wip - namespace

bec_widgets/cli/rpc/rpc_widget_handler.py

@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from bec_widgets.utils import BECConnector
+from typing import Any
+
+from bec_widgets.cli.client_utils import IGNORE_WIDGETS
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_widget import BECWidget
 
 
 class RPCWidgetHandler:
@@ -10,7 +13,7 @@ class RPCWidgetHandler:
         self._widget_classes = None
 
     @property
-    def widget_classes(self):
+    def widget_classes(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """
         Get the available widget classes.
 
@@ -19,7 +22,7 @@ class RPCWidgetHandler:
         """
         if self._widget_classes is None:
             self.update_available_widgets()
-        return self._widget_classes
+        return self._widget_classes  # type: ignore
 
     def update_available_widgets(self):
         """
@@ -31,24 +34,27 @@ class RPCWidgetHandler:
         from bec_widgets.utils.plugin_utils import get_custom_classes
 
         clss = get_custom_classes("bec_widgets")
-        self._widget_classes = {cls.__name__: cls for cls in clss.widgets}
+        self._widget_classes = {
+            cls.__name__: cls for cls in clss.widgets if cls.__name__ not in IGNORE_WIDGETS
+        }
 
-    def create_widget(self, widget_type, **kwargs) -> BECConnector:
+    def create_widget(self, widget_type, name: str | None = None, **kwargs) -> BECWidget:
         """
         Create a widget from an RPC message.
 
         Args:
             widget_type(str): The type of the widget.
+            name (str): The name of the widget.
             **kwargs: The keyword arguments for the widget.
 
         Returns:
-            widget(BECConnector): The created widget.
+            widget(BECWidget): The created widget.
         """
         if self._widget_classes is None:
             self.update_available_widgets()
-        widget_class = self._widget_classes.get(widget_type)
+        widget_class = self._widget_classes.get(widget_type)  # type: ignore
         if widget_class:
-            return widget_class(**kwargs)
+            return widget_class(name=name, **kwargs)
         raise ValueError(f"Unknown widget type: {widget_type}")
 
 

bec_widgets/examples/jupyter_console/jupyter_console_window.py

@@ -198,14 +198,18 @@ class JupyterConsoleWindow(QWidget):  # pragma: no cover:
 
     def _init_dock(self):
 
-        self.d0 = self.dock.add_dock(name="dock_0")
+        self.d0 = self.dock.new(name="dock_0")
-        self.mm = self.d0.add_widget("BECMotorMapWidget")
+        self.mm = self.d0.new("BECMotorMapWidget")
         self.mm.change_motors("samx", "samy")
 
-        self.d1 = self.dock.add_dock(name="dock_1", position="right")
+        self.d1 = self.dock.new(name="dock_1", position="right")
-        self.im = self.d1.add_widget("BECImageWidget")
+        self.im = self.d1.new("BECImageWidget")
         self.im.image("waveform", "1d")
 
+        self.d2 = self.dock.new(name="dock_2", position="bottom")
+        self.wf = self.d2.new("BECFigure", row=0, col=0)
+
+        self.mw = self.wf.multi_waveform(monitor="waveform")  # , config=config)
         self.mw = None  # self.wf.multi_waveform(monitor="waveform")  # , config=config)
 
         self.dock.save_state()

bec_widgets/utils/bec_connector.py

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import os
 import time
 import uuid
+from datetime import datetime
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
 
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication
 from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_register import RPCRegister
 from bec_widgets.qt_utils.error_popups import ErrorPopupUtility
 from bec_widgets.qt_utils.error_popups import SafeSlot as pyqtSlot
+from bec_widgets.utils.container_utils import WidgetContainerUtils
 from bec_widgets.utils.yaml_dialog import load_yaml, load_yaml_gui, save_yaml, save_yaml_gui
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -39,8 +41,7 @@ class ConnectionConfig(BaseModel):
         """Generate a GUI ID if none is provided."""
         if v is None:
             widget_class = values.data["widget_class"]
-            v = f"{widget_class}_{str(time.time())}"
+            v = f"{widget_class}_{datetime.now().strftime('%Y_%m_%d_%H_%M_%S_%f')}"
-            return v
         return v
 
 
@@ -75,7 +76,13 @@ class BECConnector:
     USER_ACCESS = ["_config_dict", "_get_all_rpc", "_rpc_id"]
     EXIT_HANDLERS = {}
 
