
     }
diff --git a/zellij-utils/src/data.rs b/zellij-utils/src/data.rs
index 46a0daa5..1fdea34e 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/src/data.rs
+++ b/zellij-utils/src/data.rs
@@ -3555,6 +3555,12 @@ pub enum PluginCommand {
     SetPaneColor(PaneId, Option<String>, Option<String>), // (pane_id, fg, bg)
     SetPaneRegexHighlights(PaneId, Vec<RegexHighlight>),
     ClearPaneHighlights(PaneId),
+    OpenPluginPaneFloating {
+        plugin_url: String,
+        configuration: BTreeMap<String, String>,
+        floating_pane_coordinates: Option<FloatingPaneCoordinates>,
+        context: BTreeMap<String, String>,
+    },
 }
 
 // Response type for plugin API methods that open a pane in a new tab
@@ -3597,3 +3603,4 @@ pub type OpenCommandPaneBackgroundResponse = Option<PaneId>;
 pub type OpenCommandPaneInPlaceOfPaneIdResponse = Option<PaneId>;
 pub type OpenTerminalPaneInPlaceOfPaneIdResponse = Option<PaneId>;
 pub type OpenEditPaneInPlaceOfPaneIdResponse = Option<PaneId>;
+pub type OpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse = Option<PaneId>;
diff --git a/zellij-utils/src/plugin_api/plugin_command.proto b/zellij-utils/src/plugin_api/plugin_command.proto
index 0634d63e..f00ffdd1 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/src/plugin_api/plugin_command.proto
+++ b/zellij-utils/src/plugin_api/plugin_command.proto
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ enum CommandName {
   SetPaneColor = 206;
   SetPaneRegexHighlights = 207;
   ClearPaneHighlights = 208;
+  OpenPluginPaneFloating = 209;
 }
 
 message PluginCommand {
@@ -351,6 +352,7 @@ message PluginCommand {
     SetPaneColorPayload set_pane_color_payload = 157;
     SetPaneRegexHighlightsPayload set_pane_regex_highlights_payload = 158;
     ClearPaneHighlightsPayload clear_pane_highlights_payload = 159;
+    OpenPluginPaneFloatingPayload open_plugin_pane_floating_payload = 160;
   }
 }
 
@@ -1281,3 +1283,14 @@ message SetPaneRegexHighlightsPayload {
 message ClearPaneHighlightsPayload {
   PaneId pane_id = 1;
 }
+
+message OpenPluginPaneFloatingPayload {
+  string plugin_url = 1;
+  map<string, string> configuration = 2;
+  optional FloatingPaneCoordinates floating_pane_coordinates = 3;
+  repeated ContextItem context = 4;
+}
+
+message OpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse {
+  optional PaneId pane_id = 1;
+}
diff --git a/zellij-utils/src/plugin_api/plugin_command.rs b/zellij-utils/src/plugin_api/plugin_command.rs
index 00acb760..fc55dd91 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/src/plugin_api/plugin_command.rs
+++ b/zellij-utils/src/plugin_api/plugin_command.rs
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ pub use super::generated_api::api::{
         OpenFileNearPluginResponse as ProtobufOpenFileNearPluginResponse, OpenFilePayload,
         OpenFileResponse as ProtobufOpenFileResponse,
         OpenPaneInNewTabResponse as ProtobufOpenPaneInNewTabResponse,
+        OpenPluginPaneFloatingPayload,
+        OpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse as ProtobufOpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse,
         OpenPluginPaneInNewTabPayload as ProtobufOpenPluginPaneInNewTabPayload,
         OpenTerminalFloatingNearPluginPayload,
         OpenTerminalFloatingNearPluginResponse as ProtobufOpenTerminalFloatingNearPluginResponse,
@@ -2543,6 +2545,26 @@ impl TryFrom<ProtobufPluginCommand> for PluginCommand {
                 },
                 _ => Err("Mismatched payload for ClearPaneHighlights"),
             },
+            Some(CommandName::OpenPluginPaneFloating) => match protobuf_plugin_command.payload {
+                Some(Payload::OpenPluginPaneFloatingPayload(payload)) => {
+                    let configuration: BTreeMap<String, String> =
+                        payload.configuration.into_iter().collect();
+                    let floating_pane_coordinates =
+                        payload.floating_pane_coordinates.map(|f| f.into());
+                    let context: BTreeMap<String, String> = payload
+                        .context
+                        .into_iter()
+                        .map(|e| (e.name, e.value))
+                        .collect();
+                    Ok(PluginCommand::OpenPluginPaneFloating {
+                        plugin_url: payload.plugin_url,
+                        configuration,
+                        floating_pane_coordinates,
+                        context,
+                    })
+                },
+                _ => Err("Mismatched payload for OpenPluginPaneFloating"),
+            },
             None => Err("Unrecognized plugin command"),
         }
     }
@@ -4202,6 +4224,30 @@ impl TryFrom<PluginCommand> for ProtobufPluginCommand {
                     },
                 )),
             }),
+            PluginCommand::OpenPluginPaneFloating {
+                plugin_url,
+                configuration,
+                floating_pane_coordinates,
+                context,
+            } => {
+                let context: Vec<_> = context
+                    .into_iter()
+                    .map(|(name, value)| ContextItem { name, value })
+                    .collect();
+                let configuration: std::collections::HashMap<String, String> =
+                    configuration.into_iter().collect();
+                Ok(ProtobufPluginCommand {
+                    name: CommandName::OpenPluginPaneFloating as i32,
+                    payload: Some(Payload::OpenPluginPaneFloatingPayload(
+                        OpenPluginPaneFloatingPayload {
+                            plugin_url,
+                            configuration,
+                            floating_pane_coordinates: floating_pane_coordinates.map(|f| f.into()),
+                            context,
+                        },
+                    )),
+                })
+            },
         }
     }
 }
@@ -4216,8 +4262,8 @@ use crate::data::{
     OpenEditPaneInPlaceOfPaneIdResponse, OpenFileFloatingNearPluginResponse,
     OpenFileFloatingResponse, OpenFileInPlaceOfPluginResponse, OpenFileInPlaceResponse,
     OpenFileNearPluginResponse, OpenFileResponse, OpenPaneInNewTabResponse,
-    OpenTerminalFloatingNearPluginResponse, OpenTerminalFloatingResponse,
-    OpenTerminalInPlaceOfPluginResponse, OpenTerminalInPlaceResponse,
+    OpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse, OpenTerminalFloatingNearPluginResponse,
+    OpenTerminalFloatingResponse, OpenTerminalInPlaceOfPluginResponse, OpenTerminalInPlaceResponse,
     OpenTerminalNearPluginResponse, OpenTerminalPaneInPlaceOfPaneIdResponse, OpenTerminalResponse,
 };
 
@@ -4811,3 +4857,21 @@ impl From<OpenEditPaneInPlaceOfPaneIdResponse> for ProtobufOpenEditPaneInPlaceOf
         }
     }
 }
+
+impl TryFrom<ProtobufOpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse> for OpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse {
+    type Error = &'static str;
+    fn try_from(protobuf: ProtobufOpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+        match protobuf.pane_id {
+            Some(pane_id) => Ok(Some(pane_id.try_into()?)),
+            None => Ok(None),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<OpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse> for ProtobufOpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse {
+    fn from(response: OpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse) -> Self {
+        ProtobufOpenPluginPaneFloatingResponse {
+            pane_id: response.map(|p| p.try_into().unwrap()),
+        }
+    }
+}