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macOS CLI tool to configure multi-display resolutions and arrangements

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Re: macOS CLI tool to configure multi-display resolutions and arrangements

#71

Post by _cenw »

I have a setup where I share a screen between two computers (a macOS productivity machine and a Windows gaming laptop / x86 VM lab). I did look at a lot of tools to be able to disable one of the screens in macOS so I wouldn't need to fiddle with cables, and I remember that this one didn't work.

I use mirror-displays[1] (alongside Bunch, which also turns on VBAN Talkie for audio) now. Mirroring a screen is the only way to approximate disabled screens.

[1]: https://github.com/fcanas/mirror-displays

Re: macOS CLI tool to configure multi-display resolutions and arrangements

#72

Post by woodlander87 »

ggsp wrote: post #36
MattIPv4 wrote: post #32

The one feature I really want for window management on macOS is the ability to split fullscreen applications horizontally, for my vertical monitor. macOS lets you split a fullscreen app vertically so you can have two on the same screen, but when a monitor is oriented vertically you can still only split the screen vertically, not horizontally. Sigh.

Yet another option: https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai

I will also +1 this as an i3wm user. I do use displayplacer and yabai together though. I have two identical external monitors that don't behave well with MacOS. Apparently the monitor's unique id's are not unique in MacOS. This causes MacOS to get them mixed up any time I disconnect from them. I have a keyboard shortcut that uses displayplacer to toggle between the two monitor valid configurations.

Re: macOS CLI tool to configure multi-display resolutions and arrangements

#73

Post by Syzygies »

I had a rather expensive monitor that would sometimes refuse to wake up. I ended up scripting an Alfred keystroke to use AppleScript and System Preferences to toggle the resolution, which would wake up the screen. This would be easier, as I could simply SSH in from another machine.

Re: macOS CLI tool to configure multi-display resolutions and arrangements

#74

Post by joshstrange »

displayplacer is an awesome tool that I've mentioned on HN a number of times before. I have my displayplacer command setup to be run by Alfred so that when I connect my monitors I can just invoke Alfred, type "disp", and hit enter.

The next step would be to have it auto-run when monitors were attached but this works well enough for me. displayplacer for monitor alignment, phoenix for window management, and my own hacked together mousejump for jumping over the monitor gaps make for an awesome experience.

[0] https://github.com/kasper/phoenix

[1] https://github.com/joshstrange/mousejump

Re: macOS CLI tool to configure multi-display resolutions and arrangements

#75

Post by joshstrange »

deanc wrote: post #37

This hasn't been updated in a while. What I really want from this kind of tool is the ability to take a snapshot of my ALL display settings, and just click something on my desktop or bind a keyboard shortcut, or run a command which will restore it - exactly how it should be. This would include, exact screen positioning, refresh rate, resolutions etc. I don't know what triggers it, but MacOS is really bad at changing…

It might not have been updated but it works perfectly. Also it does everything you just asked for except invocation (you have to setup the keybind yourself, for myself I have an Alfred workflow I run to do it).

Here is an example of a displayplacer command (it will generate this for you based on your current config, you just need to save and re-run it to get back to that state):

    /opt/homebrew/bin/displayplacer "id:6696B81B-DF77-45C3-9D39-AFA151E17417 res:2560x1440 hz:74 color_depth:8 scaling:off origin:(0,0) degree:0" "id:353C959C-561C-48BA-B804-84C448FAF99F res:1440x2560 hz:75 color_depth:8 scaling:off origin:(-1440,-444) degree:90" "id:3892CD52-313D-4B1B-9743-DB3165484F16 res:1920x1080 hz:60 color_depth:8 scaling:off origin:(307,-1080) degree:0" "id:EB4F0496-96F8-4DA9-B14A-6023FE90C3B1 res:1440x2560 hz:75 color_depth:8 scaling:off origin:(2560,-499) degree:270"

Re: macOS CLI tool to configure multi-display resolutions and arrangements

#76

Post by dylan604 »

robertoandred wrote: post #60
artificialLimbs wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Terrible design. This is not a phone, Apple. It is a computer.

It was the old design that was an iOS-like grid of icons, not the new one.

now, it is like the iOS settings menu of infinite scroll.

Re: macOS CLI tool to configure multi-display resolutions and arrangements

#77

Post by dylan604 »

_cenw wrote: post #71

I have a setup where I share a screen between two computers (a macOS productivity machine and a Windows gaming laptop / x86 VM lab). I did look at a lot of tools to be able to disable one of the screens in macOS so I wouldn't need to fiddle with cables, and I remember that this one didn't work. I use mirror-displays[1] (alongside Bunch, which also turns on VBAN Talkie for audio) now. Mirroring a screen is the only wa…

if you have multiple cables attached to the monitor, isn't it easier to use the monitor's input selection buttons to do this? with the monitors i have, when i manually switch inputs, it signals to the other computer the monitor is no longer available and my mac auto switches like was not plugged in. when i switch back to the mac's input for the monitor, the mac auto recognizes it is available and reconfigures the layout. all as i was expecting it to do

Re: macOS CLI tool to configure multi-display resolutions and arrangements

#78

Post by reddit_clone »

_joel wrote: post #56
hugey010 wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rectangle is amazing and I highly recommend it, but it's a window manager and not a display manager.

Another window manager https://ianyh.com/amethyst/

I have tried Amythyst.

Yabai, didn't try since it wants to disable system integrity protection. Not sure if will work in locked down corporate machines.

Now back to Rectangle and arranging the windows myself in multiple desktops.

Re: macOS CLI tool to configure multi-display resolutions and arrangements

#79

Post by zalyh »

MattIPv4 wrote: post #32

The one feature I really want for window management on macOS is the ability to split fullscreen applications horizontally, for my vertical monitor. macOS lets you split a fullscreen app vertically so you can have two on the same screen, but when a monitor is oriented vertically you can still only split the screen vertically, not horizontally. Sigh.

Since we're on the topic of tiling manager, I'm still using ShiftIt on my old macbook and I still think it's one of the best window manager since it allows you bind keys to particular actions and stays out of the way with minimal configuration. It's not being maintained though.

Re: macOS CLI tool to configure multi-display resolutions and arrangements

#80

Post by jakehilborn »

_cenw wrote: post #71

I have a setup where I share a screen between two computers (a macOS productivity machine and a Windows gaming laptop / x86 VM lab). I did look at a lot of tools to be able to disable one of the screens in macOS so I wouldn't need to fiddle with cables, and I remember that this one didn't work. I use mirror-displays[1] (alongside Bunch, which also turns on VBAN Talkie for audio) now. Mirroring a screen is the only wa…

The latest code on the master branch of displayplacer supports this. Run `displayplacer "id:34686E82-0CED-DF86-AFC7-AA1A8EB5CFC0 enabled:false"` with your screen ID and it will set the screen to all black plus remove the screen from the view of the OS. I'll cut the next release version after I add native Apple silicon support.
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