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Show HN: Phoenix – a macOS window and app manager scriptable with JavaScript

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Re: Show HN: Phoenix – a macOS window and app manager scriptable with JavaScript

#2

Post by ketzo »

Interesting, I need to check this out. I currently use Amethyst[1], and while I like it, it’s definitely got some bugs/performance issues. I’ve also heard people use chunkwm with good results, but haven’t tried it myself.

[1]ianyh.com/amethyst

Re: Show HN: Phoenix – a macOS window and app manager scriptable with JavaScript

#4

Post by guessmyname »

The API [1] is an interesting read, as well as this thread from two years ago [2].

I have used Spectacle [3] for years and recently switched to Rectangle [4].

These two are quite simple in comparison but I barely use all their features.

I have seen people using HammerSpoon [5] as well for these type of things.

Out of curiosity, what kind of things do people script in a window manager?

[1] https://github.com/kasper/phoenix/blob/bfcb684/docs/API.md

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16787836

[3] https://www.spectacleapp.com/

[4] https://rectangleapp.com/

[5] https://www.hammerspoon.org/

Re: Show HN: Phoenix – a macOS window and app manager scriptable with JavaScript

#5

Post by heavyset_go »

guessmyname wrote: post #4

The API [1] is an interesting read, as well as this thread from two years ago [2]. I have used Spectacle [3] for years and recently switched to Rectangle [4]. These two are quite simple in comparison but I barely use all their features. I have seen people using HammerSpoon [5] as well for these type of things. Out of curiosity, what kind of things do people script in a window manager? [1] https://github.com/kasper/ph…

> Out of curiosity, what kind of things do people script in a window manager?

KWin is scriptable, and I use it to change window shading behavior and to do some tiling. At one point I had it send SIGSTOP to processes that I minimized, and SIGCONT when they were raised, to save battery life.

Re: Show HN: Phoenix – a macOS window and app manager scriptable with JavaScript

#6

Post by city41 »

The window api makes me think one could pretty easily create an i3 like window manager. But my past experience with OSX window managers like amethyst has been subpar. Often the sizing/positioning is taken more as a “suggestion” by the window than a command. I also found eventually windows would get into a bad state. Has window management on OSX improved in the past couple years? On Linux with X11, window managers truly have control and thus provide a more reliable experience.

Re: Show HN: Phoenix – a macOS window and app manager scriptable with JavaScript

#7

Post by mtrpcic »

guessmyname wrote: post #4

The API [1] is an interesting read, as well as this thread from two years ago [2]. I have used Spectacle [3] for years and recently switched to Rectangle [4]. These two are quite simple in comparison but I barely use all their features. I have seen people using HammerSpoon [5] as well for these type of things. Out of curiosity, what kind of things do people script in a window manager? [1] https://github.com/kasper/ph…

I've been using Hammerspoon for years, and have been incredibly happy with it. It is still actively maintained, has a large userbase, and has a lot of pre-built solutions for things. Importantly, it's not just for window management. You can do a lot of powerful things with it.

Re: Show HN: Phoenix – a macOS window and app manager scriptable with JavaScript

#8

Post by macinjosh »

city41 wrote: post #6

The window api makes me think one could pretty easily create an i3 like window manager. But my past experience with OSX window managers like amethyst has been subpar. Often the sizing/positioning is taken more as a “suggestion” by the window than a command. I also found eventually windows would get into a bad state. Has window management on OSX improved in the past couple years? On Linux with X11, window managers tru…

I have good success with yabai:

https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai

Re: Show HN: Phoenix – a macOS window and app manager scriptable with JavaScript

#9

Post by athorax »

city41 wrote: post #6

The window api makes me think one could pretty easily create an i3 like window manager. But my past experience with OSX window managers like amethyst has been subpar. Often the sizing/positioning is taken more as a “suggestion” by the window than a command. I also found eventually windows would get into a bad state. Has window management on OSX improved in the past couple years? On Linux with X11, window managers tru…

I have had a pretty stable setup using yabai[0] for my wm and skhd[1] for my hotkey daemon. Both are by the same dev and I have nothing but good things to say about them. Occasionally windows will get in a wonky state, but I have a hot key to reset them. It is usually stable for a week+

[0]https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai [1]https://github.com/koekeishiya/skhd

Re: Show HN: Phoenix – a macOS window and app manager scriptable with JavaScript

#10

Post by mrspeaker »

simplify wrote: post #3

Not to be confused with Phoenix[0], the Rails-like web framework for Elixir/Erlang. [0]: https://www.phoenixframework.org

I don't think anyone will be confused... seeing as it's also the name of about a billion other things (Pre-Firefox, I still remember you!). I feel like "Pheonix" is the second most common project name behind "Matrix".

And on a less nit-pick-y note if the author is reading this - the project looks really fun and is certainly going to take up a chunk of my weekend!

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