Ask HN: What are your impressions for using 1 big curved monitor for programming? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What are your impressions for using 1 big curved monitor for programming?

27 pointsvasili11139 comments

What you prefer for programming, one big curved monitor or several flat monitors?

A year ago, I gave up my multi-monitor/multi-tasking. I was deluding myself that it was more productive.

I now do everything (including code) in a single window that is no larger than the focus of my field of vision.

I keep all my windows stacked in the center of my screen and CMD-Tab through them. I have become very fast with CMD-Tab (and related shortcuts).

I used to code with multiple windows -- IDE, preview, logs, StackExchange, etc. all open in multiple places. The lack of focus made it less productive for me.

Now, I keep a small log window open in the lower right section of my screen, then have my code editor and preview window stacked.

My workflow is basically: code, code, code, CMD-s (save), CMD-tab to preview window, CMD-r (run/refresh), CMD-tab to the log window so I can view the errors, then back to code to start bug fixing.

My head never moves. My neck is always at the right height and my eyes are always in the right place. I use a standing desk and this setup has helped prevent neck and shoulder pain.

Another big benefit: I am 100% as productive when using my the 27inch monitor at my desk as I am at my laptop 13inch screen - the workflow and screen setup is exactly the same.

This is how I operate too. I have had additional monitors in the past, but they always just seem to sit there with never changing content. I am now just on a 15" laptop all the time.

Have you tried multiple desktops/spaces? If so, how do they (not) fit into your workflow?

Yes, I use osx's built in workspaces. I have 2. One for coding and one for email/office apps. That limits the number of windows active in any workflow.

I also use hyperswitch, which improves cmd-tab on osx.

I'm really similar. I hit a point with multiple monitors where I realized that the extra space was more of a distraction than a help. I now use a single monitor/full screen 90% of the time.

I use Contexts.app to search through all of my windows and so that task switching becomes more consistent/muscle memory-ish, which was really nice for staying in flow. I also use Spectacle so that I can easily window arrange for those times when side by side windows is useful.

I already use Spectacle but have never heard of Contexts. Looks really handy. Thanks for the tip!

Just downloaded Contexts - thanks - do you know if there's any way for it to cmd-tab through your Chrome tabs? It looks like it can for Safari from the screen shots.

I think they are just using the Ctrl-Shift-Tab and Ctrl-Tab shortcuts to browse through tabs. Those work in Chrome and Safari, so you can keep your fingers on the keyboard.

I haven't found a way to use Contexts to introspect tabs (I suspect it would need some soft of browser extension to do so).

The Quick Tabs extension does a pretty good job if you don't mind invoking it after you get to Chrome.

It's not quite as elegant as finding windows, but it's pretty good.

From anywhere at all:

Contexts: Hold Fn, type "Chr" Chrome: Cmd-E Quick Tabs: Type tab name, Enter

I just downloaded Contexts.app -- I am using hyperswitch right now, but Contexts has some interesting tricks. I never have too many windows open, so I don't know if window search is necessary for me, but I like the CMD-Tab implementation on Contexts.

I have been using a Dell 34" for about a year. I LOVE it.

I use Grid Move v1.19.62 to manage window positions via key bindings. I think this is critical.

My window layout is:

- full height, left 25%

- full height, center 50%

- full height, right 25%

- full height, right 75%

The left window is used for active references, and slack

The center is active composition or reading (code, web browser, email, reading PDFs etc)

Left 25 is for secondary references

Left 75 is for large code windows. I can get 4 nice columns in VIM if needed. But I usually try to limit to 3 columns.

I used to use a lot more window positions in my grid template, but that got ils quick.

I really like that my main focus can be directly ahead unlike using 2 large monitors.

It’s also nice if I need to blow up a large dwg or exlitronics schematic.

My one wish would be to have another 300-400 pixels vertical.

Is there anything like this for MacOS?

I use https://www.spectacleapp.com/ for keyboard based window management.

+1 for spectacle, keyboard shortcuts are now muscle memory, can't live without developing on a single 28" 4k monitor.

I use Amethyst (https://github.com/ianyh/Amethyst) and cannot give it a stronger recommendation.

I use https://github.com/kasper/phoenix It's mostly just a javascript driven utility for managing windows, but it's really easy to bash together some nice tiling. I've got it set up for os-alt-ctl-numpad (5 is fullscreen, the ordinals are half screen, and 7,9,1,3 are quarters.) and os-alt-ctl-shift- numpad for a 3x3 grid... along with a bunch of other things i've defined.

Divvy

So is your Dell 34" curved?

You can also try bug.n ( https://github.com/fuhsjr00/bug.n ). It is also written with AutoHotkey.

Yes

First time hearing of apps that manage windows position, and it makes me reconsider a single large monitor. I always thought about making the switch from 2 monitors for the widescreen asthestics, but windows' default window management (either 50% 50% or manual positioning) lead me to think it just doesn't worth it.