-    def __init__(self, client=None, config: ConnectionConfig = None, gui_id: str = None):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        client=None,
+        config: ConnectionConfig | None = None,
+        gui_id: str | None = None,
+        name: str | None = None,
+    ):
         # BEC related connections
         self.bec_dispatcher = BECDispatcher(client=client)
         self.client = self.bec_dispatcher.client if client is None else client
@@ -103,15 +110,22 @@ class BECConnector:
             )
             self.config = ConnectionConfig(widget_class=self.__class__.__name__)
 
+        # I feel that we should not allow BECConnector to be created with a custom gui_id
+        # because this would break with the logic in the RPCRegister of retrieving widgets by type
+        # iterating over all widgets and checkinf if the register widget starts with the string that is passsed.
+        # If the gui_id is randomly generated, this would break since that widget would have a
+        # gui_id that is generated in a different way.
         if gui_id:
             self.config.gui_id = gui_id
-            self.gui_id = gui_id
+            self.gui_id: str = gui_id
         else:
-            self.gui_id = self.config.gui_id
+            self.gui_id: str = self.config.gui_id  # type: ignore
-
+        if name is None:
-        # register widget to rpc register
+            name = self.__class__.__name__
-        # be careful: when registering, and the object is not a BECWidget,
+        else:
-        # cleanup has to be called manually since there is no 'closeEvent'
+            if not WidgetContainerUtils.has_name_valid_chars(name):
+                raise ValueError(f"Name {name} contains invalid characters.")
+        self._name = name if name else self.__class__.__name__
         self.rpc_register = RPCRegister()
         self.rpc_register.add_rpc(self)
 
@@ -195,6 +209,7 @@ class BECConnector:
         """
         self.config = config
 
+    # FIXME some thoughts are required to decide how thhis should work with rpc registry
     def apply_config(self, config: dict, generate_new_id: bool = True) -> None:
         """
         Apply the configuration to the widget.
@@ -207,11 +222,12 @@ class BECConnector:
         if generate_new_id is True:
             gui_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
             self.rpc_register.remove_rpc(self)
-            self.set_gui_id(gui_id)
+            self._set_gui_id(gui_id)
             self.rpc_register.add_rpc(self)
         else:
             self.gui_id = self.config.gui_id
 
+    # FIXME some thoughts are required to decide how thhis should work with rpc registry
     def load_config(self, path: str | None = None, gui: bool = False):
         """
         Load the configuration of the widget from YAML.
@@ -248,8 +264,8 @@ class BECConnector:
             file_path = os.path.join(path, f"{self.__class__.__name__}_config.yaml")
             save_yaml(file_path, self._config_dict)
 
-    @pyqtSlot(str)
+    # @pyqtSlot(str)
-    def set_gui_id(self, gui_id: str) -> None:
+    def _set_gui_id(self, gui_id: str) -> None:
         """
         Set the GUI ID for the widget.
 
@@ -288,9 +304,21 @@ class BECConnector:
         Args:
             config (ConnectionConfig | dict): Configuration settings.
         """
+        gui_id = getattr(config, "gui_id", None)
         if isinstance(config, dict):
             config = ConnectionConfig(**config)
         self.config = config
+        if gui_id and config.gui_id != gui_id:  # Recreating config should not overwrite the gui_id
+            self.config.gui_id = gui_id
+
+    def remove(self):
+        """Cleanup the BECConnector"""
+        if hasattr(self, "close"):
+            self.close()
+            if hasattr(self, "deleteLater"):
+                self.deleteLater()
+        else:
+            self.rpc_register.remove_rpc(self)
 
     def get_config(self, dict_output: bool = True) -> dict | BaseModel:
         """

bec_widgets/utils/bec_widget.py

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
 import darkdetect
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 from qtpy.QtCore import Slot
@@ -7,6 +9,10 @@ from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication, QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_connector import BECConnector, ConnectionConfig
 from bec_widgets.utils.colors import set_theme
+from bec_widgets.utils.container_utils import WidgetContainerUtils
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.dock import BECDock
 
 logger = bec_logger.logger
 
@@ -17,13 +23,17 @@ class BECWidget(BECConnector):
     # The icon name is the name of the icon in the icon theme, typically a name taken
     # from fonts.google.com/icons. Override this in subclasses to set the icon name.
     ICON_NAME = "widgets"
+    USER_ACCESS = ["remove"]
 
