5 ms·

Fast, lightweight desktop manager written in AutoHotkey

37 points by octalmage 12y ago

latishsehgal 12y ago
Very nice!
Joeri 12y ago
This seems to be a virtual desktops utility. Can anyone explain what it does differently from microsoft's virtual desktops utility? http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/cc817881.aspx http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/cc817881.asp...
- Sir_Cmpwn 12y ago
  Well, imagine if that utility had 10x the footprint and was written in the worst language for the job.
  - octalmage 12y ago
    mDesktop compiled uses MUCH less memory and is much faster.
- pknight 12y ago
  The one hosted there is very limited. You can't move windows from one virtual desktop to the next for one. Mdesktop is pretty light weight.
  - octalmage 12y ago
    I agree completely. I created mDesktop in 2007 because none of the solutions out there worked for me. They were either bloated and slow, or missing basic functionality. A program that is always running on your computer need to have almost zero RAM footprint, and mDesktop uses 300-400kb.
- botismarius 12y ago
  It is open source, so you can learn a lot from its sources.
- jmlucjav 12y ago
  I used mdesktop quite a long time ago, it was the best window manager without a doubt for me, tested all others I found.
bubbleburster 12y ago
this app mdesktop contains adware opencandy and there is no need for it. virtuawin has worked for years http://virtuawin.sourceforge.net/ http://virtuawin.sourceforge.net/
- octalmage 12y ago
  I was testing OpenCandy as an alternative way to make money but I just removed it. It's not worth it. VirtuaWin is abandoned and slow and most prefer mDesktop: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-desktop/windows-7-does-windows-offer-virtual-desktop/347497d6-d4cd-41d2-a86b-a99092fbd168 http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-d...
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
qwerta 12y ago
Back in my Windows days I used LItestep. I have not found anything so scriptable even on Linux: http://www.litestep.net http://www.litestep.net
- chriswarbo 12y ago
  When forced to use Windows at a previous job, I used http://code.google.com/p/python-windows-tiler/ http://code.google.com/p/python-windows-tiler/ In fact I only had 2 applications running: Outlook and Cygwin/X tunneled to a Linux server, where I did everything else.
GregoryLS 12y ago
Very impressive! I found a few glitches on the aps, but overall it looks very impressive!
rlvesco7 12y ago
Another autohotkey based program is bug.n. http://www.autohotkey.net./~joten/bug.n.html http://www.autohotkey.net./~joten/bug.n.html It combines tiling with desktops similar to dwm or xmonad. Whenever I have to used windows, this is what I use.
WorldWideWayne 12y ago
I love how many people at HN have to preface anything that they say about their usage of Windows with a disclaimer, such as "When I was forced to use Windows..." or "Back when I used Windows..." or "Whenever I have to use Windows..." It's as if, if they don't hide this perceived weakness, the alpha-nerds will eat them!
- dmux 12y ago
  The only way I'd ever use Windows is through Ludovico.
  - WorldWideWayne 12y ago
    k
krakensden 12y ago
This is the most disgusting hack I've seen in a long time. It's also beautiful. More like this, please.
- octalmage 12y ago
  This is my favorite, can I use it on the website?

37 points by octalmage 12y ago

Very nice!

Joeri 12y ago

This seems to be a virtual desktops utility. Can anyone explain what it does differently from microsoft's virtual desktops utility? http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/cc817881.aspx http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/cc817881.asp...

Sir_Cmpwn 12y ago
Well, imagine if that utility had 10x the footprint and was written in the worst language for the job.
- octalmage 12y ago
  mDesktop compiled uses MUCH less memory and is much faster.
pknight 12y ago
The one hosted there is very limited. You can't move windows from one virtual desktop to the next for one. Mdesktop is pretty light weight.
- octalmage 12y ago
  I agree completely. I created mDesktop in 2007 because none of the solutions out there worked for me. They were either bloated and slow, or missing basic functionality. A program that is always running on your computer need to have almost zero RAM footprint, and mDesktop uses 300-400kb.
botismarius 12y ago
It is open source, so you can learn a lot from its sources.
jmlucjav 12y ago
I used mdesktop quite a long time ago, it was the best window manager without a doubt for me, tested all others I found.

bubbleburster 12y ago

this app mdesktop contains adware opencandy and there is no need for it. virtuawin has worked for years http://virtuawin.sourceforge.net/ http://virtuawin.sourceforge.net/

octalmage 12y ago
I was testing OpenCandy as an alternative way to make money but I just removed it. It's not worth it. VirtuaWin is abandoned and slow and most prefer mDesktop: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-desktop/windows-7-does-windows-offer-virtual-desktop/347497d6-d4cd-41d2-a86b-a99092fbd168 http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-d...

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

qwerta 12y ago

Back in my Windows days I used LItestep. I have not found anything so scriptable even on Linux: http://www.litestep.net http://www.litestep.net

chriswarbo 12y ago
When forced to use Windows at a previous job, I used http://code.google.com/p/python-windows-tiler/ http://code.google.com/p/python-windows-tiler/ In fact I only had 2 applications running: Outlook and Cygwin/X tunneled to a Linux server, where I did everything else.

GregoryLS 12y ago

Very impressive! I found a few glitches on the aps, but overall it looks very impressive!

rlvesco7 12y ago

Another autohotkey based program is bug.n. http://www.autohotkey.net./~joten/bug.n.html http://www.autohotkey.net./~joten/bug.n.html It combines tiling with desktops similar to dwm or xmonad. Whenever I have to used windows, this is what I use.

WorldWideWayne 12y ago

I love how many people at HN have to preface anything that they say about their usage of Windows with a disclaimer, such as "When I was forced to use Windows..." or "Back when I used Windows..." or "Whenever I have to use Windows..." It's as if, if they don't hide this perceived weakness, the alpha-nerds will eat them!

dmux 12y ago
The only way I'd ever use Windows is through Ludovico.
- WorldWideWayne 12y ago
  k

krakensden 12y ago

This is the most disgusting hack I've seen in a long time. It's also beautiful. More like this, please.

octalmage 12y ago
This is my favorite, can I use it on the website?