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I appreciate your detailed explanation, I came to the comments for exactly this reason. “How is Windows ‘Alt-tab’ any different”. I hate to say, I’m still not

by 40four 4y ago

I appreciate your detailed explanation, I came to the comments for exactly this reason. “How is Windows ‘Alt-tab’ any different”. I hate to say, I’m still not following you :) I have spent plenty of time developing of both Mac & Windows systems. I still can’t think of any difference in behavior. What you said In Windows ”with a unified window stack so a single keystroke (Alt-Tab) always takes you to the previous window”, this is the same on Mac. A single press of “Cmd-tab” always goes to the previous window. So if you press it, release & repeat, you will just keep toggling the same two windows. Same behavior. Mac, as you mentioned gives you an extra layer, where you can cycle windows of the same App ‘type’ with “Cmd - `”. Which I find very useful, and actually miss when I’m on Windows. What am I missing? “Alt - tab” & “Cmd - tab” have the same behavior, no? Then Mac gives you the extra “Cmd - `”. Why would I want them Windows behavior? Maybe I should just download it and try for myself haha.

jonny_eh 4y ago
Let's say you have Firefox and Chrome open, each with two windows. alt+tab on Windows cycles between all 4. cmd+tab on Mac cycles between each apps most recently focused window. Hold cmd and press tab on a Mac, notice that it doesn't even show windows, it shows app icons.
- 40four 4y ago
  Ahhh… okay I get it now. I’m a little slow sometimes :) That’s a good example. So “Cmd - tab” brings all the windows of a particular app to the forefront, but shows the most recent, while the others are ‘buried’. Then requiring the “Cmd - `” to dig out the older ones. Yeah it’s subtle, but I see the difference now, thanks for setting me straight!
  - oneeyedpigeon 4y ago
    > but shows the most recent Apart from when, due to a bug in recent macOS, it brings up a different window. Which is incredibly frustrating.
- klodolph 4y ago
  Note that you also can cycle between any window with command-tab. Press command-tab, and while holding command, press up or down arrow. This will drill into the windows for that application and let you select a specific window, without first bringing that application to the front.
  - 40four 4y ago
    Oh, nice tip! I didn’t know that one.

by 40four 4y ago

jonny_eh 4y ago

Let's say you have Firefox and Chrome open, each with two windows. alt+tab on Windows cycles between all 4. cmd+tab on Mac cycles between each apps most recently focused window. Hold cmd and press tab on a Mac, notice that it doesn't even show windows, it shows app icons.

40four 4y ago
Ahhh… okay I get it now. I’m a little slow sometimes :) That’s a good example. So “Cmd - tab” brings all the windows of a particular app to the forefront, but shows the most recent, while the others are ‘buried’. Then requiring the “Cmd - `” to dig out the older ones. Yeah it’s subtle, but I see the difference now, thanks for setting me straight!
- oneeyedpigeon 4y ago
  > but shows the most recent Apart from when, due to a bug in recent macOS, it brings up a different window. Which is incredibly frustrating.
klodolph 4y ago
Note that you also can cycle between any window with command-tab. Press command-tab, and while holding command, press up or down arrow. This will drill into the windows for that application and let you select a specific window, without first bringing that application to the front.
- 40four 4y ago
  Oh, nice tip! I didn’t know that one.