+    # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
     def __init__(
         self,
         client=None,
         config: ConnectionConfig = None,
-        gui_id: str = None,
+        gui_id: str | None = None,
         theme_update: bool = False,
+        name: str | None = None,
+        parent_dock: BECDock | None = None,
         **kwargs,
     ):
         """
@@ -45,9 +55,15 @@ class BECWidget(BECConnector):
         """
         if not isinstance(self, QWidget):
             raise RuntimeError(f"{repr(self)} is not a subclass of QWidget")
-        super().__init__(client=client, config=config, gui_id=gui_id, **kwargs)
+        # Create a default name if None is provided
-
+        if name is None:
-        # Set the theme to auto if it is not set yet
+            name = "bec_widget_init_without_name"
+            # name = self.__class__.__name__
+        # Check for invalid chars in the name
+        if not WidgetContainerUtils.has_name_valid_chars(name):
+            raise ValueError(f"Name {name} contains invalid characters.")
+        super().__init__(client=client, config=config, gui_id=gui_id, name=name)
+        self._parent_dock = parent_dock
         app = QApplication.instance()
         if not hasattr(app, "theme"):
             # DO NOT SET THE THEME TO AUTO! Otherwise, the qwebengineview will segfault
@@ -88,10 +104,13 @@ class BECWidget(BECConnector):
 
     def cleanup(self):
         """Cleanup the widget."""
+        # needed here instead of closeEvent, to be checked why
+        # However, all widgets need to call super().cleanup() in their cleanup method
+        self.rpc_register.remove_rpc(self)
 
     def closeEvent(self, event):
-        self.rpc_register.remove_rpc(self)
+        """Wrap the close even to ensure the rpc_register is cleaned up."""
         try:
             self.cleanup()
         finally:
-            super().closeEvent(event)
+            super().closeEvent(event)  # pylint: disable=no-member

bec_widgets/utils/container_utils.py

@@ -1,30 +1,55 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import itertools
-from typing import Type
+from typing import Literal, Type
 
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
+from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_register import RPCRegister
+
 
 class WidgetContainerUtils:
 
+    # We need one handler that checks if a WIDGET of a given name is already created for that DOCKAREA
+    # 1. If the name exists, then it depends whether the name was auto-generated -> add _1 to the name
+    #    or alternatively raise an error that it can't be added again ( just raise an error)
+    # 2. Dock names in between docks should also be unique
+
     @staticmethod
-    def generate_unique_widget_id(container: dict, prefix: str = "widget") -> str:
+    def has_name_valid_chars(name: str) -> bool:
-        """
+        """Check if the name is valid.
-        Generate a unique widget ID.
 
         Args:
-            container(dict): The container of widgets.
+            name(str): The name to be checked.
-            prefix(str): The prefix of the widget ID.
 
         Returns:
-            widget_id(str): The unique widget ID.
+            bool: True if the name is valid, False otherwise.
         """
-        existing_ids = set(container.keys())
+        if not name or len(name) > 256:
-        for i in itertools.count(1):
+            return False  # Don't accept empty names or names longer than 256 characters
-            widget_id = f"{prefix}_{i}"
+        check_value = name.replace("_", "").replace("-", "")
-            if widget_id not in existing_ids:
+        if not check_value.isalnum() or not check_value.isascii():
-                return widget_id
+            return False
+        return True
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def generate_unique_name(name: str, list_of_names: list[str] | None = None) -> str:
+        """Generate a unique ID.
+
+        Args:
+            name(str): The name of the widget.
+        Returns:
+            tuple (str): The unique name
+        """
+        if list_of_names is None:
+            list_of_names = []
+        ii = 0
+        while ii < 1000:  # 1000 is arbritrary!
+            name_candidate = f"{name}_{ii}"
+            if name_candidate not in list_of_names:
+                return name_candidate
+            ii += 1
+        raise ValueError("Could not generate a unique name after within 1000 attempts.")
 
     @staticmethod
     def find_first_widget_by_class(

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/dock/dock_area.py

@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@ from typing import Literal, Optional
 from weakref import WeakValueDictionary
 
 from bec_lib.endpoints import MessageEndpoints
+from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 from pydantic import Field
 from pyqtgraph.dockarea.DockArea import DockArea
 from qtpy.QtCore import QSize, Qt
 from qtpy.QtGui import QPainter, QPaintEvent
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication, QSizePolicy, QVBoxLayout, QWidget
 
