Window Manager similar to ion / helps arrange windows?

jago25_98 · Apprentice Joined: 23 Aug 2002 Posts: 180

I really don't like having to take my hand of the keyboard onto the mouse to rearrange 3 windows into one big and 2 smaller for example.

Perhaps there's a Window Manager out there that tries to address this problem?

I've tried to improve the proble by:

- using desktops (Alt+Ctrl left/right to cycle)
- F12 = maximise
- F11 = tile windows vertically

but it's still not ideal.

Anyone else find this a problem? I know the maker of http://modeemi.cs.tut.fi/~tuomov/ion/ (ion) does but it takes a lot of work to use / set up.

- Something that links windows on the current desktop so that no desktop background ever shows would be ideal. I don't like the idea of blank desktop unused.

ozonator · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 3:33 pm Post subject:

For avoiding wasted screen space and keyboard control, ratpoison might be exactly what you want; it does take a bit of getting used to, but the concept likely will appeal to you -- "All windows are maximized and kept maximized to take full advantage of your precious screen real estate" (note that the screen can also be 'framed', so you can have several open windows visible at once; all this can be done with the keyboard). Add that to the features inspired by gnu screen, and you have what inspired the article, the Antidesktop (worth reading for a full introduction).

Besides that, you might be satisfied by a 'minimalist' window manager that has good keyboard control. For example, evilwm. It's not as different from a typical window manager as ratpoison is, but still vigorously minimalist. Good, nearly complete keyboard control, including the ability to move and maximize windows (vertically or full screen), and to switch among virtual desktops; the mouse is still needed occasionally, however, for resizing windows precisely (something you imply you want to do from the keyboard). If ratpoison is a bit much for you, it might be a good thing to try.

Other window managers, which can be made visually minimal, can also have keyboard control, including for resizing and moving windows. (That way you can get keyboard control and still keep a little bit of eye candy.

) For example, in my ~/.fluxbox/keys file, I have:

jago25_98 · Apprentice Joined: 23 Aug 2002 Posts: 180

I'm currently using IceWM with those key configs I mentions in my 1st post.

I'll try Ratpoision and the others though, and found a seporate keyboard driven menu that looks interesting too.

Something that links windows together could be interesting too, especially if it maintains the link while resizing but I'm pretty sure there's nothing like that out there.

ozonator · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 4:07 pm Post subject:

jago25_98 · Apprentice Joined: 23 Aug 2002 Posts: 180

i think i mean contiguous but I'll find out when I try ratpoision.

in other words if you have 2 windows on screen and you enlarge one the other one shrinks and vice-versa.

SmackMyBishop · n00b Joined: 22 May 2003 Posts: 24

It sounds to me like Ion is exactly what you want. It's not too hard to use, either, just read the manpage.

taviso · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: contiguous i think