def create_plugin_layout(tools_layout, main_widget=None):
    """
    Returns a layout for a set of controls above a main widget. This is a
    standard layout for many plugin panes (even though, it's currently
    more often applied not to the pane itself but with in the one widget
    contained in the pane.

    tools_layout: a layout containing the top toolbar
    main_widget: the main widget. Can be None, if you want to add this
        manually later on.
    """
    layout = QVBoxLayout()
    layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
    spacing = calc_tools_spacing(tools_layout)
    if spacing is not None:
        layout.setSpacing(spacing)

    layout.addLayout(tools_layout)
    if main_widget is not None:
        layout.addWidget(main_widget)
    return layout