A Mac window setup for developers
Editor, terminal, browser, docs, chat. A window layout for coding on a Mac that keeps the loop of write, run and check one keystroke apart.
Coding is a loop: write in the editor, run in the terminal, check in the browser, look something up, answer a message, back to the editor. Every hunt for a window breaks the loop.
A layout that matches the loop
- Editor two thirds wide, in the middle of your attention.
- Terminal stacked under or beside it.
- Browser for the thing you are building, right of the editor.
- Docs and chat further along the row, out of sight until needed.
Building it with ClutterFreeMac
⌃⌥Rsets the editor to two thirds.⌃⌥]stacks the terminal into the column on its left, sharing the height.⌃⌥⇧and an arrow moves a window along the row until the order feels right.- Save it as a layout in Settings and bring it back any day, opening missing apps on the way.
Keys that fit a coder's hands
Every action can have more than one shortcut, and H J K L work alongside the arrows for moving focus. Rebind anything in Settings, Shortcuts; there is no config file to keep in sync.
More in editor and browser side by side and vim keys for windows.
Questions
What is the best window manager for programmers on Mac?
One that is keyboard first and never makes you stop to arrange windows. Tiling and scrolling managers both fit; a scrolling one keeps every window at a usable width.
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