2009-06-15
Multiple Monitors with Multiple Workspaces
In most window managers (WMs) that allow for multiple workspaces, additional monitors simply increase the size of each workspace. Since January I have been using a window manager that handles multiple monitors very differently, xmonad. Instead of increasing the workspace size to fit onto two monitors, each monitor displays a separate workspace, so the number of visible workspaces is increased.
Paradigm difference between these two WM styles:
There are many times when I want to be able to keep one monitor static while changing the other monitor. For example I may want a video to stay on one monitor while I work on the other monitor. In most window managers this restricts me to one workspace because changing workspaces would change both monitors. In xmonad, the workspace that contains the video can be placed on one monitor and the visible workspace on the other monitor can changed freely without interfering with the first monitor.
Since using xmonad, I have found "1 workspace per monitor" window management much more productive and comfortable. I wish more window managers would at least make this kind of workspace/monitor handling an option. I have had problems with xmonad recently and I have been trying to switch back to a more popular window manager with free-floating windows like Gnome, KDE, Xfce, or Openbox.
So far my biggest problem with switching to other window managers has been the lack of "1 workspace per monitor" support. Xmonad has greatly increased my productivity with two monitors and it's hard for me to switch away from it for this reason. Hopefully I will find out how to effectively emulate this behavior in other window managers.
Paradigm difference between these two WM styles:
- Each additional monitor extends the workspace size
- One large workspace is visible at a time (ex: workspace 1 spans across all monitors)
- When the workspace changes, both monitors change
- When removing a monitor, workspaces must shrink in size, bunching windows together
- One large workspace is visible at a time (ex: workspace 1 spans across all monitors)
- Each additional monitor allows another workspace to be visible
- Each monitor displays one workspace at a time (ex: monitor 1 currently showing workspace 3 and monitor 2 currently showing workspace 1)
- When the workspace on one monitor changes the workspace on the other monitor does not need to change
- When removing a monitor, one less workspace will be displayed
- Each monitor displays one workspace at a time (ex: monitor 1 currently showing workspace 3 and monitor 2 currently showing workspace 1)
There are many times when I want to be able to keep one monitor static while changing the other monitor. For example I may want a video to stay on one monitor while I work on the other monitor. In most window managers this restricts me to one workspace because changing workspaces would change both monitors. In xmonad, the workspace that contains the video can be placed on one monitor and the visible workspace on the other monitor can changed freely without interfering with the first monitor.
Since using xmonad, I have found "1 workspace per monitor" window management much more productive and comfortable. I wish more window managers would at least make this kind of workspace/monitor handling an option. I have had problems with xmonad recently and I have been trying to switch back to a more popular window manager with free-floating windows like Gnome, KDE, Xfce, or Openbox.
So far my biggest problem with switching to other window managers has been the lack of "1 workspace per monitor" support. Xmonad has greatly increased my productivity with two monitors and it's hard for me to switch away from it for this reason. Hopefully I will find out how to effectively emulate this behavior in other window managers.
Labels: linux, window managers, xmonad
Comments:
<< Home
hi tutwabee, stumbled across your post looking for the exact same solution. still no luck (other than xmonad...which doesnt quite suite my needs). please let me know if you've found something else that works (i have email notifications for follow-up comments enabled)
but one thing ive been doing, that may work for you, is to use multiple x screens. this works with gnome/openbox/etc, and gives you multiple workspaces. however, since its multiple x screens...you cant do stuff like drag windows from one screen to another, or span screens with a window object (you can however mouse over from one screen to another)
but one thing ive been doing, that may work for you, is to use multiple x screens. this works with gnome/openbox/etc, and gives you multiple workspaces. however, since its multiple x screens...you cant do stuff like drag windows from one screen to another, or span screens with a window object (you can however mouse over from one screen to another)
just to follow-up, awesome window manager, like xmonad, also handles dual-monitors really well...and having used it a little more extensively than xmonad, and using the tiling "paradigm" rather than fighting it...i think im gonna stick with it. you can also set hooks to make certain apps/workspaces "floating", and create titlebars for windows that let you easilly drag them around to get a similar feel to fluxbox/openbox and whatnot.
also, though quirky and a pain to build from svn, enlightenment dr17 also handles multiple workspaces. the main issue i had was lack of configurability...my laptop for instance regularly attaches/detaches from an external monitor for dual-monitor stuff and there's no way to script/setup thing so the second monitor loads up a pager/taskbar and whatnot. and it seemed all-around a bit buggy. maybe the release version will be address these
also, though quirky and a pain to build from svn, enlightenment dr17 also handles multiple workspaces. the main issue i had was lack of configurability...my laptop for instance regularly attaches/detaches from an external monitor for dual-monitor stuff and there's no way to script/setup thing so the second monitor loads up a pager/taskbar and whatnot. and it seemed all-around a bit buggy. maybe the release version will be address these
hey, moments ago, i wrote a blog post about this topic, and perhaps my analysis interests you. i was doing some searching trying to get something similar going and i found this.-- hth,
_J
http://dazzle.cs.mcgill.ca/wordpress/?p=27
_J
http://dazzle.cs.mcgill.ca/wordpress/?p=27
Dear Author www.treyhunner.com !
You are not right. I suggest it to discuss. Write to me in PM.
Post a Comment
You are not right. I suggest it to discuss. Write to me in PM.
# posted by 
: 7:15 PM
: 7:15 PM << Home
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
