feat(dashboard-v2): hide dashboard chrome in full screen

Show only the sections and panels in full screen — the header and toolbar
(actions, variables bar, time selector) are hidden for a clean presentation
view; exit with Esc. Also drops a stray blank line that failed the format check.

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardPageToolbar/DashboardActions/DashboardActions.module.scss

@@ -5,3 +5,9 @@
 	justify-content: flex-end;
 	gap: 12px;
 }
+
+/* Actions / Configure / Edit-as-JSON: a flat l3 outline — no depth/shadow. */
+.toolbarButton {
+	border: 1px solid var(--l3-border) !important;
+	box-shadow: none !important;
+}

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardPageToolbar/DashboardActions/DashboardActions.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useCallback, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 import { FullScreenHandle } from 'react-full-screen';
 import { generatePath } from 'react-router-dom';
 import {
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ function DashboardActions({
 	onOpenRename,
 }: DashboardActionsProps): JSX.Element {
 	const canEdit = useDashboardStore((s) => s.isEditable);
+	const settingsRequest = useDashboardStore((s) => s.settingsRequest);
+	const clearSettingsRequest = useDashboardStore((s) => s.clearSettingsRequest);
 	const { user } = useAppContext();
 	const { safeNavigate } = useSafeNavigate();
 	const { showErrorModal } = useErrorModal();
@@ -72,6 +74,14 @@ function DashboardActions({
 	const [isDeleteOpen, setIsDeleteOpen] = useState<boolean>(false);
 	const deleteDashboardMutation = useDeleteDashboard(dashboard.id);
 
+	// Open the settings drawer when something in the tree requests it (e.g. the
+	// variables bar's "Add variable" button).
+	useEffect(() => {
+		if (settingsRequest) {
+			setIsSettingsDrawerOpen(true);
+		}
+	}, [settingsRequest]);
+
 	const { addSection, isSaving: isAddingSection } = useAddSection({
 		layouts: dashboard.spec.layouts,
 	});
@@ -201,6 +211,7 @@ function DashboardActions({
 					variant="solid"
 					color="secondary"
 					size="md"
+					className={styles.toolbarButton}
 					prefix={<Grid3X3 size="md" />}
 					testId="options"
 				>
@@ -212,6 +223,7 @@ function DashboardActions({
 					<Button
 						variant="solid"
 						color="secondary"
+						className={styles.toolbarButton}
 						prefix={<Configure size="md" />}
 						testId="show-drawer"
 						onClick={(): void => setIsSettingsDrawerOpen(true)}
@@ -222,7 +234,11 @@ function DashboardActions({
 					<SettingsDrawer
 						drawerTitle="Dashboard Configuration"
 						isOpen={isSettingsDrawerOpen}
-						onClose={(): void => setIsSettingsDrawerOpen(false)}
+						destroyOnClose
+						onClose={(): void => {
+							setIsSettingsDrawerOpen(false);
+							clearSettingsRequest();
+						}}
 					>
 						<DashboardSettings dashboard={dashboard} />
 					</SettingsDrawer>
@@ -231,6 +247,7 @@ function DashboardActions({
 			<Button
 				variant="solid"
 				color="secondary"
+				className={styles.toolbarButton}
 				prefix={<Braces size="md" />}
 				testId="edit-json"
 				onClick={(): void => setIsJsonEditorOpen(true)}

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardPageToolbar/SettingsDrawer/index.tsx

@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ type SettingsDrawerProps = PropsWithChildren<{
 	drawerTitle: string;
 	isOpen: boolean;
 	onClose: () => void;
+	/** Unmount the content on close so it re-initializes on the next open. */
+	destroyOnClose?: boolean;
 }>;
 
 function SettingsDrawer({
@@ -15,6 +17,7 @@ function SettingsDrawer({
 	drawerTitle,
 	isOpen,
 	onClose,
+	destroyOnClose = false,
 }: SettingsDrawerProps): JSX.Element {
 	return (
 		<Drawer
@@ -23,6 +26,7 @@ function SettingsDrawer({
 			width="50%"
 			onClose={onClose}
 			open={isOpen}
+			destroyOnClose={destroyOnClose}
 			rootClassName={styles.settingsContainerRoot}
 		>
 			{/* Need to type cast because of OverlayScrollbar type definition. We should be good once we remove it. */}

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardSettings/Variables/VariableForm/DynamicVariableFields.tsx

