Virtual desktop in macOS sucks.
You can't disable animations, it is slow and they rearrange themself in random way. I just hate it.
The bettertouchtool can do some wizardry: trigger snap areas, move/resize/snap windows, run scripts, automate almost anything with app windows. But I keep finding myself wanting something a step beyond—almost like a “scene-based” window manager. (think: you hit a shortcut, and all your coding tools instantly reflow left... Browser + docs right... Chat and notes top right... And you can save/recall these setups like scenes in a film studio.)
can we use BTT to achieve hyperland like workflow?
Something you save and recall complex window layouts as “scenes”
Group windows by project or focus and call them up with one action
Maybe even context switch automatically, based on active app or workspace
I know btt can move windows with actions and scripts. I’ve kludged together applescript/js combos to do basic layouting, but saving/restoring real “scenes” is a spaghetti mess.
Has anyone here gotten close? Tricks for reliably snapshotting/restoring window arrangements?
Is this possible inside BTT,?
Would love code snippets, plugin tips, or ideas—from “already done this” to “nope, here’s why it’s hard.”
If this is a pipe dream, tell me.
If it’s just unexplored territory... Maybe a few of us should pair up and try it.
Create shortcuts for saving and restoring layouts using whatever keys or gestures you fancy. Do one pair of those for each layout you intend to create.
Place and size your windows the way you want them for layout X.
Trigger the shortcut to save layout X.
Whenever you want layout X, trigger the shortcut to restore layout X.
I haven't done this in BTT myself (I use Moom for window layouts), but the above should do it.
I'm looking for a work where if I have opened an app, it it is taking the full area,, if I open a second app, it takes the half and the third app. It takes the one third of that area... like that
Also, I was wondering that can we use floating option that BetterTouchTool provide to mimic sketchy bar virtual desktop option in macOS is very slow. For some reason you can't disable the animations.
Both are too complex for me.
Can't I do this with BetterTouchTool?
I have limited number of apps that I use in my Mac.
For now, what I'm doing is, I am pre-assigned their positions,
I assign cmd+1 to this script
-- Launch Brave Browser
tell application "Brave Browser"
activate
end tell
-- Launch Arc
tell application "Arc"
activate
end tell
then cmd+2 to
-- Launch VSCode
tell application "vscode"
activate
end tell
This makes it faster to switch between the apps that I want, but the problem is, if I change the position of a brave or arc, then when I press that command+1, it will open in the same position, I was wondering if there is a way to you set those position. Whenever I press that command, it will open those apps always in that position. This is one thing....
Other thing is, I want a shortcut to rearrange the windows, in an order that I want if I have open three apps, press command shortcut, and those three windows are arranged horizontally next to each other or one app taking the half space, other two taking quarter parts
It depends that what kind of works I think it's very much possible, but I'm not very competent enough, so need help from you, people... please guide
@sid11 what you're trying to accomplish sounds a lot like what this person implemented in BTT:
In the video, they show how they setup some Actions to open and move specific app windows to predefined areas. Their BTT Actions are triggered using a Magic Trackpad, but you can configure it to be triggered using a Keyboard Shortcut.
You can use BTT layouts for that. Or Moom layouts. Arrange the windows the way you want them, create and save the layouts, and then assign hotkeys (or gestures) to them. You can also fire them automatically when a specific app is launched. And if you want to get complicated, that action can check which other apps are already running and where their windows are.
I am struggling with saving layouts for certain apps, would stick to BTT.
can anyone guide on how to save layouts in BTT?
so, it opens in the same way when ever I prompt?
Is it possible to keep this in the top like where the notches just next to the, when I do this, it doesn't stick there. Also, I am thinking that is there a way to you know find out which one of these three is active, so like if I press something, change the colour...
Basically, my goal is to create something that you see in the first picture.
If I understand your question and goal correctly, you're trying to figure out how to configure a Floating Menu to be positioned at the top of your screen where the macOS menu bar is located, just like in your first screenshot. If that's the case, then check out my post here:
Now the last part is when one of these three is active, they should be different in colour.
How can I see that?
Also, I don't wanna use my mouse to click on them just through my keyboard.
Right now, what I have done is, I have mapped these 3 to a keyboard shortcut, and that keyboard shortcut is mapped to Apple script in BTT.
I want to have it in reverse order, this button should trigger those Apple scripts and layout options directly.
As this works, I would break this down into names or icons that will help me replicate virtual desktop environment... I am very much close 90% with your help @fortred2
Thank you so much... please guide me on the last part.
