browser.download.panel.shown doesn't work as expected
Expected behaviour of browser.download.panel.shown set to true in about:config: "When a download or multiple downloads are taking place, Firefox will not show the pop-out panel detailing the progress of each file transfer unless you proactively click on the Downloads button in the browser's toolbar. However, if you set the value of this preference to true that panel will automatically appear, overlaying a portion of your main browser window, as soon as a download begins."
Setting browser.download.panel.shown to true doesn't work as described. The download panel stays closed when the download begins. Setting browser.download.panel.shown to false automatically opens the download panel on the next download. But for all following downloads it will not open anymore. And oddly enough browser.download.panel.shown is automatically set to true after that.
Chosen solution
I think that this pref is meant to show new users how the download toolbar button works, so it is similar to other notification you get when you first perform a specific action. This button is hidden by default and only shows when you first download anything during the current session. In case users have never seen this drop down panel then they may not be aware that you can click this button to show that you have downloaded one or more files. Once you have seen this panel then it is no longer necessary to open this drop-down panel. So it isn't meant for the behavior that you are expecting, but merely as a way to make new users acquainted with Firefox like the "Help -> Firefox Tour"
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Chosen Solution
I think that this pref is meant to show new users how the download toolbar button works, so it is similar to other notification you get when you first perform a specific action. This button is hidden by default and only shows when you first download anything during the current session. In case users have never seen this drop down panel then they may not be aware that you can click this button to show that you have downloaded one or more files. Once you have seen this panel then it is no longer necessary to open this drop-down panel. So it isn't meant for the behavior that you are expecting, but merely as a way to make new users acquainted with Firefox like the "Help -> Firefox Tour"
Yeah, that sounds reasonable. Seems I have to write an AddOn to get the desired behaviour.
I think I just discovered a newly added feature just now!
When the Customize mode for the toolbars is used the Downloads button will appear to the right of the "flexible space" to the right of the Location bar (as it always has done); when you click on that toolbar button a "window" with a check-box will appear that says Auto-hide (that's new). Click on that check-box to remove the check-mark.
Works for me to have the Downloads button not use the "Auto-hide" feature.
Auto-hide is not a new feature and has been there in Firefox Quantum versions (57+). In the current Firefox release you can find this item in the right-click context menu (Auto-Hide in Toolbar) in normal mode and in customize mode, so no need to go to customize mode.