@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ function DynamicVariableFields({
 	attributeError,
 }: DynamicVariableFieldsProps): JSX.Element {
 	const [search, setSearch] = useState('');
-	const debouncedSearch = useDebounce(search, 300);
+	const debouncedSearch = useDebounce(search, 500);
 	const apiSignal = signalForApi(signal);
 
 	const {
@@ -82,38 +82,14 @@ function DynamicVariableFields({
 
 	return (
 		<>
-			<div className={cx(styles.row, styles.sortSection)}>
-				<div className={cx(styles.labelContainer, styles.sourceLabel)}>
-					<Typography.Text className={styles.label}>Source</Typography.Text>
-					<TextToolTip
-						text="By default, this searches across logs, traces, and metrics, which can be slow. Selecting a single source improves performance. Many fields share the same values across different signals (for example, `k8s.pod.name` is identical in logs, traces and metrics) making one source enough. Only use `All telemetry` when you need fields that have different values in different signal types."
-						useFilledIcon={false}
-						outlinedIcon={<Info size={14} />}
-					/>
-				</div>
-				<Select
-					className={styles.sortSelect}
-					popupMatchSelectWidth={false}
-					value={signal}
-					options={DYNAMIC_SIGNALS.map((s) => ({
-						label: DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_LABEL[s],
-						value: s,
-					}))}
-					onChange={(value): void =>
-						onChange({ dynamicSignal: value as DynamicSignalOption })
-					}
-					data-testid="variable-signal-select"
-				/>
-			</div>
-			<div className={cx(styles.row, styles.sortSection)}>
-				<div className={styles.labelContainer}>
-					<Typography.Text className={styles.label}>Attribute</Typography.Text>
-				</div>
+			{/* Combined row retained from V1: the field on the left, `from` + the
+			    telemetry source on the right. */}
+			<div className={cx(styles.row, styles.dynamicCombinedRow)}>
 				<CustomSelect
-					className={styles.searchSelect}
+					className={styles.dynamicFieldSelect}
 					showSearch
 					value={attribute || undefined}
-					placeholder="Select a telemetry field"
+					placeholder="Select a field"
 					loading={isLoading}
 					options={options}
 					onSearch={setSearch}
@@ -126,6 +102,25 @@ function DynamicVariableFields({
 					showRetryButton={error ? isRetryableError(error) : true}
 					data-testid="variable-field-select"
 				/>
+				<Typography.Text className={styles.fromText}>from</Typography.Text>
+				<TextToolTip
+					text="By default, this searches across logs, traces, and metrics, which can be slow. Selecting a single source improves performance. Many fields share the same values across different signals (for example, `k8s.pod.name` is identical in logs, traces and metrics) making one source enough. Only use `All telemetry` when you need fields that have different values in different signal types."
+					useFilledIcon={false}
+					outlinedIcon={<Info size={14} />}
+				/>
+				<Select
+					className={styles.dynamicSourceSelect}
+					popupMatchSelectWidth={false}
+					value={signal}
+					options={DYNAMIC_SIGNALS.map((s) => ({
+						label: DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_LABEL[s],
+						value: s,
+					}))}
+					onChange={(value): void =>
+						onChange({ dynamicSignal: value as DynamicSignalOption })
+					}
+					data-testid="variable-signal-select"
+				/>
 			</div>
 			{attributeError ? (
 				<Typography.Text className={styles.errorText}>

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardSettings/Variables/VariableForm/VariableForm.module.scss

@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
 	align-items: center;
 	gap: 6px;
 	min-height: 24px;
-	padding: 6px 14px;
+	padding: 4px 16px !important;
 	white-space: nowrap;
 	border-radius: 0;
 	color: var(--l2-foreground);
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@
 
 .betaTag {
 	margin-left: 4px;
+	vertical-align: middle;
 }
 
 /* Query */
@@ -264,6 +265,7 @@
 	flex-flow: wrap;
 	gap: 8px;
 	padding: 4.5px 11px;
+	max-height: 120px;
 	overflow-y: auto;
 }
 
@@ -329,15 +331,41 @@
 /* All variable selects (Source / Attribute / Sort / Default Value) share width
    and a consistent --l2-border outline. */
 .sortSelect,
-.searchSelect {
-	width: 240px;
-	flex-shrink: 0;
-
+.searchSelect,
+.dynamicFieldSelect,
+.dynamicSourceSelect {
 	:global(.ant-select-selector) {
 		border-color: var(--l2-border) !important;
 	}
 }
 
+.sortSelect,
+.searchSelect {
+	width: 240px;
+	flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+/* Dynamic variable: field | "from" | info | source, retained from V1. */
+.dynamicCombinedRow {
+	display: grid;
+	grid-template-columns: 1fr auto 16px 180px;
+	gap: 12px;
+	align-items: center;
+}
+
+.dynamicFieldSelect,
+.dynamicSourceSelect {
+	width: 100%;
+	min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.fromText {
+	font-family: 'Space Mono';
+	font-size: 13px;
+	font-weight: var(--font-weight-medium);
+	white-space: nowrap;
+}
+
 .actionButtons {
 	width: 100%;
 	display: flex;

