I use Rectangle for this. Works like a charm. https://github.com/rxhanson/Rectangle
I use magnet^1, should I be using rectangle? ^1: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/magnet/id441258766?mt=12
I use bettertouchtool, should I be using magnet or rectangle?
Ask HN: Why does Apple refuse to add window snapping to macOS?
181–190 of 573 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple refuse to add window snapping to macOS?
#182I think this is more about the ethos of the Mac. Unix (which is the underpinnings of Mac) was all about lots of small tools that build together to make something great, and if the base OS doesn’t have what you want then that’s a great third party (or DIY) opportunity. This bleeds over to the Mac in my opinion. I don’t want Apple to make everything, I want them to provide hooks and APIs that allow other people to make…
MacOS is very far from Unix ideology at this point. It’s not even possible anymore to install things you compile without a bunch of red tape scary warnings. You can’t make new folders in /. iOS has tons of private APIs that only Apple gets to use to make their apps and services the only viable choice, eg iCloud can upload photos in the background but Google Photos times out, even the location sharing hack doesn’t fix this.
Apple doesn’t do it because it’s only a small percentage of users who even know what it is to want it, and they’re already well-served by third party tools. Look at how long it took for widgets to come to iOS. Apple isn’t usually the first mover when it comes to software stuff like this, they like to sit back and let other devs solve problems then see how it plays in the market first before launching a better-integrated version themselves (sometimes in a way that only they can do because again private APIs) with only the basic features included.
Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple refuse to add window snapping to macOS?
#183Same reason why Mac mouse doesn’t have right click and why ~double-click~ [edit: pressing “return”] on a folder is renaming, and why window controls are on a left side of a window and do things unlike MS Windows (not closing, not minimizing, not maximizing). Patents.
> Mac mouse doesn’t have right click
This hasn't been true for over a decade. The Magic Mouse supports right-click (and the Magic Trackpad supports two-finger or bottom-right corner to right-click). Not sure if it's the default or not though.
Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple refuse to add window snapping to macOS?
#184Earlier quoted context omitted.
Windows users who just maximize everything all the time and get giant empty white bars on the sides of their browser shock me. What an insane waste of space. You see windows users with Ultrawides and a maximized browser where the site is centered and 90% of the width of the screen is serving nothing but site border and it just makes me scream. macOS replacing the “Zoom” stoplight buttons with “Full Screen” as the def…
What kills me about it is I can't find a way to keep my other monitors from blacking out. I usually have at least two screens, I would love to dedicate one completely to code while leaving the other in normal mode for documentation, references, etc.
If I understand correctly, there's an option for that in system settings, 'Displays have separate spaces'
Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple refuse to add window snapping to macOS?
#185Well, because it has? Hover over the green stoplight, you get a popover with fullscreen options. Press Option and the fullscreen options mutate into snap left/snap right/zoom. These can also be found in the Window menu. Again, press option to mutate the fullscreen ones to snap. And since these are menu options, one can set any keyboard shortcut of their choosing through the keyboard shortcut prefpane+. So it is not "…
Apple loves to hide functionality to the point where it essentially doesn't exist. When I started at Apple as an engineer, the first bug I filed was "Can't resize windows from their edges" (or any corner except one). Just mind-bogglingly stupid. And when Apple finally does capitulate and admit that others have done it better, they petulantly try to hide the functionality anyway. In the case of the windows, there's no…
> utility called Alt-Tab
I think you’ve saved my life
Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple refuse to add window snapping to macOS?
#186Earlier quoted context omitted.
The only Apple device I use is the laptop I was given for work, and I've always disliked that the button that would "maximize" the window on other OS instead makes the window "fullscreen" (getting rid of the menu and everything else that entails). I recently discovered that I am actually able to "maximize" by double-clicking the top bar of the window, but I have no idea if this is something that works by default or i…
Works by default
Yes, but it's not very consistent. For example, Safari will not maximize if you double click the title bar. It'll just maximize vertically.
Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple refuse to add window snapping to macOS?
#187Earlier quoted context omitted.
I still have to meet anybody that is not at a minimum annoyed by the macos animations. I literally stopped using the spaces feature because of that!. The default animation got me dizzy all the time, but even with that one disabled via accessibility settings they keep a terribly slow fading animation. It's absolutely ridiculous for a professional machine to impose these things on you.
I'm absolutely fine with them. I use Spaces all the time - mostly by hitting f3 and clicking on the screen thumbnail at the top, rather than control-arrowing or control-number. HN has a lot of hate for these animations but I don't think I've ever seen anyone bitching about them elsewhere.
Yeah, I’ve never had issues with the animations. And, additionally, I’ve always found that the animations make a UI feel finished by making state changes more apparent.
Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple refuse to add window snapping to macOS?
#188I just installed Rectangle and forgot about it, never had a single problem with it.
Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple refuse to add window snapping to macOS?
#189Earlier quoted context omitted.
I use this too, but y’all are missing the point. I should not need third party tools like Rectangle and Mos to manage applications for an OS. I’d much rather have this functionality built in than have a dozen new emojis every year.
Why not? I dislike the Windows snapping behaviour for halves. Most macOS casual users won't need it. These apps work great and allow a lot of customisability that an OS-level snap might not provide. I'm but sure having it built in would be all upshots.
I’ve got a work-issued MacBook Pro but it didn’t come with macOS Pro, must’ve been an honest mistake.
Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple refuse to add window snapping to macOS?
#190Earlier quoted context omitted.
Works by default
Yes, but it's not very consistent. For example, Safari will not maximize if you double click the title bar. It'll just maximize vertically.
"Maximize" on MacOS means "go to the largest useful size", not "fill the screen". It's application and context dependent. ("Fill the screen" is a separate mode which the top comment is complaining about, justifiably IMO.)