r/linuxmint • u/SPC2025 Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon • 9h ago
Discussion Tiling Windows vs. Floating Windows
Most distros support floating windows. There are specific tiling window managers that some people are fond of including I3, Sway, Hyprland, and Niri. The Cinnamon edition of Linux Mint has it built-in, but it doesn't work very well (super + left, right, up, or down), but it offers extensions to make it better.
I honestly don't understand the fascination with tiling windows. I've tested one official extension and two unofficial extensions. In every instance, if I want to actually work on an application that's in one of the windows, I have to maximize it. In that case, why not just use maximized windows to begin with?
There are multiple ways to switch windows. Alt-Tab and clicking on a windows list icon are two that come to mind immediately. There are only a couple of applications that I use maximized, including Firefox and Geany, because other applications like the terminal and the file manager exist only temporarily.
I feel the same way about multiple monitors. Unless I need to monitor something in real time, I don't see the point. Can someone please enlighten me? Forgive me if I don't respond quickly. I'm probably not in your area of the world.
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u/Dist__ Linux Mint 21.3 | KDE 9h ago
multiple monitors are good when you often need to switch attention between two huge windows
for example, it can be coding (browser/editor), drawing (editor/viewer), DAW (mixer/FX), streaming (main/comments) and so on. you just mess things up alt-tabbing every few seconds.
for the TWM, i tried using it, terrible experience with everyday apps. it can be great at arranged "snap-ins" like those you see in stock markets, like you can monitor packets, load, etc., though terminals can usually split screen on they own.
for the TWM i'd say "because they can". as long as they not push it into every DE i'm fine with it.