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardSettings/Variables/index.tsx

@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ interface VariablesSettingsProps {
 
 function VariablesSettings({ dashboard }: VariablesSettingsProps): JSX.Element {
 	const isEditable = useDashboardStore((s) => s.isEditable);
+	// The drawer destroys on close, so reading this once on mount is enough to
+	// open the add-form when deep-linked (e.g. the bar's "Add variable" button).
+	const openAddOnMount = useDashboardStore(
+		(s) => s.settingsRequest?.addVariable ?? false,
+	);
 	const { save, isSaving } = useSaveVariables();
 
 	const initialFormModels = useMemo(
@@ -38,7 +43,9 @@ function VariablesSettings({ dashboard }: VariablesSettingsProps): JSX.Element {
 		// eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
 	}, [dashboard.updatedAt]);
 
-	const [isEditing, setIsEditing] = useState<EditingState>(null);
+	const [isEditing, setIsEditing] = useState<EditingState>(
+		openAddOnMount && isEditable ? { type: 'new' } : null,
+	);
 	const [confirmDeleteIndex, setConfirmDeleteIndex] = useState<number | null>(
 		null,
 	);

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardSettings/index.tsx

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { useAppContext } from 'providers/App/App';
 import { useGetTenantLicense } from 'hooks/useGetTenantLicense';
 import { USER_ROLES } from 'types/roles';
 
+import { useDashboardStore } from '../store/useDashboardStore';
 import styles from './DashboardSettings.module.scss';
 
 interface DashboardSettingsProps {
@@ -38,6 +39,9 @@ const prefixIcons: Record<TabKeys, JSX.Element> = {
 function DashboardSettings({ dashboard }: DashboardSettingsProps): JSX.Element {
 	const { user } = useAppContext();
 	const { isCloudUser, isEnterpriseSelfHostedUser } = useGetTenantLicense();
+	// Opened once per drawer mount (the drawer destroys on close); a deep-link
+	// request lands us on the right tab.
+	const settingsRequest = useDashboardStore((s) => s.settingsRequest);
 
 	const enablePublicDashboard = isCloudUser || isEnterpriseSelfHostedUser;
 
@@ -69,7 +73,7 @@ function DashboardSettings({ dashboard }: DashboardSettingsProps): JSX.Element {
 	);
 
 	return (
-		<TabsRoot defaultValue={TabKeys.OVERVIEW}>
+		<TabsRoot defaultValue={settingsRequest?.tab ?? TabKeys.OVERVIEW}>
 			<TabsList variant="primary">
 				{Object.values(TabKeys).map((key) => (
 					<TabsTrigger value={key} key={key}>

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/PanelsAndSectionsLayout/DashboardEmptyState/DashboardEmptyState.module.scss

@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 
 	.welcome {
 		color: var(--l1-foreground);
-		font-family: Inter;
 		font-size: 16px;
 		font-weight: 500;
 		line-height: 24px;
@@ -34,52 +33,56 @@
 
 	.welcomeInfo {
 		color: var(--l3-foreground);
-		font-family: Inter;
 		font-size: 13px;
 		font-weight: 400;
 		line-height: 18px;
 	}
 }
 
-.addPanel {
+.steps {
+	display: flex;
+	flex-direction: column;
+	gap: 12px;
+}
+
+.step {
 	display: flex;
 	align-items: center;
 	justify-content: space-between;
 	gap: 16px;
 	padding: 16px;
-	border: 1px dashed var(--l1-border);
+	border: 1px dashed var(--l3-border);
 	border-radius: 6px;
 }
 
-.addPanelText {
+.stepText {
 	display: flex;
 	align-items: flex-start;
 	gap: 10px;
 
-	.icon {
+	.stepIcon {
 		height: 14px;
 		width: 14px;
 		margin-top: 2px;
+		flex: none;
 	}
 }
 
-.addPanelCopy {
+.stepCopy {
 	display: flex;
 	flex-direction: column;
 	gap: 2px;
 }
 
-.addPanelTitle {
+.stepTitle {
 	color: var(--l1-foreground);
-	font-family: Inter;
 	font-size: 14px;
 	font-weight: 500;
 	line-height: 20px;
 }
 
-.addPanelInfo {
+.stepInfo {
 	color: var(--l3-foreground);
-	font-family: Inter;
 	font-size: 13px;
 	font-weight: 400;
 	line-height: 18px;

