Cascade all windows with Amethyst

Ever since Windows 10, and then switching to Apple and macOS, I have struggled to keep my many windows organized. On Windows this was not much of a problem because (insert joke about Windows here) it is generally too slow to manage many applications at once.

But my Mac is different. First, the little X button on a Mac does not really close windows; it just minimizes them. Second, the Unix underbelly of a Mac can run dozens of applications at once, and keeping track of all those windows is difficult.

Thankfully, there is a free open source project (with a suggested donation) that makes an effort to manage it. It reminds me of the simplicity of 1998, when I would get overwhelmed and just click “Cascade all windows” or “Tile all windows”, instantly organizing my desktop into thousands of tiny boxes. At least then I could see how many were open.

Amethyst – I tested a few different window management tools, and the competition is, unfortunately, not worth mentioning. With Amethyst you need to remember only a handful of hotkeys: <SHIFT> <OPT> <SPACE>, <PERIOD>, <H,J,K,L> and <ENTER>. Yes, that is more than two, but it is worth learning them. You can keep the main app you are working in on the left, and every other open program on the right.

It automatically resizes the right-hand pane, helping you stay aware of all your open programs. Once you get used to it, all you need to remember is that if your screens do not make sense, you can hold down <SHIFT> <OPT> and try a few keys with your right hand.