How can I view and edit modifier properties in the viewport in Blender 2.8?

Question

I've just recently started playing around with Blender 2.8 after years of modelling in different software packages. I've memorized the most used keyboard shortcuts and customized most of the stuff, so that I could work in a fullscreen mode in Blender all the time, but when I apply a modifier I always have to exit the full-screen mode and divert my attention to the properties panel on the right side of the screen which is really irritating and kinda takes me out of the super fast modelling flow.

So the question is, is it possible to view and edit your modifier properties in the viewport? I know that to apply modifiers you use object.modifier_add command and I've hotkeyed it, but I really want to have the ability to edit applied modifiers without switching from the full-screen mode. Is it possible to make the modifier properties appear in the viewport without heavy coding? Maybe there's just a code line like object.modifier_add that will allow me to do it?

Answer 1

Given Blender 2.8 is still in beta and undergoing changes the following will assist with your request but will need to be modified both initially and after updates that may affect the layout of the modifiers or the file locations/names.

After copying the additional code described in the script; run the script and when in the 3d viewport you can search for the operator "Modifier Settings".

It should allow full access to the modifiers.

import bpy
from bpy.types import Panel


class BasicSettings(bpy.types.Operator, Panel):
    """
    The basic modifiers settings
    """
    bl_idname = "view3d.basic_settings"
    bl_label = "Modifier Settings"

    @classmethod
    def poll(cls, context):
        ob = context.object
        return ob and ob.type != 'GPENCIL'

    def execute(self, context):
        """
        Show settings as popup dialog.
        """
        return context.window_manager.invoke_popup(self)
    # copy ~ 1600 lines from your blender installation
    # (\2.80\scripts\startup\bl_ui\properties_data_modifier.py)
    # class DATA_PT_modifiers(ModifierButtonsPanel, Panel):
    # starting at the draw definition as shown below
    # ending at the end of the class
    # replacing the draw definition here

    def draw(self, context):
        layout = self.layout

        ob = context.object

        layout.operator_menu_enum("object.modifier_add", "type")

        for md in ob.modifiers:
            box = layout.template_modifier(md)
            if box:
                # match enum type to our functions, avoids a lookup table.
                getattr(self, md.type)(box, ob, md)

    # the mt.type enum is (ab)used for a lookup on function names
    # ...to avoid lengthy if statements
    # so each type must have a function here.


classes = (BasicSettings, )


def register():
    for cls in classes:
        bpy.utils.register_class(cls)


def unregister():
    for cls in classes:
        bpy.utils.unregister_class(cls)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    register()

Answer 2

Hard ops modifier has this feature, called hops helper ctrl + ~:

The Speed Flow addon also has this feature:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoOZ-dn-si8

Unfortunately, it isn't updated for 2.8x yet. It takes some time to update addons for new version.