If you already use key bindings for VIM/EMACS then keybinding for window management is a no brainer and you’ll love it

I have Samsung 4k 40" curved TV as a monitor. It has 600px extra vertical, it's overwhelming initially :)

Screen area must be managed as Matt says. With 2 monitors the all important center area can't be used for display, so the neck works overtime.

Never going back to multiple monitors, they are basically a hack.

With two monitors, you needn’t arrange the monitors symmetrically on your desk. I use two 5k (hi-dpi/Retina) monitors. One is in front of me, slightly right of centered. I mostly keep my main working file on the left half of this monitor, directly in front of me. My second monitor is to the left. The split between monitors falls where I’d naturally have window edges if it were a single monitor with a centered editor window.

I’ve tried similar but still found that awkward. Maybe because I don’t require so much real estate off to the side.

I don’t think there is a one size fits all solution. So hearing these different ideas is probably of value to the OP

Wow. Great idea. I’ll look into that

Which Samsung model do you have?

Anybody using a big curved monitor without a tiling window manager? Working half-time in the creative area, I would not be happy with a tiling window manager.

Why do you say that? A manger let’s you decide exactly where you want to place the window (size and position).

John Siracusa (the guy who used to do those OS X reviews) advocates for not using a TWM. He famously tried, and failed, to convince his podcasting co-hosts of the efficacy of his system in “The Windows of Siracusa County”: http://atp.fm/episodes/96. I get the sense that his system is mostly a collection of habits, tricks and muscle memory he has built up over the years, which I guess it would have to be.

Personally I don’t get it and I don’t see how one can survive beyond a certain screen size without a TWM, but it works for him.

I have a 40" 4k curved monitor at home (AOC C4008VU8, ~$1000 CAD, off-brand version of the Phillips one), and a pair of 24" monitors at work that I use in portrait mode. xmonad (tiling window manager) in both environments.

No question the single monitor is better, and at these sizes you need the curvature, otherwise text at the periphery gets hard to read. With multiple smaller screens you inevitably get locked into a workflow where the code goes on one screen and browser/terminal/etc. on the others. With a single screen... well it's probably the same overall workflow but you can set up that partition wherever you need it. So dedicate more space to the "main" activity, and less to the other things.

I'm really looking forward to 8k becoming mainstream; 4k on such a large screen just gives you the same kind of pixel pitch that you get on a ~20" 1080p monitor: "normal" but not "retina".

I use a curved monitor for work and the main benefit is you can focus on the center while having a large workspace. Viewing centered is the key. With dual monitor setup, I was coding with my head slightly rotated to the left most of the day. I didn't like splitting a window down the middle of two displays.

As for the curve. It's OK. I don't like how straight lines appear curved when you have many of them like on a spreadsheet.

I recently setup a triple monitor setup on an arm for gaming. It's great for programming and much cheaper. I use cheaper monitors on the left and right. For coding, you can have a large workspace for 1/2 the price.

For serious coding I use i3 window manager. It works great with multiple displays. Each display is a workspace. Again, most of the time my focus is on the center one. Right and left display are things like extra terminals, run-time logs, dedicated monitor for debugging web pages.

Two different setups I use regularly.

First is 2x4k monitors side by side. I still think I prefer this configuration. Two flat 4k monitors just works well with how I like to arrange things and code.

Second setup has a Samsung curved 34" monitor (with a little 24" 1920x1080 next to it). The 34" works well, but I find I need to split it into two, and often just use the flat 24" for the IDE and the larger monitor for reference/preview...

Windows positioning shortcut keys do the job. But it just feels a little awkward positioning apps on the curved monitor for some reason.

I recently switched to the Acer XR382CQK 37.5” UltraWide QHD monitor and could not be happier. The curve is just enough that using it manage a couple apps at once on one display is perfect. I also love the extra real-estate you get on the 37.5" vs. a 32/34". I came from a Dell 27" 4K and this has been a big improvement.

At work I have 3 monitors (24" 1080p) for multitasking (one for comms - email, slack, jabber etc. and music, one for code and one for browser - docs and stuff).

At home, I have 2 monitors (27" 1080p) - one for code and another for browser. I've been considering replacing these 2 with a 34" curved monitor for a while (however, I don't see the expense justified right now).

I've got two curved 23" screens which works very nicely. Gives you lots of space to work with, with a wrap around kinda feel.

I considered a 3840x1440 monitor and instead with with 3 24" 2560x1440 screens:

- Usable pixel count is much higher - I use 6 windows across 3 screens: left screen for comms and research, center screen for any development and right screen for testing and deployment.

I found this more useful than 1 or 2 27" screens at 2560x1440.

Aside from my laptop at home, at work, I'm using two screens for web design. Definitely helps to get more done. Previews on one screen, code on the other. Don't care how big the screen is.. there is just something about two screens that helps you to be more productive.

2 is definitely better than 1 small. But I strongly prefer one huge as I described in my other comment.

Does anyone just use a regular laptop and Mac OS virtual desktops?

When I'm on the go, virtual desktops are a lifesaver

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