Powertoys: Full window manager, including layouts

[Jaykul]

I really want a full window manager with pre-set layouts ... particularly if it can preserve icon layouts when switching to primary desktops with different resolution.

Right now I'm using a combination of NirSoft and Stardock tools like MultiMonitorTool and SoundVolumeView and Fences but setting them up is complicated and I have to save config files for each one, and then call them in a script...

I would love a window manager that allowed me to not only remember desktop screens and apps automatically when an external monitor is connected, but could remember specific monitors and support custom configuration for them.

For bonus points:

1. Black-list certain apps from ever being put on certain screens (e.g. make sure I never put KeePass on a projector)
2. Switch audio to the external audio when projecting ... that is, include setting where audio is going (and coming from) based on the options available and/or named configs
3. Be able to switch in and out of projection mode (turning off external projector) without disconnecting the external projector
4. Be able to disable the event for connecting external monitors (I have a TV connected that makes all my other monitors blink whenever the TV is turned on, even though it's disabled for output).

[jcotton42]

It'd be a bit of a stretch but something like i3wm would be neat

[zbrozek]

I came here to say, "i3 for Windows!" and was very pleased to find I had been beaten to it.

[mattferderer]

If I could add on to this, I would ask that it also remembers across virtual desktops. I often open up a virtual desktop for each project I'm currently working on & setup specific layouts per desktop.

[vexvoltage]

Just another solution out is: AquaSnap

I want this so badly especially as a feature I could potentially deploy throughout a company.

[W4RH4WK]

On Linux, I commonly used i3, but it always had a view quirks simply because some applications don't play nice with tiling window managers.

For Windows I currently use GridMove with a custom grid that lets me quickly reorganize windows on my ultrawide screen using the num-pad. See this video for a short demonstration.

[WorldMaker]

On Linux I used xmonad a bunch.

On Windows I feel like maximized and semi-maximized states are nearly perfect, but would love more tiling window manager options/approaches/support such as defaulting new windows (when possible) to those states. I feel like I get really close with Tablet Mode (I leave it on almost all the time on one machine), but of course it pains me that I can't turn on Tablet Mode as soon as another monitor is attached.

[CSaratakij]

Please microsoft, something like i3
If you don't bother with it, give us API.
WM api and publlic all of the Virtual Desktop API.
.
Right now, the virtual desktop api is not useful.
For example, I can't list all virtual desktop or create a new virtual desktop programmatically. (hidden api?)
.
There is tilling wm in Windows like AquaSnap.
But it use mouse heavily.
Something like fully keyboard driven would be awesome.
.
Target visible windows from mouse is easy, filter visible windows without user selecting something kinda challenge....
.
Not only that, DWM (windows compositor) in Windows add an extra gap between window.
Attempt to tiles window with its own size require a hacks (subtract gap value with window size)
.
I kinda make wm with win32 api, i3wm inspired but right now is feels like bspwm.
MyWinTiles,
Also have its own bar MyWinBar
.
For tiling, I just call win32 api tiles functional :(
(which will have a gaps when tiles)
For virtual desktop, I just track HWND and minimize, restore.
.
But the point is, It's a full keyboard driven (hooray~).
There is a problem with UWP apps I haven't fixed yet..
And not support multi monitor at the moment.
.
Try this out, might convince you guys to implement a full window manager with layouts and full keyboard driven wm. :)

[jimpriest]

+1 followed by infinite zeros for a 'real' tiling window manager like i3wm.

bug.n is hacky AutoHotKey script and is amazing for what it is but if this sort of functionality were native to Windows it would be awesome.

[n8felton]

Coming from the macOS side of the house, I would love features that are in https://magnet.crowdcafe.com. Primarily, I'd be looking for things like splitting the layouts into thirds with the ability to use 1/3 and/or 2/3 of the screen. Additionally, keyboard shortcuts to snap to these layouts should be considered.

[jaimecbernardo]

Hi, thank you for the suggestion. This issues looks like it's about enhancement requests for the "Full window manager including specific layouts for docking and undocking laptops", which first issue is https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/4 .

[jaimecbernardo]

An issue specific for a tiling Window Manager was created in https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/37
Discussion about this specific form of window management should be had there.

[enricogior]

Closing this in favor of https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/4