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/PanelsAndSectionsLayout/DashboardEmptyState/DashboardEmptyState.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Plus } from '@signozhq/icons';
+import { Configure, Plus } from '@signozhq/icons';
 import { Button } from '@signozhq/ui/button';
 import { Typography } from '@signozhq/ui/typography';
 
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import dashboardEmojiUrl from '@/assets/Icons/dashboard_emoji.svg';
 import landscapeUrl from '@/assets/Icons/landscape.svg';
 
 import { useCreatePanel } from '../../hooks/useCreatePanel';
+import { useDashboardStore } from '../../store/useDashboardStore';
 import PanelTypeSelectionModal from '../Panel/PanelTypeSelectionModal/PanelTypeSelectionModal';
 import styles from './DashboardEmptyState.module.scss';
 
@@ -18,6 +19,8 @@ function DashboardEmptyState({
 }: DashboardEmptyStateProps): JSX.Element {
 	const { isPickerOpen, openPicker, closePicker, createPanel } =
 		useCreatePanel();
+	const isEditable = useDashboardStore((s) => s.isEditable);
+	const requestSettings = useDashboardStore((s) => s.requestSettings);
 
 	return (
 		<section className={styles.emptyState}>
@@ -32,28 +35,55 @@ function DashboardEmptyState({
 					</Typography.Text>
 				</div>
 
-				<div className={styles.addPanel}>
-					<div className={styles.addPanelText}>
-						<img src={landscapeUrl} alt="" className={styles.icon} />
-						<div className={styles.addPanelCopy}>
-							<Typography.Text className={styles.addPanelTitle}>
-								Add panels
-							</Typography.Text>
-							<Typography.Text className={styles.addPanelInfo}>
-								Add panels to visualize your data
-							</Typography.Text>
+				<div className={styles.steps}>
+					<div className={styles.step}>
+						<div className={styles.stepText}>
+							<Configure size={14} className={styles.stepIcon} />
+							<div className={styles.stepCopy}>
+								<Typography.Text className={styles.stepTitle}>
+									Configure your new dashboard
+								</Typography.Text>
+								<Typography.Text className={styles.stepInfo}>
+									Give it a name, add description, tags and variables
+								</Typography.Text>
+							</div>
 						</div>
+						{isEditable && (
+							<Button
+								variant="solid"
+								color="secondary"
+								prefix={<Configure size="md" />}
+								onClick={(): void => requestSettings({ tab: 'Overview' })}
+								testId="empty-configure"
+							>
+								Configure
+							</Button>
+						)}
+					</div>
+
+					<div className={styles.step}>
+						<div className={styles.stepText}>
+							<img src={landscapeUrl} alt="" className={styles.stepIcon} />
+							<div className={styles.stepCopy}>
+								<Typography.Text className={styles.stepTitle}>
+									Add panels
+								</Typography.Text>
+								<Typography.Text className={styles.stepInfo}>
+									Add panels to visualize your data
+								</Typography.Text>
+							</div>
+						</div>
+						{canAddPanel && (
+							<Button
+								color="primary"
+								prefix={<Plus size="md" />}
+								onClick={(): void => openPicker()}
+								testId="add-panel"
+							>
+								New Panel
+							</Button>
+						)}
 					</div>
-					{canAddPanel && (
-						<Button
-							color="primary"
-							prefix={<Plus size="md" />}
-							onClick={(): void => openPicker()}
-							testId="add-panel"
-						>
-							New Panel
-						</Button>
-					)}
 				</div>
 			</div>
 			<PanelTypeSelectionModal

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/VariablesBar/VariablesBar.module.scss

@@ -1,7 +1,17 @@
+// Block (not flex) so the strip wraps around the floated time selector: one line
+// beside it when collapsed, and — via `.stripExpanded`'s `clear: both` — dropping
+// full-width below it when expanded. A flex `.bar` would be a BFC that sits beside
+// the float and makes the child strip's `clear` inert.
 .bar {
 	min-width: 0;
 }
 
+.addVariable {
+	flex: none;
+	border-style: dashed !important;
+	border-color: var(--l3-border) !important;
+}
+
 .strip {
 	display: flow-root;
 }
@@ -15,7 +25,8 @@
 	clear: both;
 
 	.variableSlot,
-	.moreButton {
+	.moreButton,
+	.addSlot {
 		margin: 0;
 	}
 
@@ -48,6 +59,12 @@
 }
 
 .moreButton {
+	display: inline-flex;
+	margin-right: 8px;
+	vertical-align: top;
+}
+
+.addSlot {
 	display: inline-flex;
 	vertical-align: top;
 }

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/VariablesBar/VariablesBar.tsx

