Why tile?

I feel like my eyes can only look at one thing at a time. I just have shortcuts to switch between programs.

Why do you prefer using a tiling WM and how do you use the tiling functionality in your workflow?

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Web dev here.
editor + web browser + devtools when working on frontend (workspace 3)
editor + tests + another terminal for whatever when working backend (workspace 2)
server terminal + lazydocker for both (workspace 1)
web browser with work related tabs + todo list + notes app on workspace 9
chat apps and email on workspace 10
long-running jobs and performance monitors on workspace 8
4-7 are used for whatever
music on scratchpad
Tiling (as well as stacking) make it manageable to have a bunch of windows open with a minimum of fuckery. Sure I can only read one at a time, but when coding for example I'm rapidly switching between the code and the result. I can have a text editor, browser, and devtools accessible as fast as I can think, and I spend very little effort arranging windows.
Also, a good tiling window manager replaces the need to learn a bunch of windowing features for other apps. My devtools open in a new window, I don't use tmux or my terminal's split features, and I generally have a bunch of browser instances open because my window management handles it all, better.
- I'm also a web dev and I have a similar workflow where each workspace has its purpose. Except I never tile anything. I do have shortcuts that switch to specific windows but I never tile anything. That way my eyes are always on the center of the screen.
  I very rarely need to tile windows next to eachother. So rarely that I just don't see the point in making it the main feature of my WM/DE.
  Very interesting to read though. Thanks for the thorough example.
  
  ¯(ツ)/¯ whatever works for you, but that sounds painful to me. Why is only using the center of the screen so important?
  I'll clarify that I only use the more complicated layouts on my big monitor at home; when I am on a laptop it's single window or side-by-side for the most part.
  
  I am just a regular user but on a smaller screen ie. 13 inch 1440x900 I just have a single maximized window visible even if I have multiple apps open like web browser because I can't see anything if I have multiple windows.
  
  Do you have a small monitor?
  In my opinion, on a >32 4k or 1440p display, the full screen is just way too big for a single window. Which isn’t a problem, because as easy as it is to switch between two windows, it’s even easier not to. Especially for things like having a web browser and dev tools, switching back and forth every time I tweak a CSS rule would be agonizing.
  
  I like having a big window open. What annoys me with tiles is that the center of my screen which is the most natural to look at is now just a intersection of the other screens so I have to move my eyes over it just feels uncomfortable.
  
  Sounds like your screen is too close to your face.

47 comments