Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Stack WM VS Spectacle App

Compare Stack WM VS Spectacle App and see what are their differences

Stack WM logo Stack WM

Better window manager for Windows

Spectacle App logo Spectacle App

Move and resize windows with ease.
  • Stack WM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-14
  • Spectacle App Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-18

Important note: Spectacle is no longer being actively maintained

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.

Spectacle App features and specs

  • User-Friendliness
    Spectacle App offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, which allows users to quickly understand and navigate through its features without a steep learning curve.
  • Efficiency
    The app provides keyboard shortcuts for managing window sizes and positions, enhancing workflow efficiency and minimizing the time spent on window management.
  • Customization
    Users can customize the keyboard shortcuts according to their preferences, making the app versatile and adaptable to different working styles.
  • Free to Use
    Spectacle App is available at no cost, providing powerful window management features without any financial barriers.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, Spectacle App allows users to contribute to its development and modifications, promoting community collaboration and transparency.

Possible disadvantages of Spectacle App

  • Limited Development
    The app is no longer actively maintained, which may result in compatibility issues with newer operating systems or a lack of new features over time.
  • Basic Functionality
    While effective, Spectacle App offers relatively basic functionality compared to some commercial window management tools, which may have more advanced features.
  • No Multi-Monitor Support
    Spectacle App lacks robust support for managing windows across multiple monitors, which can be a limitation for users with complex setups.
  • Potential Bugs
    As an open-source project without ongoing maintenance, users might encounter bugs or glitches that will not be addressed through official updates.

Stack WM videos

No Stack WM videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Spectacle App videos

Demo of Spectacle App for Mac

More videos:

  • Review - Spectacle App Showcase: Window Management, Manipulation, & Organization for Mac (2017)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Stack WM and Spectacle App)
Window Manager
37 37%
63% 63
Screenshot Annotation
0 0%
100% 100
OSX Tools
100 100%
0% 0
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Stack WM and Spectacle App. 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 Stack WM and Spectacle App

Stack WM Reviews

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

Spectacle App Reviews

Moom vs Magnet vs Spectacle
While custom sizes can only be done with Moom, the predefined window sizes are provided by Magnet and Spectacle out of the box, but can also be configured manually with Moom. Itโ€™s also possible to assign keyboard shortcuts. So, in this case, if you want all the features, Moom can do them all.
Source: medium.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Stack WM might be a bit more popular than Spectacle App. We know about 5 links to it since March 2021 and only 4 links to Spectacle App. 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.

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 / about 5 years ago

Spectacle App mentions (4)

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Greenshot - Greenshot is a free and open source screenshot tool that allows annotation and highlighting using the built-in image editor.

Preme for Windows - Speeds up your window switching.

ShareX - ShareX is a free and open source program that lets you capture or record any area of your screen...

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

FastStone Capture - A powerful, lightweight, yet full-featured screen capture tool that allows you to easily capture...