165: Moom and Window Management

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I recently bought Moom 4, and I’m so glad that I did!

In a way, I didn’t need it – Over the years, I had built a very nice collection of keyboard-based and gesture-based triggers for window management using BetterTouchTool, and for a couple of things, I used Rectangle.

When Moom 4 came out, I decided to give it a try. I was curious what a “dedicated app” might be like, and I also wanted to support the app developer to improve the app going forward (further integrating/extending the newer macOS Sequoia window-management functionality). I have been pleased with how clean and polished Moom is. For automators, the window layout presets are key, and Moom itself it looks to be quite automatable. The developers are very friendly and supportive (one of them is active on a thread on MPU Talk).

So… Highly recommended!

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I built an Alfred workflow to automate Moom snapshots related activities and I use it with Bunch too*, so certainly easy enough to build into your own automations.


* As I was reading this thread this morning, I realised I’d never shared out a little modification to the standard approach of using Moom with Bunch that I’ve been using; I’ve now rectified that in a short blog post.


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Rosemary and David said they never split the screen vertically. I do not for writing and planning applications, but split horizontally when working with spreadsheets.

Is it possible to create a workflow to open a web specific url and apps in its own desktop space and then apply moom?

I have alfred commands to open specific urls and could open apps that way. I am not sure how to get it into its own space?

I have several workflows where I would want the combination of urls and apps together always.

Have a look through the recent discussion on Episode 161. That discussion covers working with spaces for window management.

Maybe there can be a bit of clarification here, I have ben hesitant to pull the trigger on Moom because I use 5 (total) screen [4 external and clamshell open] MBP M1 running Displaylink Manager. Can Moom work across multiple screens? I can script it, but I was under the assumption this was for a single screen.

As I’ve noted in other threads on this forum, I use Moom with three or four displays, the number depending on a display shared with my work Windows laptop.

I also use ten spaces, but Moom cannot move windows form once space to another. As @sylumer notes in the post prior to yours, this can be done, but additional apps and set up are required.

Holy Cow just downloaded Moom. played around and made a custom layout after about 3 minutes of tinkering. Launched Bunch and combined it with my Bunch I run for work. Closed my bunch, re-opened. Everything went exactly where it was supposed to. This is across two devices as well (I have a Bunch that runs via ssh to my second machine). Absolutely impressed, handing over my money

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Ignore this post of mine - I’m now in love with Moom 4

I think I am getting too old or too tired – got the new Moom 4 which looks super powerful and ridiculously customizable. But I’m just finding it to hard to figure out. Their help videos have no sound and not that helpful and the help documentation is going to take an investment of time. And not seeing any good third-party videos.

Oddly too, my prior version of Moom (3.X) completely spotaneously topped working and said to delete and redownload yesterday but had trouble finding my old license key and so I figured I would just get the new one and pay the full license fee after hearing the good review on automators. Lost my 15 or so keyboard shortcuts in my old version too.

Lol - I just came here to whine so please refrain from anything too hateful. But keeping up with all these automation tools that I have (Alfred, StreamDeck, Keyboard Maestro, BTT, PopClip, Moom, Alice, etc. etc. etc.) doesn’t seem worth time investment. In any case, if there is something out there that might make new version of Moom easier to figure out for me, that would be helpful. I like this palette concept in Moom though

What would be helpful for you? I have been helping other communities with walkthrough posts, and would be willing to throw an assist to help an automator with Moom.

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Hey thank you :). My post wasn’t particularly constructive – I was pretty cranky that night! I am going to spend time with it this afternoon and may circle back with questions. Really appreciate your thoughtful response.

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LOL, well, it pays to sip some tea and read the documentation and not expect to learn an app through instant osmosis :). And the documentation is very clear and helpful. Wow - I wouldn’t have thought Moom could be improved so much with so many creative additions and customizable options. This actually will improve my window management workflow substantially. I love the customizable palette (and other options) and it eliminates the need for my prior, clunkier programming of my XL Stream Deck to essentially mirror the palette. What a great app. I suppose I will leave my prior post up for now to remind me not to be a luddite.

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Partially based on the this episode, I decided to purchase and try Moom 4 . I’m sure glad I did!

I’m so impressed with the power, attention to detail, and documentation.

I’m using several of the new Moom 4 features and would like to hear how others are using Chains. I’ve been playing around with the combination of Chains, Layouts, and hot keys and have been able to get some of the features that are appealing with tiling window managers, e.g., yabai . I’ve shared a few of my examples in the MPU Talk Moom thread:

Moom 4 - Combining Chains, Layouts, and Hot Keys - MPU Talk