5

I think Ubuntu's current approach to desktop window management is more efficient than macOS's.

For example, if we have 4 different workspace areas (a.k.a. Desktop in macOS world), when you do ^ Option+Tab, you switch only between the windows in the same workspace.

On the other hand, Mac's ⌘ Command+Tab changes between the applications, and if the same application (for example Chrome) serves in different windows, you may end up in a different mission's desktop.

So my question is how can I adopt Ubuntu's approach for macOS?

This question is not a key mapping question, I am not asking if there is a method to map the keys similarly to Ubuntu. I am asking, for a method to use ⌘ Command+Tab or any other key combination to change windows only within the active desktop if that's possible.

Let me give an example. Assume the following state.

  • Desktop 1: Chrome-1, Safari
  • Desktop 2: Chrome-2, Firefox

When I am on Desktop 1, I want to switch only between Chrome-1 and Safari and never see Firefox and Chrome-2.

agarza
  • 2,274
Mehmet Kaplan
  • 363
  • Set up alt-tab. – Solar Mike Mar 23 '23 at 18:29
  • macOS was never designed so you could put one app on more than one Space. As soon as you do that, you break functionality. Spaces unfortunately started out well, but was broken with the introduction of fullscreen & hasn't been looked at since. The new Stage Manager was supposed to be the replacement. I'm not convinced. – Tetsujin Mar 23 '23 at 18:43
  • Also see https://apple.stackexchange.com/q/54935/119271 – Allan Mar 23 '23 at 18:43
  • Command-backtick cycles through windows of the current app. Doesn’t this work for you? – nohillside Mar 24 '23 at 06:35
  • "change windows only within the active desktop" That's exactly what the duplicate explains. The key command [cmd/`] to switch windows only works in the current Space. – Tetsujin Mar 24 '23 at 08:36
  • I think what I am asking is still different than cmd-tick methods (both from the duplicate link and from @nohillside’s suggestion). – Mehmet Kaplan Mar 24 '23 at 08:57
  • Let me give an example. Assume following state. Desktop 1: chrome-1, safari. Desktop 2: chrome-2, firefox. When I am in desktop 1, I want to switch only between chrome 1 and safari and never see the firefox and chrome-2. – Mehmet Kaplan Mar 24 '23 at 09:00
  • 2
    Ah, you want to switch between windows of different applications within one space? Sorry, totally missed this. – nohillside Mar 24 '23 at 09:23
  • 1
    But AFAIK this is not possible without modifications/add-ons. – nohillside Mar 24 '23 at 09:24
  • 1
    That's also 'half' covered by the dupe. Ctrl/F4 will march through most windows, without leaving the current Space… but it's too bizarrely random to rely on & stops once it thinks it's reach 'the end'. There is no other native method. – Tetsujin Mar 24 '23 at 10:11
  • Yeah, I also guess there is no native method. But I am ok with any workaround because I think this reduce my speed (productivity). – Mehmet Kaplan Mar 24 '23 at 11:10
  • 1
    tbh, I've always avoided this sort of thing by not putting one app on two spaces - but… for the past 25 years I've always had a desktop Mac with 2 big screens, extended keyboard & 'clever' mouse with a myriad programmable buttons. Only a month ago I got my first ever Macbook, so now I have only a tiny screen & a trackpad. Everything I do now takes three times as long. Windows are on top of windows, the trackpad is a device invented by the devil himself; it obeys gestures only when it feels like it, I've no smart mouse & no extended keyboard. Frankly, it makes me want to swear… a lot. – Tetsujin Mar 24 '23 at 11:57
  • @Tetsujin one application per space, and keyboard combos to switch. Couldn‘t live without it :) – nohillside Mar 24 '23 at 12:13
  • Yeah - I use Ctrl/[numpad] right-handed, constantly - on the lappy I have to swap hands - no numpad, only one Ctrl on the left. Drives me mad. ;) I feel like I'm trying to work with one arm tied behind me. – Tetsujin Mar 24 '23 at 12:21
  • Ubuntu’a approach makes you think you are working N different machines. That’s why I want the same for my Mac. – Mehmet Kaplan Mar 24 '23 at 21:01

1 Answers1

7

As far as I know, the feature you describe, although available natively on both Ubuntu and Windows, isn't available on macOS without using a third-party app. I'm therefore introducing you to:

AltTab on macOS

It allows you to perform actions similar to what ⌘ Command` or ⌘ CommandTab does but AltTab ables you to switch between all opened windows in current space/desktop by using ^ Option (Alt)Tab.

image from https://alt-tab-macos.netlify.app/ showing a preview of how AltTab works (demo)

AltTab brings the power of Windows’s “alt-tab” window switcher to macOS.

By default, AltTab will switch between windows across all spaces when you press ^ Option (Alt)Tab. To have it only switch between windows in current space, you have to open AltTab's preferences, and in the Controls tab, for "Show windows from:", select "Active Space".

Thinkr
  • 3,357