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[Feature Request/Roadmap Clarification]: Native Responsive Layout Engine (Flexbox/Auto-Layout) for Stable Releases #41978

Description

@FractalMind

Is there an existing issue for this?

  • I have searched the existing issues

Summary

Is there an existing issue for this?

  • I have searched the existing issues and couldn't find a conclusive roadmap timeline for stable installations.

Description

I am currently utilizing (Appsmith version 2.1, docker image: appsmith/appsmith-ee:v2.1 ) to build enterprise-facing internal applications. While the current absolute-positioning canvas works smoothly for static desktop setups, I noticed there is absolutely no mention of responsive design controls anywhere in the settings.

There are no configuration options for Flexbox, Grid systems, Auto-Layout, or mobile-stacking behaviors inside the canvas properties, page properties, or container settings. The canvas remains strictly fixed-width.

I have combed through open issues and consulted generative coding assistants, but haven't found a definitive conclusion regarding if or when a robust, native responsive layout engine will be finalized and rolled out out-of-the-box for stable releases.

Why should this be worked on?

Building business software in 2026 demands that a single internal tool be accessible by operators at their desktop desks and by supervisors/field agents on tablets or mobile viewports.

Currently, achieving responsiveness requires developers to maintain duplicate pages (one desktop, one mobile) or manually configure complex conditional widgets. This breaks the low-code promise of fast iteration and causes massive technical debt when updating business logic across duplicated interfaces.

Steps to Reproduce / What I See

  1. Spin up Appsmith v2.1 (Self-hosted or stable cloud build).
  2. Create a new page or drop a Container widget onto the canvas.
  3. Open the property settings pane for the Canvas, Container, or Page.
  4. Observation: There are absolutely no properties to define layout flows, constraints, column wraps, or viewport-specific element visibility. The UI behaves purely as an absolute grid.

Proposed Solution / Questions for Maintainers

  1. Roadmap Status: What is the official timeline or release plan for exposing a unified responsive layout engine (like the discussed Anvil architecture or Auto-Layout features) natively to all standard workspace installations?
  2. Current Workaround: If a layout engine is currently baked into version 2.1 as a beta feature flag, how can self-hosted administrators safely toggle it on to begin designing fluid container flows?

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