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Comment by stephenr | Hacker News Reader

Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure I've had safari windows on multiple desktops.

Yes, you can have multiple Safari windows and place each one in a different virtual desktop.

The main issue I have with this setup is Cmd-Tab doesn't handle multiple windows of the same app that well. If I have multiple Safari windows in different desktops, it would basically just (randomly?) pick one and open it when I Cmd-Tab into Safari.

I really wish Cmd-Tab would be constrained to the desktop I'm currently using... Anybody has a solution for this issue?

I've been using Contexts [1] for a while now.

It provides Cmd-Tab/Option-Tab replacement that shows all apps' all windows regardless of their desktop or full/split screen status. You can even search within window list.

It also has gestures and numberered switch for apps/groups.

Mostly it works without a hitch. Sometimes macOS' original Cmd-Tab manages to get first and both can arrive together, but that rarely happens. When macOS opens apps to multiple desktops and full screens on startup I have to sometimes let it know what apps are available by switching through them using Exposé (or whatever that's called).

I have no affiliation, but I'm a paid user.

[1] https://contexts.co

I don't think this is true either. I just tried this, and it would switch to the safari window in the current desktop without fail - it was only when there's no safari window for current desktop that it switched desktops.

I think HyperSwitch [http://hyperswitch.bahoom.com/] can do that?

+1 for HyperSwitch. I have the standard cmd-tab for applications, alt-tab switches between all windows on the current virtual desktop and alt-` switches between all windows of the current application (across all virtual desktops).

System preferences -> Mission control -> When switching to an application, switch to a space with open application -> ticking off may help to limit cmd+tab for current space.

Personally I've no issues with cmd+tab - I use it to cycle between 2-3 recently used apps, works fine for apps in the same space (which is the idea of per-project spaces).

I make heavy use of three-finger-swipe-up gesture to see all windows in the current space and thumbnails of spaces. (System prefs -> Trackpad -> More gestures)

The dock I keep minimized, not much use for it with spaces because it has global state.

Cmd+h is handy for hiding global apps out of way (can be revealed again with cmd+tab).

look into Witch (https://manytricks.com/witch/). it let's you switch to windows rather than apps

Okay if you want to split hairs sure Safari can do it but will it keep all the windows about your project on the correct screen? What about Word or Photoshop or Mail or Skype or Sketch or Numbers or Whatever. Will any of these programs filter by project on the correct screen like I want them to? Nope.

I have used project-per-virtual-desktop approach for years. I assign "shared apps" (Mail, Slack, etc) to all desktops (option-click via dock icon). My "project apps" are mostly terminal, text editor, and browser windows.

There are couple of issues¹, but this is still by far the best approach I can think of. Actually, I don't understand how other people can manage their stuff without per-project virtual desktops.

¹ cannot rename virtual desktops on macOS, not all apps can restore their windows on correct desktop after reboot, not all apps support multi-window workflow (e.g. Slack), "minimized windows" area in dock should be per-desktop instead of global

You've improved things a lot by showing how I can have apps can appear on multiple desktops, thanks!

Thanks for this - I'll try it out, I hadn't realised you could have one app on multiple virtual desktops!

Have you considered using smart mailboxes and additional "viewer" Windows to have mail per-project space?

Too much hassle for me. I don't have a need for project specific emailing.

PS. Fluid.app is nice way to create project-specific native app instances from web applications, e.g. Trello, Jenkins, etc. Plays nicer with virtual desktops / cmd+tab than browser windows. (With the cost of memory.)

Is Fluid still supported? I used it many years ago, but haven't had the need for a while.

Yes, it's Sierra compatible. (http://fluidapp.com)

They should leave the Windows where you put them, nothing more nothing less.

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