forum.freeciv.org

These may help, assuming you're using the Gtk client:

• In Game / Options / Local client / Interface, there's a choice of window layouts in "Messages and Chat reports location". The 'Split' layout allows you to see messages, chat, and map on screen at once, if your screen is big enough.
• If you double-click on the Messages tab header, it becomes a separate window.
• You can make individual message categories into popups on the Game / Options / Message dialog. (But that's a popup per message.)
• F9 switches to the messages window. Single-quote switches to the chat window.

Finally, I've been wondering where that went. In an earlier version (~10 years ago or so), the default setting was (apparently) "Seperate" without the "adjust widgets for small screens" option. Been trying to get my messages and chat to the bottom of the window for a few years now...