@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import { useState } from 'react';
-import { ChevronLeft } from '@signozhq/icons';
+import { ChevronLeft, Plus } from '@signozhq/icons';
 import { Button } from '@signozhq/ui/button';
 import { TooltipSimple } from '@signozhq/ui/tooltip';
 import cx from 'classnames';
 import type { DashboardtypesGettableDashboardV2DTO } from 'api/generated/services/sigNoz.schemas';
 import { useInlineOverflowCount } from 'hooks/useInlineOverflowCount';
 
+import { useDashboardStore } from '../store/useDashboardStore';
 import type { VariableSelection } from './selectionTypes';
 import { useVariableSelection } from './useVariableSelection';
 import VariableSelector from './VariableSelector';
@@ -44,18 +45,59 @@ interface VariablesBarProps {
 function VariablesBar({ dashboard }: VariablesBarProps): JSX.Element | null {
 	const { variables, selection, setSelection, autoSelect } =
 		useVariableSelection(dashboard);
+	const isEditable = useDashboardStore((s) => s.isEditable);
+	const requestSettings = useDashboardStore((s) => s.requestSettings);
 	const [expanded, setExpanded] = useState(false);
 	const { containerRef, visibleCount, overflowCount } = useInlineOverflowCount({
 		itemCount: variables.length,
 		gap: 8,
-		reserveWidth: 48,
+		// Reserve the trailing line space: the "+N" trigger, plus the always-present
+		// add-variable "+" when editable, so the collapse math accounts for both.
+		reserveWidth: isEditable ? 88 : 48,
 		enabled: !expanded,
 	});
 
-	if (variables.length === 0) {
+	// Editors can add a variable even before any exist; viewers with no variables
+	// have nothing to show.
+	if (variables.length === 0 && !isEditable) {
 		return null;
 	}
 
+	const openAddVariable = (): void =>
+		requestSettings({ tab: 'Variables', addVariable: true });
+
+	// No variables yet: a full-width labelled button. Once variables exist it
+	// shrinks to a `+` icon (with the label on hover) that sits after them.
+	const addVariableFull = (
+		<Button
+			variant="outlined"
+			color="secondary"
+			size="md"
+			className={styles.addVariable}
+			prefix={<Plus size={14} />}
+			testId="dashboard-variables-add"
+			onClick={openAddVariable}
+		>
+			Add variable
+		</Button>
+	);
+
+	const addVariableIcon = (
+		<TooltipSimple side="top" title="Add variable">
+			<Button
+				variant="outlined"
+				color="secondary"
+				size="icon"
+				className={styles.addVariable}
+				aria-label="Add variable"
+				testId="dashboard-variables-add"
+				onClick={openAddVariable}
+			>
+				<Plus size={14} />
+			</Button>
+		</TooltipSimple>
+	);
+
 	const hasOverflow = overflowCount > 0;
 	const hiddenVariables =
 		!expanded && hasOverflow ? variables.slice(visibleCount) : [];
@@ -74,6 +116,14 @@ function VariablesBar({ dashboard }: VariablesBarProps): JSX.Element | null {
 		</Button>
 	);
 
+	if (variables.length === 0) {
+		return (
+			<div className={styles.bar} data-testid="dashboard-variables-bar">
+				{addVariableFull}
+			</div>
+		);
+	}
+
 	return (
 		<div className={styles.bar} data-testid="dashboard-variables-bar">
 			<div
@@ -128,6 +178,11 @@ function VariablesBar({ dashboard }: VariablesBarProps): JSX.Element | null {
 						)}
 					</span>
 				)}
+
+				{/* After the more/less trigger, in every state. Kept inline (not block)
+				    so the row still flows under the floated time selector, and always
+				    mounted so measuring never toggles it. */}
+				{isEditable && <span className={styles.addSlot}>{addVariableIcon}</span>}
 			</div>
 		</div>
 	);

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/hooks/useIsPanelWaitingOnVariable.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { isResolved } from '../VariablesBar/selectionUtils';
+import { selectVariableValues } from '../store/slices/variableSelectionSlice';
+import { useDashboardStore } from '../store/useDashboardStore';
+
+/**
+ * True while a panel should stay in its loading state because a variable it
+ * references is still loading/waiting and has no usable value yet — i.e. the
+ * first load. Once the variable has a value, a later change no longer blocks the
+ * panel (it refetches over stale data instead). V1 parity with
+ * `useIsPanelWaitingOnVariable`.
+ */
+export function useIsPanelWaitingOnVariable(names: string[]): boolean {
+	const dashboardId = useDashboardStore((s) => s.dashboardId);
+	const states = useDashboardStore((s) => s.variableFetchStates);
+	const selection = useDashboardStore(selectVariableValues(dashboardId));
+
+	return names.some((name) => {
+		const state = states[name];
+		const inFlight =
+			state === 'loading' || state === 'revalidating' || state === 'waiting';
+		return isResolved(selection[name]) ? false : inFlight;
+	});
+}

