Resize windows to optimize screen usage

[Hoffmano]

I'm using PaperWM, and I've noticed that some of my windows are getting cropped, with part of them occupying the edge of my monitor. It's becoming an issue as I can't fully see or interact with parts of the window. Is there a way to resize or adjust window behavior in PaperWM to prevent this from happening? Any suggestions on how to fix this would be appreciated!

My dream would that the PaperWM optimize the use of my screen space

[Hoffmano]

Case 1

How is today:

How I would like to be:

Case 2

How is today:

How I would like to be:

My dream would that the PaperWM optimize the use of my screen space

[Lythenas]

Since PaperWM is a scrolling window manager, this is how it is intended.

If you want to maximize a window, you can do so with Super+f. Then it will take up the entire screen like you want in case 1.

For case 2 you have to "manually" resize the two windows to 50%. This can be done using Super+r to cycle through the configured "Useful window widths". These can be configured in the settings.

There is also a setting "Horizontal margin" that you may be bothered by. But it wasn't an issue for be before.

Also we have "Window focus modes" (configurable by the icon in the top bar) that change a bit what happens when you focus a window. The first picture in case 1 looks like you may have activated "Center" there. Personally I just leave it as "Default".

[Hoffmano]

I have success on my first mods

[Lythenas]

That's awesome.

I think we would probably accept a PR for the behavior as long as you can turn it on/off in the settings.

Just FYI, for the most part I also use PaperWM like you want to (either one fullscreen window or two windows side by side). I usually don't have much use for more smaller windows on one monitor since I have two monitors anyway. Currently I just set up the windows manually using the shortcuts. If you can make that easier I wouldn't be opposed to it :D Also I usually still scroll instead of using multiple workspaces. Because I find it a bit quicker. Quite often I just want to switch one of the two half screen windows. So I have the one I want to keep in the center and then scroll left/right depending on which other window I need at the time (example workspace: MS Teams | Terminal | Browser with docs, editor fullscreen on the other monitor).

[Hoffmano]

@Lythenas how to know how many windows are rendered on my screen?

Has any prop to this?

[Lythenas]

In PaperWM, the class Space is the list of windows (or more correctly it is the list of columns that then contain windows). I say "is" because it extends Array. In PaperWM we have some hacks so one workspace is only on one monitor. Maybe take a look at Space.layout:

PaperWM/tiling.js

Line 650 in ad90e0c

layout(animate = true, options = {}) {

It's possible that this function is a good place to resize your windows. But not really sure.

Because some windows can scroll out of the screen, they may not actually be visible. I think you could check that manually using the workArea of the space.

In gnome you can also get to the windows somehow. To get to the gnome workspaces you could e.g. use global.workspace_manager. Not sure if that will be directly useful for you. There is some limited documentation here: https://gjs-docs.gnome.org/ But it's possible you may need to dig through the source code for some details: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell

[Hoffmano]

I create a draft so you can give me some feedbacks and test the feature

[jtaala]

Thanks @Hoffmano,

So, check out PaperWM's readme - windows can be set (by default)) to implement various behaviours you describe.

Checkout winprops's preferredWidth setting. For example, my one looks like:

You can use * for a default window rule (e.g. can set to 50% or even 100%).

Next up, you can set a window focus mode - see the EDGE mode, which will ensure that window are always at the edge (and if you have a preferredWidth of 50% then things will looks like the last picture you put up).

It does sound though that what you're after isn't quite what PaperWM is designed for.

Still will be interesting to see how this approach might work.

Cheers.