Switch numerous window management shortcuts
Feature summary
I would like to suggest some changes to the default window management shortcuts in GNOME Shell, which can achieve the same functionality with fewer keystrokes.
The default behavior of GNOME Shell when it comes to window management is the following:
- Super + Alt + Left/Right Arrow Keys: Changes the current workspace.
- Super + Alt + Shift + Left/Right Arrow Keys: Changes which workspace the current window populates.
- Super + Arrow Keys: Controls the current window "tiling" on the screen.
- Super + Shift + Arrow Keys: Changes which monitor the current window populates.
Overall, the keyboard shortcuts are clunky, as the core workflow of the Shell often requires 3 or more keys to be pressed. While some of the shortcuts above can be simplified with the usage of page-up / page-down, some smaller keyboard form factors do not offer those keys, and the arrow keys remain the most intuitive option. The page-up/down shortcuts can also remain unchanged, if the changes are applied.
How would you like it to work
What I would like to suggest is the following:
- Super + Left/Right Arrow Keys: Changes the current workspace.
- The default suggested workflow for GNOME Shell seems to be the usage of multiple workspaces for windows, given the newest UI update draws more attention to the workspace menu. It makes sense to make travelling between workspaces as painless as possible, removing one extra key, as well as it being the default super key behaviour.
- Super + Shift + Left/Right Arrow Keys: Changes which workspace the current window populates.
- As it is the second most important workflow key combination, once again it should remove the extra key for its functionality. It is similar enough so that it won't generate much confusion.
- Alternatively, it is also possible to use this key combination to change the window monitor. This alternative would also maintain interoperability between some other desktop environments.
- Super + Alt + Arrow Keys: Controls the current window "tiling" on the screen.
- If it is desirable to maintain the current style of shortcuts, it would make sense to give this key combination the suggested function, as it would seem to swap its old key combination behaviour and the new one. It is a secondary function, as not much space for window tiling is available and as such, it would not be pressed as often as switching workspaces.
- Alternatively, it is also possible to use this key combination to change the window workspace. This alternative would also maintain interoperability between some other desktop environments.
- Super + Up/Down Arrow Keys: Switch with Super + Alt + Up/Down Arrow Keys
- This would keep the current cohesion in functionality between shortcuts, although admittedly, it would make window maximization control more cumbersome, which is not ideal since it is one of the core workflow commands.
- Super + Control + Arrow Keys: Changes which monitor the current window populates.
- Using the control key, you can keep this functionality while making most shortcuts shorter than their current implementation.
- Alternatively, it is also possible to use this key combination to control the window "tiling". This alternative would also maintain interoperability between some other desktop environments.
Relevant links, screenshots, screencasts etc.
The references used for these suggestions were the window management shortcuts in elementary OS (current), Pop!_OS (pre-20.04 release) and Unity DE.