• From: California, USA
  • Registered: 2008-11-29
  • Posts: 8,647

Topic: manual tiling and dealing with multiple windows?

This question is directed to anyone using a manual tiling window manager (such as subtle, ratpoison, etc): How do you deal with having multiple windows on the same tag/workspace/desktop?

Do you keep them maximized? Do you constantly resize new windows? Or maybe only resize them sometimes? Do you avoid opening multiple windows in the first place?

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  • Unia
  • #! Die-hard
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  • From: The Netherlands
  • Registered: 2010-07-17
  • Posts: 2,304

Re: manual tiling and dealing with multiple windows?

I don't know if Compiz counts here, but its Grid plugin enables some manual tiling like Subtle has.

I have set up three so called 'viewport's, that are called views in Subtle. On viewport 1, I always have Firefox running fullscreen, and sometimes a terminal or editor on top. No manual tiling here.
On viewport two, I do all my other work; file management, editing files, chatting. On this desktop I use the manual tiling the most: I place the two chat windows in the 'upper corners' of the screen, and fill the lower half with whatever window I open. If this is one window, I let it fill up the lower half. If it's two windows, I place them in their 'corners' too. Here's a screenshot too illustrate:
http://ompldr.org/tOTYyaw

On the third view is whatever application doesn't fit on the second one. For example, I keep Rhythmbox and MS Word etc there.

Let's do it and don't screw it.
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  • Registered: 2008-11-24
  • Posts: 2,085

Re: manual tiling and dealing with multiple windows?

Hi mystery mod, I am using Ratpoison for the first time on my netbook. I keep the windows fullscreen and Alt-TAB between them... my tiny 9" screen is too small to sub-divide!

Occasionally if I need easy reference (for example having a web page open with instructions while I'm entering something in the terminal) then I do C-t s (or S) for a 50/50 split.

I'm also making heavy use of multiple workspaces switching with Ctrl+Alt+Left/Right arrow. Personally I prefer to have quick switching between multiple fullscreen apps than to have multiple tiny apps on a split screen.

Oh and I also make heavy use of the Expose feature (C-t e).

  • From: California, USA
  • Registered: 2008-11-29
  • Posts: 8,647

Re: manual tiling and dealing with multiple windows?

@snowpine - Just a lil OT question: Between having no built-in panel and using multiple workspaces, how do keep track of what windows you have open?

Note: ** Please read before posting **

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  • Registered: 2009-11-03
  • Posts: 2,003

Re: manual tiling and dealing with multiple windows?

If it's Ratpoison, my habits are basically the same as snowpine, though I usually have at least one workspace running Urxvt + Screen + Dvtm at all times for my curses stuff. 50/50 split most often for new browser windows and the like. Varies a bit depending on my monitor size, but that's the basic habit.

On Musca, I tend to manually resize and move em about quite often. Can't really explain why, but it just 'feels' better to do this in Musca than in other manual tilers. (at least it used to, I don't use Musca anymore).

If it's the netbook's 10" 1024x600 screen, I tend to run all windows maximized at all times on any tiling WM, auto or manual (maybe I'll have one workspace tiled to share space between a music player, IRC-client and IM-client but that's it) and either switch workspaces often or use Alt/Mod + Tab to switch between fullscreen windows. Only time I have more than 3 windows tiled on that small screen is when I'm taking a screenshot lol

Still prefer a sane auto-tiler, tbh.

Last edited by gutterslob (2011-06-21 19:13:36)

Point & Squirt
  • Registered: 2008-11-24
  • Posts: 2,085

Re: manual tiling and dealing with multiple windows?

I've gotten in the habit of organizing my workspaces from left to right by productivity: terminal in workspace 1, openoffice in 2, browser in 3, dwarf fortress in 4. As the afternoon drags on I find myself using Ctrl+Alt+Right more than Ctrl+Alt+Left. smile

I've also been enjoying Ratpoison's Expose feature. C-t e and it auto-tiles every window in the current workspace with a little number in the corner, then you press '3' (or whatever) and it fullscreens that window.

I've been experimenting with panel-less since #! 8.04 with its crappy panel (I forgot what it was called) so I've just gotten used to Alt-Tabbing until I get to the right window.

  • Registered: 2008-11-24
  • Posts: 2,085

Re: manual tiling and dealing with multiple windows?

ps I should mention that I use terminator's built in tiling rather than the window manager for making tiled consoles.

  • Registered: 2009-11-03
  • Posts: 2,003

Re: manual tiling and dealing with multiple windows?

anonymous wrote:

Just a lil OT question: Between having no built-in panel and using multiple workspaces, how do keep track of what windows you have open?

I just rely on memory. After a while, you sorta know what you'll open in what workspace and standardize habits across different tilers. Personally, I don't even look at the workspace or stacking indicator of my ScrotWM (my most used tiler) anymore. Mind and muscle-memory have sorta meshed. Heck, I wouldn't even need a panel if I didn't have a fetish for monitoring download speeds and temperatures. hmm


snowpine wrote:

ps I should mention that I use terminator's built in tiling rather than the window manager for making tiled consoles.

Hah!! .. Same thing I do with Screen and DVTM on my Ratpoison and Openbox setups. lol

Last edited by gutterslob (2011-06-21 18:57:29)

Point & Squirt
  • From: California, USA
  • Registered: 2008-11-29
  • Posts: 8,647

Re: manual tiling and dealing with multiple windows?

@snowpine - Do you use Terminator's tiling regardless of wm, or do you rely on it more specifically with manual tilers?

Note: ** Please read before posting **

BTW if you wish to contact me, send me an e-mail instead of a PM.
  • Registered: 2008-11-24
  • Posts: 2,085

Re: manual tiling and dealing with multiple windows?

anonymous wrote:

@snowpine - Do you use Terminator's tiling regardless of wm, or do you rely on it more specifically with manual tilers?

I've been doing it since before I even knew what a tiling wm was! My desktop monitor is 16x9 format, I hate the look of a fullscreen terminal at that aspect ratio (too wide) so I always split it into two side-by-side at the minimum. Even if I don't actually need the 2nd console I run htop or something for the visual effect. smile

I am only a few days old with Ratpoison so I don't want to come off as some kind of guru or anything... wink