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I think it mostly derives from the fact that macOS has a far more cohesive concept of "application" than Windows does. A Mac app's files are managed as a group
by wtallis 5y ago
I think it mostly derives from the fact that macOS has a far more cohesive concept of "application" than Windows does. A Mac app's files are managed as a group (the app bundle), execution is managed at the app level (traditionally, closing the last window did not quit the application), window visibility can be managed at the app level (show/hide as an alternative to minimizing). So cycling through apps is a very natural thing to include as well, and once that shortcut exists it makes a bit more sense to have a second shortcut to cycle within an app's windows than through all visible windows. Especially once Apple introduced Exposé/Mission Control, there really wasn't much need for a shortcut to cycle through the full list of windows, because there are plenty of other ways to select the window you want in fewer steps.
- brimstedt 5y agoI might be missing something, but how do you efficiently switch apps in expose?
- wtallis 5y agoWhat I meant was that Exposé pretty much provided the missing purely window-oriented switching interface to complement the app-oriented interfaces that already existed. So once Exposé/Mission Control existed, there was even less need for a Windows-style Alt-Tab equivalent shortcut.
- tinus_hn 5y agoDon’t forget the Dock that represents all the running applications.
- temeritatis 5y agoWhich sucks if you like me want to keep virtual spaces (or desktops) separated. I only want to see windows (or apps) running on the current desktop in the dock, which kind of breaks that (apple app) model i suppose. This is doable in windows (and a few DEs in linux) but not in Mac OS unfortunately.