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Ask HN: How Do You Deal with Many Browser Tabs?

5 points by worldsavior 3y ago

Looking for some suggestions.

gregjor 3y ago
Close them. Use bookmarks for things I think I will need to refer back to. Honestly I don't understand how too many tabs turns into a problem. Every browser I've used keeps history.
PaulHoule 3y ago
(1) Close 'em (2) Heavily use the history to look up anything I closed (3) If I really have a lot going on put windows for different tasks, including browser windows, on different virtual desktops
- worldsavior 3y ago
  The problem is I'm doing many things at the same time. For example, I can work on Android and the next day I'll work on some project, while I still want the same android tabs to stay open.
  - noahjk 3y ago
    On safari and chrome I make use of tab groups. I assume Firefox does something similar since they have tab containers. I'll generally go on a spree of 10-20 tabs for an issue, and if I don't solve it, I'll pick a few and containerize and collapse them for later.
  - 45ure 3y ago
    I use a combination of add-ons (Firefox) like Tab Session Manager. Containers, where some sites are forced to open only in their own group e.g. Github, which then allows them to be hidden from view using Container Tab Groups. https://github.com/menhera-org/TabArray https://github.com/menhera-org/TabArray
  - PaulHoule 3y ago
    That's what they all say. And that's why they are struggling to manage 200 tabs. It takes discipline.
mergy 3y ago
Vivaldi browser, Workspaces, and tab stacks
- alwillis 3y ago
  While it’s not my daily driver, Arc automatically closes tabs after a certain amount of time, which is configurable. It’s been helpful.
tonetheman 3y ago
[dead]
MilnerRoute 3y ago
In Firefox, I reconfigured tabs to have the smallest possible width (so more than 20 can fit across my screen before it starts scrolling). Honestly, at that point it's hard to find the right tab. But Firefox also suggests "Switch to Open Tab" if you start typing the URL for a page that's already been opened in an earlier tab...
mmphosis 3y ago
I prefer not to use tabs at all. Rather than opening a new tab, instead I almost always open in a new window. I have Firefox customized to hide the tab bar when there is only one tab. The luxury of lots of high resolution monitors helps as I can view everything often without scrolling and without switching tabs.
ss108 3y ago
Freezetab chrome extension
palata 3y ago
OneTab was the solution for me. I see it as a "tab graveyard": with one clicks, my current tabs are saved somewhere. I feel good because they are not lost, but most of the time I don't go back to the list. History doesn't work for me because it's way too big. Bookmarks don't work because... well I guess I can't be bothered to organize it. OneTab is perfect because the tabs I keep open passed the first filter (I closed the ones I don't care about keeping), while still requiring no maintenance (just one click).
Tagbert 3y ago
I use the Panorama plugin with Firefox. It lets me set groups of tabs and switch between them without closing them. It’s a bit like having separate windows but more controlled. I use a different group for each project I’m working on. In a given say I’m usually working on 5 project plus administrative tasks that get their own tab group.

5 points by worldsavior 3y ago

Looking for some suggestions.

Close them. Use bookmarks for things I think I will need to refer back to. Honestly I don't understand how too many tabs turns into a problem. Every browser I've used keeps history.

PaulHoule 3y ago

(1) Close 'em (2) Heavily use the history to look up anything I closed (3) If I really have a lot going on put windows for different tasks, including browser windows, on different virtual desktops

worldsavior 3y ago
The problem is I'm doing many things at the same time. For example, I can work on Android and the next day I'll work on some project, while I still want the same android tabs to stay open.
- noahjk 3y ago
  On safari and chrome I make use of tab groups. I assume Firefox does something similar since they have tab containers. I'll generally go on a spree of 10-20 tabs for an issue, and if I don't solve it, I'll pick a few and containerize and collapse them for later.
- 45ure 3y ago
  I use a combination of add-ons (Firefox) like Tab Session Manager. Containers, where some sites are forced to open only in their own group e.g. Github, which then allows them to be hidden from view using Container Tab Groups. https://github.com/menhera-org/TabArray https://github.com/menhera-org/TabArray
- PaulHoule 3y ago
  That's what they all say. And that's why they are struggling to manage 200 tabs. It takes discipline.

mergy 3y ago

Vivaldi browser, Workspaces, and tab stacks

alwillis 3y ago
While it’s not my daily driver, Arc automatically closes tabs after a certain amount of time, which is configurable. It’s been helpful.

tonetheman 3y ago

[dead]

MilnerRoute 3y ago

In Firefox, I reconfigured tabs to have the smallest possible width (so more than 20 can fit across my screen before it starts scrolling). Honestly, at that point it's hard to find the right tab. But Firefox also suggests "Switch to Open Tab" if you start typing the URL for a page that's already been opened in an earlier tab...

mmphosis 3y ago

I prefer not to use tabs at all. Rather than opening a new tab, instead I almost always open in a new window. I have Firefox customized to hide the tab bar when there is only one tab. The luxury of lots of high resolution monitors helps as I can view everything often without scrolling and without switching tabs.

ss108 3y ago

Freezetab chrome extension

palata 3y ago

OneTab was the solution for me. I see it as a "tab graveyard": with one clicks, my current tabs are saved somewhere. I feel good because they are not lost, but most of the time I don't go back to the list. History doesn't work for me because it's way too big. Bookmarks don't work because... well I guess I can't be bothered to organize it. OneTab is perfect because the tabs I keep open passed the first filter (I closed the ones I don't care about keeping), while still requiring no maintenance (just one click).

Tagbert 3y ago

I use the Panorama plugin with Firefox. It lets me set groups of tabs and switch between them without closing them. It’s a bit like having separate windows but more controlled. I use a different group for each project I’m working on. In a given say I’m usually working on 5 project plus administrative tasks that get their own tab group.