Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Shiftit VS Stack WM

Compare Shiftit VS Stack WM and see what are their differences

Shiftit logo Shiftit

fikovnik has 62 repositories available. Follow their code on GitHub.

Stack WM logo Stack WM

Better window manager for Windows
  • Shiftit Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-19
  • Stack WM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-14

Shiftit features and specs

  • Open Source
    ShiftIt is an open-source project, meaning that it is free to use and its source code is publicly available for review and modification. This allows users to customize the application to their needs and contributes to a larger community of developers and users.
  • Window Management
    ShiftIt provides powerful window management capabilities, enabling users to easily resize, move, and rearrange windows using keyboard shortcuts. This enhances productivity and helps maintain an organized workspace.
  • Lightweight
    ShiftIt is a lightweight application that does not consume significant system resources, making it a good choice for users who need efficient window management without sacrificing performance.
  • Customizable Shortcuts
    Users have the flexibility to customize keyboard shortcuts to their preferences, allowing for a more personalized and efficient window management experience.
  • Consistent Updates
    Being a maintained open-source project, ShiftIt receives consistent updates and improvements from the community, ensuring enhanced features and bug fixes over time.

Possible disadvantages of Shiftit

  • Limited to macOS
    ShiftIt is only available for macOS, which limits its usability to users of Apple's operating system and excludes users on other platforms such as Windows and Linux.
  • Potential Bugs
    As with many open-source projects, bugs and issues may surface occasionally. Though the community actively works on improvements, users might encounter stability issues or unexpected behavior.
  • Dependency on System Preferences
    ShiftIt requires accessibility permissions to function correctly, which may be cumbersome for some users to set up initially. Certain macOS updates may also affect these permissions, requiring users to reconfigure the application.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    Compared to some commercial window management solutions, ShiftIt may lack some advanced features and customization options that power users might require.
  • User Interface
    ShiftIt does not have a polished graphical user interface, which might not appeal to users who prefer a more visually refined application. Most configuration and usage are done through menus and keyboard shortcuts.

Stack WM features and specs

  • Resource Efficiency
    Stack WM is designed to be lightweight and efficient, consuming minimal system resources, which can lead to better performance on older or less powerful hardware.
  • Customizability
    The window manager offers significant customization options, allowing users to tailor the interface and functionality to their specific needs and preferences.
  • Tiling Features
    It provides automatic tiling of windows, which can improve workflow and multitasking by making better use of screen real estate.
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
    Offers a variety of configurable keyboard shortcuts to improve navigation speed and efficiency, reducing the reliance on a mouse.
  • Open-Source
    Being open-source, it allows developers to view, modify, and contribute to the codebase, fostering a community of collaborative improvement.

Possible disadvantages of Stack WM

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users may find it difficult to learn and configure as it does not provide a standard desktop environment with typical graphical tools.
  • Limited Graphical Tools
    Unlike more mainstream desktop environments, Stack WM does not come with many built-in graphical configuration tools, which may necessitate manual configuration file editing.
  • Compatibility
    Some users might face compatibility issues with certain applications designed mainly for more popular environments, necessitating additional configuration or troubleshooting.
  • Niche User Base
    Being a less widely used window manager, it has a smaller community, which can mean fewer resources and support options are available online.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    As with many lightweight or less commonly used software solutions, users might encounter bugs or stability issues that have yet to be fully addressed.

Analysis of Shiftit

Overall verdict

  • Shiftit is generally regarded as a useful and efficient tool for users who seek enhanced window management capabilities on macOS. Its lightweight design and straightforward functionality make it a solid choice for improving workflow and organization.

Why this product is good

  • Shiftit is a window management tool for macOS that allows users to quickly and easily arrange their windows using keyboard shortcuts. It seamlessly improves productivity by optimizing screen real estate without requiring manual dragging and resizing of windows.

Recommended for

  • macOS users looking for improved window management
  • Individuals who prefer using keyboard shortcuts over mouse-driven tasks
  • Professionals seeking increased productivity through better screen organization
  • Users who want a free and open-source solution for managing windows on their desktop

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Shiftit and Stack WM)
Window Manager
57 57%
43% 43
OSX Tools
55 55%
45% 45
OSX Window Manager
76 76%
24% 24
OS & Utilities
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Stack WM seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 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.

Shiftit mentions (0)

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

Stack WM mentions (5)

  • Show HN: A tiling window manager like i3wm written in C#
    What is the license? I am author of Stack WM [1]. Also C#, but all the configuration and layouts are defined in WPF XAML and are generally static (e.g. Like PowerToys, but much more flexible due to WPF containers and data binding + you can make WPF-based widgets). Curious about the license for I am interested in having a common library for window manipulation. I am using VirtualDesktop [2] to handle Windows... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • A terminal with UI like visual code
    > I could envision a WM that allows you to group windows together into tabs There's one on Windows, that has the tabs feature: https://losttech.software/stack.html Disclaimer: I made it. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • KDE: A Nice Tiling Environment and a Surprisingly DE
    Disclaimer: I am the author. For Windows I made Stack WM: https://losttech.software/stack.html I works differently from i3: you _predefine_ screen zones (possibly overlapping), and then just move your windows between them with keyboard shortcuts or middle mouse button. IMHO, covers the problems you mentioned. You can have: - multiple windows in one zone with normal Z ordering - a taskbar for any zone or a group of... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • Switching to the I3 Window Manager
    I've made my own tiling WM for Windows (non-free): https://losttech.software/stack.html But it does not work like i3. You predefine the layouts (which can be dynamic). - Source: Hacker News / almost 5 years ago
  • Ask HN: What are some tools / libraries you built yourself?
    A tiling window manager for Windows https://losttech.software/stack.html. - Source: Hacker News / over 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Shiftit and Stack WM, you can also consider the following products

Moom - Move your mouse over the green zoom button in any window, and Moom's mouse control overlay will appear (as seen in the above animation).

GridMove - GridMove - A window management tool that can quickly arrange your windows into desktop grids.

Mizage Divvy - Divvy is an entirely new way of managing your workspace.

Preme for Windows - Speeds up your window switching.

AquaSnap - Too many windows on your screen? Stop wasting your productivity.

WinDock - WinDock is a window manager ideal for large, or multi-monitor setups. Features: