Native Instant Space Switching on macOS (arhan.sh)

Article summary

The article discusses the issue of slow space switching on macOS and the author's discovery of a native solution called InstantSpaceSwitcher, which allows for instant space switching without the need for third-party window managers or disabling System Integrity Protection. The author finds this solution to be the best among the alternatives, which include enabling the 'Reduce motion' setting, using yabai or other tiling window managers, and paying for a license for BetterTouchTool. InstantSpaceSwitcher works by simulating a trackpad swipe with a large amount of velocity and can be installed via Homebrew or by building from source. The author recommends trying InstantSpaceSwitcher and considers it a trustworthy solution.

Main themes

• macOS window management
• space switching
• tiling window managers
• native solutions
• productivity

What commenters say

• Some users find the default space switching animation on macOS to be annoying and prefer a faster solution.
• Alternative window managers like yabai and OmniWM can provide instant space switching, but may have drawbacks such as requiring System Integrity Protection to be disabled or having a steep learning curve.
• The use of third-party tools like Rectangle and BetterTouchTool can also provide similar functionality, but may not be native or free.
• Disabling the animation by enabling the 'Reduce motion' setting is not a suitable solution for some users, as it replaces the animation with a fade-in effect and has other unintended consequences.
• Some users prefer to use the built-in 'cmd+`' shortcut to switch between windows of the same app, but this can be cumbersome when dealing with multiple windows.
• The InstantSpaceSwitcher solution is seen as a viable alternative to other window managers and tools, but its effectiveness and trustworthiness are subject to individual user experience.
• The discussion highlights the importance of customizable window management and the need for native solutions that cater to different user preferences and workflows.
• Some users argue that the default space switching behavior on macOS is not a major issue and that other features, such as the ability to assign apps to specific spaces, can mitigate any annoyances.