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/hooks/usePanelQuery.ts

@@ -15,12 +15,14 @@ import {
 } from '../queryV5/buildQueryRangeRequest';
 import type { PanelPagination, PanelQueryData } from '../queryV5/types';
 import { getRawResults } from '../queryV5/v5ResponseData';
+import { getReferencedVariables } from '../queryV5/getReferencedVariables';
 import { getBuilderQueries } from '../Panels/utils/getBuilderQueries';
 import { PANEL_KIND_TO_PANEL_TYPE } from '../Panels/types/panelKind';
 import { selectResolvedVariables } from '../store/slices/variableSelectionSlice';
 import { useDashboardStore } from '../store/useDashboardStore';
 import { resolvePanelTimeWindow } from './resolvePanelTimeWindow';
 import { useGetQueryRangeV5 } from './useGetQueryRangeV5';
+import { useIsPanelWaitingOnVariable } from './useIsPanelWaitingOnVariable';
 
 // V1 parity: PER_PAGE_OPTIONS + default page size from V1's list views.
 const LIST_PAGE_SIZE_OPTIONS = [10, 25, 50, 100, 200];
@@ -111,9 +113,34 @@ export function usePanelQuery({
 	} = useSelector<AppState, GlobalReducer>((state) => state.globalTime);
 
 	// Resolved variable values for this dashboard, published by useResolvedVariables.
-	// Substituted into the request and keyed into the cache so a selection change refetches.
+	// The full set is substituted into every request, but only the values this panel
+	// *references* key the cache — so a variable change refetches only the panels that
+	// use it (V1 parity). Names come from the fetch context (all variables, even
+	// unresolved ones); null before the variable bar initializes it.
 	const dashboardId = useDashboardStore((s) => s.dashboardId);
 	const variables = useDashboardStore(selectResolvedVariables(dashboardId));
+	const fetchContext = useDashboardStore((s) => s.variableFetchContext);
+
+	const referencedVariableNames = useMemo(() => {
+		const allNames = fetchContext ? Object.keys(fetchContext.variableTypes) : [];
+		return getReferencedVariables(queries, allNames);
+	}, [queries, fetchContext]);
+
+	const scopedVariables = useMemo(() => {
+		const scoped: typeof variables = {};
+		referencedVariableNames.forEach((name) => {
+			if (variables[name] !== undefined) {
+				scoped[name] = variables[name];
+			}
+		});
+		return scoped;
+	}, [variables, referencedVariableNames]);
+
+	// First-load gate: hold the panel in its loading state until every referenced
+	// variable has resolved a value.
+	const isWaitingOnVariable = useIsPanelWaitingOnVariable(
+		referencedVariableNames,
+	);
 
 	// `visualization` exists only on variants that declare it — read via `in` narrowing over the
 	// generated union (no cast). `fillSpans` (TimeSeries/Bar only) → formatOptions.fillGaps.
@@ -188,8 +215,9 @@ export function usePanelQuery({
 			// Each page is its own cache entry (0/default for non-paged kinds).
 			offset,
 			pageSize,
-			// Variable selection changes the request, so it must re-key the cache (refetch).
-			variables,
+			// Only the variables this panel references re-key the cache, so an unrelated
+			// variable change doesn't refetch it.
+			scopedVariables,
 		],
 		[
 			panelId,
@@ -205,14 +233,14 @@ export function usePanelQuery({
 			queries,
 			offset,
 			pageSize,
-			variables,
+			scopedVariables,
 		],
 	);
 
 	const response = useGetQueryRangeV5({
 		requestPayload,
 		queryKey,
-		enabled: enabled && runnable,
+		enabled: enabled && runnable && !isWaitingOnVariable,
 		// Hold the current page while the next loads (offset re-keys) so the pager doesn't flash.
 		keepPreviousData: isPaginated,
 	});