+from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_register import RPCRegister
 from bec_widgets.qt_utils.error_popups import SafeSlot
 from bec_widgets.qt_utils.toolbar import (
     ExpandableMenuAction,
@@ -33,6 +35,8 @@ from bec_widgets.widgets.services.bec_status_box.bec_status_box import BECStatus
 from bec_widgets.widgets.utility.logpanel.logpanel import LogPanel
 from bec_widgets.widgets.utility.visual.dark_mode_button.dark_mode_button import DarkModeButton
 
+logger = bec_logger.logger
+
 
 class DockAreaConfig(ConnectionConfig):
     docks: dict[str, DockConfig] = Field({}, description="The docks in the dock area.")
@@ -44,21 +48,19 @@ class DockAreaConfig(ConnectionConfig):
 class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
     PLUGIN = True
     USER_ACCESS = [
-        "_config_dict",
+        "new",
-        "selected_device",
-        "panels",
-        "save_state",
-        "remove_dock",
-        "restore_state",
-        "add_dock",
-        "clear_all",
-        "detach_dock",
-        "attach_all",
-        "_get_all_rpc",
-        "temp_areas",
         "show",
         "hide",
+        "panels",
+        "panel_list",
         "delete",
+        "delete_all",
+        "remove",
+        "detach_dock",
+        "attach_all",
+        "selected_device",
+        "save_state",
+        "restore_state",
     ]
 
     def __init__(
@@ -67,6 +69,8 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
         config: DockAreaConfig | None = None,
         client=None,
         gui_id: str = None,
+        name: str | None = None,
+        **kwargs,
     ) -> None:
         if config is None:
             config = DockAreaConfig(widget_class=self.__class__.__name__)
@@ -74,8 +78,9 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
             if isinstance(config, dict):
                 config = DockAreaConfig(**config)
             self.config = config
-        super().__init__(client=client, config=config, gui_id=gui_id)
+        super().__init__(client=client, config=config, gui_id=gui_id, name=name, **kwargs)
         QWidget.__init__(self, parent=parent)
+        self._parent = parent
         self.layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
         self.layout.setSpacing(5)
         self.layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
@@ -169,41 +174,41 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
     def _hook_toolbar(self):
         # Menu Plot
         self.toolbar.widgets["menu_plots"].widgets["waveform"].triggered.connect(
-            lambda: self.add_dock(widget="Waveform", prefix="waveform")
+            lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="Waveform")
         )
         self.toolbar.widgets["menu_plots"].widgets["multi_waveform"].triggered.connect(
-            lambda: self.add_dock(widget="BECMultiWaveformWidget", prefix="multi_waveform")
+            lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="BECMultiWaveformWidget")
         )
         self.toolbar.widgets["menu_plots"].widgets["image"].triggered.connect(
-            lambda: self.add_dock(widget="BECImageWidget", prefix="image")
+            lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="BECImageWidget")
         )
         self.toolbar.widgets["menu_plots"].widgets["motor_map"].triggered.connect(
-            lambda: self.add_dock(widget="BECMotorMapWidget", prefix="motor_map")
+            lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="BECMotorMapWidget")
         )
 
         # Menu Devices
         self.toolbar.widgets["menu_devices"].widgets["scan_control"].triggered.connect(
-            lambda: self.add_dock(widget="ScanControl", prefix="scan_control")
+            lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="ScanControl")
         )
         self.toolbar.widgets["menu_devices"].widgets["positioner_box"].triggered.connect(
-            lambda: self.add_dock(widget="PositionerBox", prefix="positioner_box")
+            lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="PositionerBox")
         )
 
         # Menu Utils
         self.toolbar.widgets["menu_utils"].widgets["queue"].triggered.connect(
-            lambda: self.add_dock(widget="BECQueue", prefix="queue")
+            lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="BECQueue")
         )
         self.toolbar.widgets["menu_utils"].widgets["status"].triggered.connect(
-            lambda: self.add_dock(widget="BECStatusBox", prefix="status")
+            lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="BECStatusBox")
         )
         self.toolbar.widgets["menu_utils"].widgets["vs_code"].triggered.connect(
-            lambda: self.add_dock(widget="VSCodeEditor", prefix="vs_code")
+            lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="VSCodeEditor")
         )
         self.toolbar.widgets["menu_utils"].widgets["progress_bar"].triggered.connect(
-            lambda: self.add_dock(widget="RingProgressBar", prefix="progress_bar")
+            lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="RingProgressBar")
         )
         self.toolbar.widgets["menu_utils"].widgets["log_panel"].triggered.connect(
-            lambda: self.add_dock(widget="LogPanel", prefix="log_panel")
+            lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="LogPanel")
         )
 
