Yabai: Deserialization Support / Defined Layouts

[Kryan90]

In chunkwm, I had serialized a few layouts and would de-serialize them with skhd.

Is a similar function supported in yabai?

If not, is there a standard way of achieving a desired layout?

This is an example of one of saved layouts:
Browser full length on the left, editor and terminal stacked on the right

[koekeishiya]

There is no layout serialization or deserialization system and I don't plan on implementing one. You could maybe do something using the signal system to automate your layout.

[Kryan90]

Ah, okay. I will read the signal docs and see if I can come up with a solution.

Thanks!

[dominiklohmann]

What's needed for both this and #184 is this:

• parent-window / child-windows attributes in window queries so the tree can be traversed in the correct order
• split-ratio attribute in window queries
• a command for setting the split-ratio directly, e.g. yabai -m window [<sel>] split_ratio <value>

Edit:

@Kryan90 If not, is there a standard way of achieving a desired layout?

Easiest is to just resize the windows using the cursor. The splits will be adjusted accordingly.

[koekeishiya]

I'm currently not interested in making the aforementioned changes.

[choco]

Hello, in the process of migrating from chunkwm I noticed that this feature is missing, any particular reason? I find it extremely useful in some situations.

Would this be something you'd like to get contributed?

[koekeishiya]

any particular reason?

I've opted not to implement it because the version in chunkwm feels like an incomplete solution as it is unable to track windows. I did experiment with that in chunkwm, but was not all that happy with that attempt, and I just haven't had the time to iterate on the problem yet.

I'm open to a contribution to such a system in general, but not if it is simply a copy of the existing version chunkwm had. I still think this can be solved in a much better way, given enough time spent.