Workspace lover

Many years ago I learned how to work with many workspaces on desktop. And I fell in love with that concept. Let me inficate you too.

Ironically enough I started on Windows XP with some utility 😉 I didn’t liked switching between may applications on start panel, or cycling through CTRL+TAB interface. And multiple monitors (I usually have 3) only make it worse - more apps to choose between. So I was looking for solution and found workspaces concept.

When I switched to Linux I was fighting some time with Ubuntu’s Unity but later found it really usable. And for 6 years I was happy. Now I am fighting with Gnome3 because Ubuntu is again changing UI. Oh, well…you can’t stop progress.

At first attempt I used long row of virtual workspaces. So I only needed to move left and right. I made some rights for workspaces like:

• mail client on first (Thunderbird on one screen, currently edited message on second and browser with common informations on third),

• eclipse on second (two windows and browser with debugged program),

• terminals on third,

• music player on last

Using this rules it was (after certain training) possible to avoid CTRL+TAB for switching apps. Also - browsers divided by multiple purposes tends to have less tabs. Only problem was, that navigation among long row of workspaces was slow. And there was more and more apps as I becomed full stack developer.

So I organized my workspaces in grid 3 x 4. From Eclipse I am one step to Thunderbird, VS Code and terminal. Great. More frequented apps are located on upper workspaces, less frequent on bottom workspaces.

This is how my typicall desktop is organized:

As you probably mentioned, I have workspace per activity or task. One for mailing, second Eclipse, third terminals etc. I have even specific position for task list, JIRA or Skype.

When I am asked to work on anything else, I use one of unused workspaces for that reason. For example when I should compose new Confluence article I use one of empty workspaces and work on it. I open one browser window for Confluence, second browser window for topic related pages I have to use.

For controlling such grid it is necessary to learn keyboard shortcuts for:

• navigation using arrows,

• moving window among workspaces using arrows,

• (optionaly) navigation using number of workspace,

• (optionaly) moving window among displays,

• (optionaly) maximize/restore/tile-left/tile-right window

Yes, this list looks scarrier than it actually is. See fighting with Gnome3 for example of shortcuts.

I like it sooo much! Also it looks like magic for anyone else. You are just pressing keys and displayed content changes a lot wihout obvious system 😉

Do you have other way of work with workspaces? Please let me know!

PS: I am aware that I am not far away of this :

(Sorry, untranslatable czech language only. Part of great comedy - postdoc explaining evolution of physical desktop layout)