         # Icons
@@ -211,6 +216,11 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
         self.toolbar.widgets["save_state"].action.triggered.connect(self.save_state)
         self.toolbar.widgets["restore_state"].action.triggered.connect(self.restore_state)
 
+    @SafeSlot()
+    def _create_widget_from_toolbar(self, widget_name: str) -> None:
+        dock_name = WidgetContainerUtils.generate_unique_name(widget_name, self.panels.keys())
+        self.new(name=dock_name, widget=widget_name)
+
     def paintEvent(self, event: QPaintEvent):  # TODO decide if we want any default instructions
         super().paintEvent(event)
         if self._instructions_visible:
@@ -218,7 +228,7 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
             painter.drawText(
                 self.rect(),
                 Qt.AlignCenter,
-                "Add docks using 'add_dock' method from CLI\n or \n Add widget docks using the toolbar",
+                "Add docks using 'new' method from CLI\n or \n Add widget docks using the toolbar",
             )
 
     @property
@@ -243,7 +253,17 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
 
     @panels.setter
     def panels(self, value: dict[str, BECDock]):
-        self.dock_area.docks = WeakValueDictionary(value)
+        self.dock_area.docks = WeakValueDictionary(value)  # This can not work can it?
+
+    @property
+    def panel_list(self) -> list[BECDock]:
+        """
+        Get the docks in the dock area.
+
+        Returns:
+            list: The docks in the dock area.
+        """
+        return list(self.dock_area.docks.values())
 
     @property
     def temp_areas(self) -> list:
@@ -287,36 +307,17 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
         self.config.docks_state = last_state
         return last_state
 
-    def remove_dock(self, name: str):
-        """
-        Remove a dock by name and ensure it is properly closed and cleaned up.
-
-        Args:
-            name(str): The name of the dock to remove.
-        """
-        dock = self.dock_area.docks.pop(name, None)
-        self.config.docks.pop(name, None)
-        if dock:
-            dock.close()
-            dock.deleteLater()
-            if len(self.dock_area.docks) <= 1:
-                for dock in self.dock_area.docks.values():
-                    dock.hide_title_bar()
-
-        else:
-            raise ValueError(f"Dock with name {name} does not exist.")
-
     @SafeSlot(popup_error=True)
-    def add_dock(
+    def new(
         self,
-        name: str = None,
+        name: str | None = None,
-        position: Literal["bottom", "top", "left", "right", "above", "below"] = None,
+        widget: str | QWidget | None = None,
+        widget_name: str | None = None,
+        position: Literal["bottom", "top", "left", "right", "above", "below"] = "bottom",
         relative_to: BECDock | None = None,
         closable: bool = True,
         floating: bool = False,
-        prefix: str = "dock",
+        row: int | None = None,
-        widget: str | QWidget | None = None,
-        row: int = None,
         col: int = 0,
         rowspan: int = 1,
         colspan: int = 1,
@@ -326,12 +327,11 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
 
         Args:
             name(str): The name of the dock to be displayed and for further references. Has to be unique.
+            widget(str|QWidget|None): The widget to be added to the dock. While using RPC, only BEC RPC widgets from RPCWidgetHandler are allowed.
             position(Literal["bottom", "top", "left", "right", "above", "below"]): The position of the dock.
             relative_to(BECDock): The dock to which the new dock should be added relative to.
             closable(bool): Whether the dock is closable.
             floating(bool): Whether the dock is detached after creating.
-            prefix(str): The prefix for the dock name if no name is provided.
-            widget(str|QWidget|None): The widget to be added to the dock. While using RPC, only BEC RPC widgets from RPCWidgetHandler are allowed.
             row(int): The row of the added widget.
             col(int): The column of the added widget.
             rowspan(int): The rowspan of the added widget.
@@ -340,21 +340,20 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
         Returns:
             BECDock: The created dock.
         """
-        if name is None:
+        dock_names = [dock._name for dock in self.panel_list]  # pylint: disable=protected-access
-            name = WidgetContainerUtils.generate_unique_widget_id(
+        if name is not None:  # Name is provided
-                container=self.dock_area.docks, prefix=prefix
+            if name in dock_names:
-            )
+                raise ValueError(
-
+                    f"Name {name} must be unique for docks, but already exists in DockArea "
-        if name in set(self.dock_area.docks.keys()):
+                    f"with name: {self._name} and id {self.gui_id}."
-            raise ValueError(f"Dock with name {name} already exists.")
+                )
-
+        else:  # Name is not provided
-        if position is None:
+            name = WidgetContainerUtils.generate_unique_name(name="dock", list_of_names=dock_names)
-            position = "bottom"
 
         dock = BECDock(name=name, parent_dock_area=self, closable=closable)
         dock.config.position = position
-        self.config.docks[name] = dock.config
+        self.config.docks[dock.name()] = dock.config
-
+        # The dock.name is equal to the name passed to BECDock
         self.dock_area.addDock(dock=dock, position=position, relativeTo=relative_to)
 
         if len(self.dock_area.docks) <= 1:
@@ -363,10 +362,11 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
             for dock in self.dock_area.docks.values():
                 dock.show_title_bar()
 