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/hooks/useSyncVariablesForSuggestions.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+import { useEffect, useMemo } from 'react';
+import type { DashboardtypesGettableDashboardV2DTO } from 'api/generated/services/sigNoz.schemas';
+import { setDashboardVariablesStore } from 'providers/Dashboard/store/dashboardVariables/dashboardVariablesStore';
+import type {
+	IDashboardVariable,
+	TVariableQueryType,
+} from 'types/api/dashboard/getAll';
+
+import { dtoToFormModel } from '../DashboardSettings/Variables/variableAdapters';
+import {
+	DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL,
+	type VariableFormModel,
+	type VariableType,
+} from '../DashboardSettings/Variables/variableFormModel';
+
+const TYPE_TO_V1: Record<VariableType, TVariableQueryType> = {
+	QUERY: 'QUERY',
+	CUSTOM: 'CUSTOM',
+	TEXT: 'TEXTBOX',
+	DYNAMIC: 'DYNAMIC',
+};
+
+/** Minimal V1-shaped variable — only the fields the shared query builder reads. */
+function toV1Variable(model: VariableFormModel): IDashboardVariable {
+	return {
+		id: model.name,
+		name: model.name,
+		description: model.description,
+		type: TYPE_TO_V1[model.type],
+		queryValue: model.queryValue,
+		customValue: model.customValue,
+		textboxValue: model.textValue,
+		sort: 'DISABLED',
+		multiSelect: model.multiSelect,
+		showALLOption: model.showAllOption,
+		dynamicVariablesAttribute: model.dynamicAttribute,
+		dynamicVariablesSource:
+			model.dynamicSignal === DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL
+				? 'all sources'
+				: model.dynamicSignal,
+	};
+}
+
+/**
+ * Publishes the V2 dashboard's variables into the shared `dashboardVariablesStore`
+ * that the query builder's autocomplete (`QuerySearch`) reads, so `$variable`
+ * suggestions show up in the panel editor and the dashboards-page query builder.
+ * Suggestion-only — the runtime engine lives in the V2 store. Clears on unmount so
+ * the shared store doesn't leak into other pages.
+ */
+export function useSyncVariablesForSuggestions(
+	dashboard: DashboardtypesGettableDashboardV2DTO | undefined,
+): void {
+	const dashboardId = dashboard?.id ?? '';
+	const specVariables = dashboard?.spec?.variables;
+	const variables = useMemo(
+		() => (specVariables ?? []).map(dtoToFormModel),
+		[specVariables],
+	);
+
+	useEffect(() => {
+		if (!dashboardId) {
+			return undefined;
+		}
+		const record: Record<string, IDashboardVariable> = {};
+		variables.forEach((model) => {
+			if (model.name) {
+				record[model.name] = toV1Variable(model);
+			}
+		});
+		setDashboardVariablesStore({ dashboardId, variables: record });
+		return (): void =>
+			setDashboardVariablesStore({ dashboardId: '', variables: {} });
+	}, [dashboardId, variables]);
+}

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/index.tsx

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { useAppContext } from 'providers/App/App';
 import DashboardPageToolbar from './DashboardPageToolbar';
 import PanelsAndSectionsLayout from './PanelsAndSectionsLayout';
 import { useResolvedVariables } from './hooks/useResolvedVariables';
+import { useSyncVariablesForSuggestions } from './hooks/useSyncVariablesForSuggestions';
 import { useDashboardStore } from './store/useDashboardStore';
 import styles from './DashboardContainer.module.scss';
 import DashboardPageHeader from './components/DashboardPageHeader/DashboardPageHeader';
@@ -51,15 +52,25 @@ function DashboardContainer({
 	// the store, so each panel's query substitutes the bar's selected values.
 	useResolvedVariables(dashboard);
 
+	// Publish variables to the shared store so the query builder autocomplete
+	// suggests them ($variable) in the panel editor and dashboards-page builder.
+	useSyncVariablesForSuggestions(dashboard);
+
+	// In full screen show only the sections and panels — the header/toolbar chrome
+	// is hidden for a clean presentation view (exit with Esc).
 	return (
 		<FullScreen handle={fullScreenHandle}>
 			<div className={styles.container}>
-				<DashboardPageHeader title={name} image={image} />
-				<DashboardPageToolbar
-					dashboard={dashboard}
-					handle={fullScreenHandle}
-					refetch={refetch}
-				/>
+				{!fullScreenHandle.active && (
+					<>
+						<DashboardPageHeader title={name} image={image} />
+						<DashboardPageToolbar
+							dashboard={dashboard}
+							handle={fullScreenHandle}
+							refetch={refetch}
+						/>
+					</>
+				)}
 				<PanelsAndSectionsLayout layouts={spec.layouts} panels={spec.panels} />
 			</div>
 		</FullScreen>

