Problem

Every time I put my cursor in code with an error, or even while i’m typing something that is as yet unfinished, I have a new buffer pop up “Flycheck Error Messages”, which then disappears again when I have finished typing. I can’t find a relevant setting. How do I stop this disruption, maybe only having error messages in the modeline?

Answer

The following variable controls whether the new buffers occupy a new window or, as I desired, can be just in the minibuffer.

(resize-mini-windows nil)

Other options are t and 'grow-only. I had been using 'grow-only and it was resulting in focus-grabbing windows coming and going.