-        if widget is not None and isinstance(widget, str):
+        if widget is not None:
-            dock.add_widget(widget=widget, row=row, col=col, rowspan=rowspan, colspan=colspan)
+            # Check if widget name exists.
-        elif widget is not None and isinstance(widget, QWidget):
+            dock.new(
-            dock.addWidget(widget, row=row, col=col, rowspan=rowspan, colspan=colspan)
+                widget=widget, name=widget_name, row=row, col=col, rowspan=rowspan, colspan=colspan
+            )
         if (
             self._instructions_visible
         ):  # TODO still decide how initial instructions should be handled
@@ -404,49 +404,26 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
         Remove a temporary area from the dock area.
         This is a patched method of pyqtgraph's removeTempArea
         """
+        if area not in self.dock_area.tempAreas:
+            # FIXME add some context for the logging, I am not sure which object is passed.
+            # It looks like a pyqtgraph.DockArea
+            logger.info(f"Attempted to remove dock_area, but was not floating.")
+            return
         self.dock_area.tempAreas.remove(area)
         area.window().close()
         area.window().deleteLater()
 
-    def clear_all(self):
-        """
-        Close all docks and remove all temp areas.
-        """
-        self.attach_all()
-        for dock in dict(self.dock_area.docks).values():
-            dock.remove()
-        self.dock_area.docks.clear()
-
     def cleanup(self):
         """
         Cleanup the dock area.
         """
-        self.clear_all()
+        self.delete_all()
         self.toolbar.close()
         self.toolbar.deleteLater()
         self.dock_area.close()
         self.dock_area.deleteLater()
         super().cleanup()
 
-    def closeEvent(self, event):
-        if self.parent() is None:
-            # we are at top-level (independent window)
-            if self.isVisible():
-                # we are visible => user clicked on [X]
-                # (when closeEvent is called from shutdown procedure,
-                # everything is hidden first)
-                # so, let's ignore "close", and do hide instead
-                event.ignore()
-                self.setVisible(False)
-
-    def close(self):
-        """
-        Close the dock area and cleanup.
-        Has to be implemented to overwrite pyqtgraph event accept in Container close.
-        """
-        self.cleanup()
-        super().close()
-
     def show(self):
         """Show all windows including floating docks."""
         super().show()
@@ -465,17 +442,52 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
                 continue
             docks.window().hide()
 
-    def delete(self):
+    def delete_all(self) -> None:
-        self.hide()
+        """
-        self.deleteLater()
+        Delete all docks.
+        """
+        self.attach_all()
+        for dock_name in self.panels.keys():
+            self.delete(dock_name)
+
+    def delete(self, dock_name: str):
+        """
+        Delete a dock by name.
+
+        Args:
+            dock_name(str): The name of the dock to delete.
+        """
+        dock = self.dock_area.docks.pop(dock_name, None)
+        self.config.docks.pop(dock_name, None)
+        if dock:
+            dock.close()
+            dock.deleteLater()
+            if len(self.dock_area.docks) <= 1:
+                for dock in self.dock_area.docks.values():
+                    dock.hide_title_bar()
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(f"Dock with name {dock_name} does not exist.")
+        self._broadcast_update()
+
+    def remove(self) -> None:
+        """Remove the dock area."""
+        self.close()
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
 
+    import sys
+
     from bec_widgets.utils.colors import set_theme
 
     app = QApplication([])
     set_theme("auto")
     dock_area = BECDockArea()
+    dock_1 = dock_area.new(name="dock_0", widget="Waveform")
+    # dock_1 = dock_area.new(name="dock_0", widget="Waveform")
+    dock_area.new(widget="Waveform")
     dock_area.show()
+    dock_area.setGeometry(100, 100, 800, 600)
+    app.topLevelWidgets()
     app.exec_()
+    sys.exit(app.exec_())