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/queryV5/getReferencedVariables.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import type { DashboardtypesQueryDTO } from 'api/generated/services/sigNoz.schemas';
+import { textContainsVariableReference } from 'lib/dashboardVariables/variableReference';
+
+import { toQueryEnvelopes } from './buildQueryRangeRequest';
+
+// Envelope spec fields that can carry a variable reference: a builder query's
+// filter expression, or a PromQL/ClickHouse query string.
+interface ReferenceableSpec {
+	query?: string;
+	filter?: { expression?: string };
+}
+
+/** Every text string in a panel's queries that could reference a variable. */
+function extractQueryTexts(queries: DashboardtypesQueryDTO[]): string[] {
+	const texts: string[] = [];
+	toQueryEnvelopes(queries).forEach((envelope) => {
+		const spec = envelope.spec as ReferenceableSpec | undefined;
+		if (typeof spec?.query === 'string') {
+			texts.push(spec.query);
+		}
+		if (typeof spec?.filter?.expression === 'string') {
+			texts.push(spec.filter.expression);
+		}
+	});
+	return texts;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The subset of `variableNames` a panel's queries reference (`$name`, `{{.name}}`,
+ * `[[name]]`), so a variable change only refetches the panels that actually use it.
+ * Reuses the shared text-based reference detector over the panel's filter/query text.
+ */
+export function getReferencedVariables(
+	queries: DashboardtypesQueryDTO[],
+	variableNames: string[],
+): string[] {
+	if (queries.length === 0 || variableNames.length === 0) {
+		return [];
+	}
+	const texts = extractQueryTexts(queries);
+	if (texts.length === 0) {
+		return [];
+	}
+	return variableNames.filter((name) =>
+		texts.some((text) => textContainsVariableReference(text, name)),
+	);
+}

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/store/slices/settingsRequestSlice.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+import type { StateCreator } from 'zustand';
+
+import type { DashboardStore } from '../useDashboardStore';
+
+/** Which settings-drawer tab to open. Mirrors the DashboardSettings tab keys. */
+export type SettingsTab = 'Overview' | 'Variables' | 'Publish';
+
+export interface SettingsRequest {
+	tab: SettingsTab;
+	/** Open the add-variable form immediately (Variables tab only). */
+	addVariable?: boolean;
+}
+
+/**
+ * A transient request to open the settings drawer at a given tab/action, so a
+ * control anywhere in the tree (e.g. the "Add variable" button in the variables
+ * bar) can deep-link into the drawer without prop-threading. Not persisted;
+ * cleared when the drawer closes.
+ */
+export interface SettingsRequestSlice {
+	settingsRequest: SettingsRequest | null;
+	requestSettings: (request: SettingsRequest) => void;
+	clearSettingsRequest: () => void;
+}
+
+export const createSettingsRequestSlice: StateCreator<
+	DashboardStore,
+	[['zustand/persist', unknown]],
+	[],
+	SettingsRequestSlice
+> = (set) => ({
+	settingsRequest: null,
+	requestSettings: (settingsRequest): void => {
+		set({ settingsRequest });
+	},
+	clearSettingsRequest: (): void => {
+		set({ settingsRequest: null });
+	},
+});

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/store/useDashboardStore.ts

@@ -17,11 +17,16 @@ import {
 	createVariableFetchSlice,
 	type VariableFetchSlice,
 } from './slices/variableFetchSlice';
+import {
+	createSettingsRequestSlice,
+	type SettingsRequestSlice,
+} from './slices/settingsRequestSlice';
 
 export type DashboardStore = EditContextSlice &
 	CollapseSlice &
 	VariableSelectionSlice &
-	VariableFetchSlice;
+	VariableFetchSlice &
+	SettingsRequestSlice;
 
 /**
  * V2 dashboard session store. Holds cross-cutting client state only — never the
@@ -37,6 +42,7 @@ export const useDashboardStore = create<DashboardStore>()(
 			...createCollapseSlice(...a),
 			...createVariableSelectionSlice(...a),
 			...createVariableFetchSlice(...a),
+			...createSettingsRequestSlice(...a),
 		}),
 		{
 			name: '@signoz/dashboard-v2',

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/PanelEditorPage/PanelEditorPage.tsx

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {
 	parseNewPanelKind,
 	parseNewPanelLayoutIndex,
 } from '../DashboardContainer/PanelEditor/newPanelRoute';
+import { useSyncVariablesForSuggestions } from '../DashboardContainer/hooks/useSyncVariablesForSuggestions';
 import { createDefaultPanel } from '../DashboardContainer/patchOps';
 import styles from './PanelEditorPage.module.scss';
 
@@ -43,6 +44,9 @@ function PanelEditorPage(): JSX.Element {
 	const { dashboard, isLoading, isError, error } =
 		useDashboardFetch(dashboardId);
 
+	// Feed variables to the query builder autocomplete inside the editor.
+	useSyncVariablesForSuggestions(dashboard);
+
 	// A `panel/new?panelKind=…` route means "create": seed a default panel of that
 	// kind rather than looking one up. Persisted (with a real id) only on save.
 	const newKind = parseNewPanelKind(panelId, search);