Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Rectangle VS Yay

Compare Rectangle VS Yay and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Rectangle logo Rectangle

Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.

Yay logo Yay

Yay is an AUR helper written in go, based on the design of yaourt, apacman and pacaur.
  • Rectangle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-20
  • Yay Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-13

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.

Yay features and specs

  • AUR Support
    Yay provides seamless support for Arch User Repository (AUR) packages, allowing users to easily search for, install, and update AUR packages along with official repository packages.
  • Combined Package Management
    It combines both AUR and official repository package management in one tool, streamlining the process and reducing the need to use multiple package managers.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Yay offers a user-friendly command-line interface with clear prompts and options, making it easier to navigate and use than some other AUR helpers.
  • Speed and Efficiency
    Thanks to its optimized codebase and use of go programming language, Yay is typically faster than some alternatives, enhancing the overall system update process.
  • Interactive Search
    It provides an interactive search feature, allowing users to conveniently search for packages without leaving the terminal interface, enhancing user experience.

Possible disadvantages of Yay

  • Dependency Management Complexity
    Managing dependencies for AUR packages can become complex and may require manual intervention, particularly with packages that have many dependencies or conflicts.
  • Potential for Inexperienced User Errors
    As with any AUR helper, misuse by inexperienced users could potentially lead to system instability if non-vetted or conflicting packages are installed.
  • Security Risks
    Since AUR packages are user-submitted, there is an inherent security risk involved with installing them, as they may not receive the same scrutiny as official repository packages.
  • Limited Official Support
    While Yay is popular and widely used, it is not officially supported by Arch Linux, and users must turn to community forums for support and troubleshooting.
  • Dependency on the Go Language
    As Yay is written in Go, it requires Go runtime for compilation from source, which might be an inconvenience for some users who prefer not to have additional language runtimes.

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.

Analysis of Yay

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Yay is considered a good tool for managing AUR packages, thanks to its user-friendly design and reliable performance. It is well-suited for users who want an efficient way to access and maintain a wide range of software available in the AUR.

Why this product is good

  • Yay is a popular AUR (Arch User Repository) helper for Arch Linux users. It simplifies the process of installing and managing AUR packages by automating the build process, resolving dependencies, and handling updates. Its seamless integration with official Arch package management tools, ease of use, and active community support make it a favored choice among Arch Linux enthusiasts.

Recommended for

    Yay is recommended for intermediate to advanced Linux users who are comfortable working with the command line, particularly those using Arch Linux or its derivatives. It's especially beneficial for users who frequently install applications from the AUR.

Rectangle videos

SKYWALKER RECTANGLE TRAMPOLINE REVIEW!!!

More videos:

  • Review - Skywalker Rectangle Trampoline Review #1
  • Review - Marvin Malton 160 Rectangle Flying Hour Watch Review

Yay videos

Review Mister Potato YAY - YERS Spicy Tebabo & Cheezy Wheezy ๐Ÿ’— Rozu Style

More videos:

  • Review - My First Order from WeCrochet! (Review + an AMAZING deal) | Yay For Yarn
  • Review - Yay Labs Ice Cream Ball Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rectangle and Yay)
Mac Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Work Music
0 0%
100% 100
Window Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Focus Music
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Rectangle and Yay. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

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

Rectangle Reviews

Best 6 Mac Window Managers
Rectangle shows that you donโ€™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 โ€“ such as BetterSnapTool, Magnet, and Rectangle โ€“ offer this functionality.
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.

Yay Reviews

We have no reviews of Yay yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Rectangle seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 479 times since March 2021. 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.

Rectangle mentions (479)

  • Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Released
    As a both old Linux and now decade user of MacOS, after I got used to no middle-click paste and no focus-follows-mouse: 1. Keyboard shortcuts are Emacs, Ctrl-A: start of line, E: end of line, K: kill selected or to end of line, Y to paste, etc. https://support.apple.com/en-au/102650#text 2. Karabiner elements (FOSS) fixes keyboard mappings outside of the Settings: https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/ 3. I have the... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Native Instant Space Switching on macOS
    Every macOS user uses Rectangle.app โ€” https://rectangleapp.com The ones who don't use it is because they donโ€™t know it exists. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Native Instant Space Switching on macOS
    I use https://rectangleapp.com/ and enjoy it. I have shortcuts to move windows to the left/right half of the screen, and cycle between monitors. This, combined with native cmd+tab and cmd+` is enough for me. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Make macOS consistently bad (unironically)
    Rectangle [1] is pretty much essential for me because of this. I use only a few keypresses (maximize window, move to one of the halves of the screen horizontally) but that is enough. My mouse very rately interacts with the borders of any window, or those buttons. I had to click on the green one that you mentioned in order to see what it did (yuck). [1] https://rectangleapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Make macOS consistently bad (unironically)
    I use Rectangle [1] for window management. I only use three shortcuts: full screen, left half of the screen, and right half of the screen. My editors and chrome are always running in one of these modes. But for other apps like Messages, Notes, Music, etc - yeah I don't usually expand them to full screen. [1] https://rectangleapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
View more

Yay mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Yay yet. Tracking of Yay recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Rectangle and Yay, you can also consider the following products

Magnet Window Manager - Magnet Developers

paru - An AUR helper written in Rust and based on the design of yay. It aims to be your standard pacman wrapping AUR helper with minimal interaction.

yabai - A tiling window manager for macOS based on binary space partitioning

pikaur - AUR helper with minimal dependencies. Review PKGBUILDs all in once, next build them all without user interaction.Inspired by pacaur, yaourt and yay.

BTT Remote - A remote control for you Mac, using your iPhone or iPad

Conda - Binary package manager with support for environments.