Arcan VS Rectangle

Compare Arcan VS Rectangle and see what are their differences

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Arcan

Game engine and multimedia framework and display server.

Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.

Landing page //
2023-05-14

Landing page //
2023-05-20

Arcan

Website: arcan-fe.com
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Rectangle

Website: rectangleapp.com
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Arcan features and specs

Open Source
Arcan is open-source, allowing developers to access, modify, and improve the source code according to their needs. This fosters a community-driven environment and enhances transparency.
Versatility
Arcan is designed to handle a wide array of graphical and multimedia tasks, making it suitable for various applications beyond just a display server.
Security Focus
The platform emphasizes security by design, providing mechanisms to isolate and protect components and users, which is crucial in multi-user or multi-tenant systems.
Performance
Arcan is optimized for performance, aiming to deliver efficient rendering and resource utilization, which is beneficial for both desktop environments and embedded systems.

Possible disadvantages of Arcan

Complexity
Due to its extensive feature set and adaptable nature, Arcan's framework may have a steep learning curve for new users or developers unfamiliar with its architecture.
Limited Adoption
Compared to more established systems like X11 or Wayland, Arcan has a smaller user base, which can limit community support, third-party integrations, and documentation.
Compatibility Challenges
As Arcan offers a unique approach to handling graphical tasks, it might face compatibility issues with software or systems not specifically designed to work with its environment.

Rectangle features and specs

Ease of Use
Rectangle offers an intuitive user interface that makes window management straightforward and user-friendly.
Customizable Shortcuts
Users can easily configure keyboard shortcuts to better suit their workflow, making window management faster and more efficient.
Free
Rectangle is available for free, making it accessible to anyone without the need for a financial investment.
Frequent Updates
The app receives regular updates, introducing new features and ensuring compatibility with the latest macOS versions.
Lightweight
Rectangle is a lightweight application that doesn't consume many system resources, ensuring smooth performance even on older Macs.

Possible disadvantages of Rectangle

Limited Advanced Features
Rectangle lacks some of the more advanced features found in paid window management applications, such as multiple monitor support and more complex window arrangements.
MacOS Only
Rectangle is only available for macOS, so users of other operating systems are unable to take advantage of its features.
Occasional Bugs
Some users report occasional bugs or unpredictable behavior, which might require troubleshooting or waiting for a future update.
Learning Curve for Shortcuts
While customizable shortcuts are a benefit, there is an initial learning curve for users to memorize and effectively use these shortcuts.
Basic Aesthetic
The app's design and aesthetic are quite basic, lacking the polish and visual appeal found in some other similar tools.

Analysis of Rectangle

Overall verdict

Overall, Rectangle is highly regarded for its ease of use, extensive customization options, and the fact that it is free and open-source. It provides essential functionality without unnecessary complexity, making it suitable for both casual users and power users who need efficient window management.

Why this product is good

Rectangle is a popular window management tool for macOS, known for its simplicity and ease of use. It allows users to efficiently organize and resize application windows using customizable keyboard shortcuts or by dragging windows into pre-defined areas of the screen. This can enhance productivity by minimizing the time spent arranging windows and improving multitasking capabilities.

Recommended for

Rectangle is recommended for macOS users looking for a straightforward, lightweight solution to manage application windows. It is particularly beneficial for those who frequently work with multiple applications at once, including developers, designers, and anyone who values a tidy and organized desktop environment.

Arcan videos

+ Add

A Quick Review of Arcan XL3000 Low Profile Floor Jack

Rectangle videos

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SKYWALKER RECTANGLE TRAMPOLINE REVIEW!!!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Arcan and Rectangle)

Arcan

Rectangle

Linux

100 100%

Linux

0% 0

Mac Tools

0 0%

Mac Tools

100% 100

Operating Systems

100 100%

Operating Systems

0% 0

Window Manager

3 3%

Window Manager

97% 97

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Arcan and Rectangle

Arcan Reviews

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Rectangle Reviews

Best 6 Mac Window Managers

Rectangle shows that you don’t need to dip into your bank account to get window resizer tools. This free Mac window manager lets you manage multiple windows using keyboard shortcuts, menu options, or by dragging and dropping. Just like Magnet, you can split your screen up into quarters, thirds, or halves.

Source: mackeeper.com

Top 6 Window Manager Apps for Mac

Most window manager apps for Mac support multiple monitors. They can help you move windows between screens and create custom layouts for each monitor. Many window manager apps – such as BetterSnapTool, Magnet, and Rectangle – offer this functionality.

Source: www.maketecheasier.com

The 6 Best Mac Window Management Tools

However, it might take some time for you to get used to the shortcuts in the Rectangle app since there are many. Furthermore, you can also add some of your apps to exceptions if you want to keep them away from Rectangle's shortcuts.

Source: www.makeuseof.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Rectangle seems to be a lot more popular than Arcan. While we know about 464 links to Rectangle, we've tracked only 21 mentions of Arcan. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Arcan mentions (21)

Étoilé – desktop built on GNUStep
Chisnall has stated several times over on Lobsters that he's thinking of basing is future project on Arcan (https://arcan-fe.com/). It's a very interesting project. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
In praise of grobi for auto-configuring X11 monitors
Yes, multi-protocol display servers like Arcan are the future. https://arcan-fe.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
Dear sir, you have built a compiler (2022)
You should take a look at arcan, it's almost exactly that: http://arcan-fe.com - https://arcan-fe.com/2022/10/15/whipping-up-a-new-shell-lashcat9/ - https://arcan-fe.com/2024/09/16/a-spreadsheet-and-a-debugger-walks-into-a-shell/ I am not using it as a daily driver, because, emacs, but I keep an eye on it because, well, emacs. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
Xpra: Persistent Remote Applications for X11
This was very cool, and is made in Arcan! https://arcan-fe.com/ a project I just recently discovered and am very excited about. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
Ideal OS: Rebooting the Desktop Operating System (2017)
A lot of this seems like it's done by Arcan (https://arcan-fe.com). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago

Rectangle mentions (464)

Why I'm Spoiled by Apple Silicon (But Still Love Framework)
> I’m referring to apples to apples comparison where they’re either some standard out of the box version or when customized with available tools and mods. Comparing your highly customized Linux desktop to a completely uncustomized Mac setup with no attempt at other tools or utilities isn’t an interesting comparison because it’s not apples to apples, it’s just a statement about your current preference.... - Source: Hacker News / 12 days ago
Omarchy Is Out
Free version of Rectangle is very good https://rectangleapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
Any tools for a customizable trading dashboard (charts, order flow, news, etc.)?
Try rectangle if you’re on mac. It’s a window manager and you can config hot keys to move windows around. For example I keep my large monitor split in 3, with a window in each third. I know it’s not exactly what you asked, but prob the best you can achieve. If you want to try to roll your own web solution, you can try to create a page with multiple iframes. The catch is that sites control whether they can be... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
The Future Is Niri
This is how I use my Mac desktop with Rectangle https://rectangleapp.com That and the apple touchpad to swipe three fingers left and right to switch desktops (and different machines as one desktop is remote desked into a windows box and another terminal+tmux session to a linux box). - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
iTerm2 Critical Security Fix
Full-screen-but-not-native is useful enough that it's handy to have around for all windows in all programs. So the move there is to install Rectangle.app (https://rectangleapp.com/), the successor to Spectacle, and then choose your terminal independently. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago