Skip to content

A Mac window setup for DevOps and on call

Terminals, dashboards, logs, the incident channel and runbooks. A layout for operations work that keeps the signal in view when something breaks.

Guide · Updated 13 October 2026

During an incident you need the dashboard, the logs and a terminal in view together, with the incident channel and runbook one step away.

Incident layout

ColumnWidthHolds
1HalfDashboard
2HalfTwo terminals stacked: logs above, shell below
3HalfIncident channel
4HalfRunbook

Tips

  • Use separate terminal windows rather than panes so any one can sit beside the dashboard; see terminal windows.
  • Stack the log tail and shell in one column with ⌃ ⌥ ] so they share its height.
  • Keep the incident layout saved, and open it with a clutterfreemac:// link from your paging tool or Raycast.

Day to day, use your normal development layout; switch to the incident one in a click when the pager goes off.

Questions

What is a good window layout for on call incidents?

The dashboard and logs side by side with a shell, and the incident channel and runbook one step away.