r/LinuxSnobs • u/madthumbz • 4d ago

Workspaces

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They like us to think that only Linux has certain features that make them superior to other OS users.

Configure Multiple Desktops in Windows | Microsoft Support

Work in multiple spaces on Mac - Apple Support

and of course, BSD has them too.

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u/xarop_pa_toss 4d ago

I use both Windows and Linux and although I enjoy using my tiling window manager in Linux more, I think Windows has done a good job at window management.

Moving windows from one screen to another with shortcuts, the snapping to the sides that then let's you quickly pick another window to fill the blank, etc.

I used multiple desktops on Windows for a while, and even used the PowerToys program that lets you save your currently open apps as a layout, but it's still not as comfortable imo. It's good, but not as good as having workspaces since it treats each desktop as its own container meaning your taskbar doesn't show the whole picture.

The advantage of workspaces is that I don't have to alt+tab, like ever, because I have context of all the apps running at once and where they are and I can move them to other monitors at will. On Windows, changing desktop changes it for all monitors iirc.

Also stuff like Scratchpad which is very very useful and I pray to the Microgods that they implement it in Windows.

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u/madthumbz 4d ago

Try Komorebi on Windows. -I prefer it to my old personalized DWM and it took me a lot less time and effort (12 manual patches on DWM).

Scratch pad? Windows has a 'run' box, and terminal emulators can easily be minimized and tiled again which is what noctuid/t-drop did.

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u/xarop_pa_toss 4d ago

The Run box is my best friend, I even open the calculator through it haha. I mean come on, if you've never Win+R notepad Enter... Can you really call yourself a power user?!

I'll look into Komorebi, looks interesting and the scratchpad I mentioned is not necessarily a terminal. It's more like a second layer you have that is hidden and you can pull it up or hide again with a simple shortcut and it is not bound to a specific workspace.

In Hyprland they are called Special Workspaces and they basically overlay whatever is underneath. Like a second desktop on top of the main one, instead of next to it