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by yodsanklai 1196 days ago
Me too, I just use my macbook. I keep 2 buffers side by side in VSCode, and cmd-tab or cmd-` to switch to other apps/windows.

I genuinely suffer from imposter syndrome when I see my colleagues with several huge screens in all sorts of configurations. I guess I'm not a real hacker.

I can only look at one screen at a time anyway, so it's as fast to switch apps than to turn my head to look at a different screen. Plus if I want to move the cursor, I need to switch app anyway (or do a long trip with the mouse and click somewhere for focus which is even worse).
3 comments
turboponyy 1196 days ago
If anything, not spending the time to move your neck but rather manipulate keys to manifest buffers in front of your eyes is the real hallmark of being a hacker.
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krater23 1196 days ago
But only then when moving your eyes is slower than switching between your buffers. Explicitly on Mac, from what most people with just one screen talk there are nice fading-animations that cost at least 500ms.
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walthamstow 1196 days ago
There's a great MacOS app (AltTab) that replicates Windows' alt+tab window switching. It's fantastic, I highly recommend if you are as a big keyboard window switcher as you sound.
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tipsytoad 1196 days ago
I just found contexts and it's fantastic, it's just like alt tab but also comes with a spotlight esq quick switcher and supports vim jk by default. It's also really useful for switching between desktops by turning "reduce motion" on.

https://contexts.co/

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yesenadam 1196 days ago
I started using Apptivate a couple of months ago, someone on here recommended it. It makes app switching very pleasingly fast. I use a PC kbd with a mac mini :-) and have F5-F9 assigned to instantly switch to the 5 apps I always have open.

Also, holding down F5-F9 shows those windows as long as they're held down. So now, to take a peek at the bash window I hold down F5 as long as I need to look. Can also type or drag things onto there while holding F5 with the other hand.

You can assign any app to any key or combination of keys. It's free. It can do other stuff too. Very highly recommended.

Also, F1-F3 I have assigned in the system settings to F1=Show desktop, F2=current app windows, F3=show all open windows (mission control). So I very rarely have to use Cmd-Tab any more!

http://www.apptivateapp.com/

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