Two DeskTops ! ................ What do you use yours for?

[towwire]

@Gaer Boy Thanks for hitting me over the head with the obvious.
I have NEVER used "Save session for future logins", not once!
I'll have to try that.

@towwire Thanks for absolutely confirming that it will work.

For both, because, I knew workspaces were very handy, but for some reason it never occurred to me to open programs in specific workspaces – perhaps because I didn't know that it was possible.

Thanks again, I'll be using that soon.

I do not used "Save session for future logins", just the script that places the program on the workspace I wanted. One even works like you started the program and then acts like live and you click on something in that program. I ran that 5 days a week until I found another way to do the same thing.

[TURK]

That was a very interesting read guys, and some very impressive setups!
I love the idea of starting various programs in different workspaces, personal stuff separated from work and or 'play' stuff. Makes a great deal of sense. Even the mention of opening a workspace ( say, Workspace 2 ) on another monitor.

As I'm learning Linux ( not just MX, but particularly the Terminal ) it's a great idea to have a second monitor open for YouTube tutorials.

You have me convinced! .............. I will from now on use both the workspaces available on MX, and who knows, later on maybe add a couple more workspaces.

Many thanks.



TURK

[davidy]

I just started using 2 workspaces having really never used multiple desktops ever. Workspace 2 is for an open fullscreen instance of freefilesync running as root. Workspace 1 is for whatever I am actually doing. As I am using the FFS root instance multiple times in one session I find it simply easier to place it on the 2nd workspace where it and it's tray icon stay out of my way while I'm doing whatever on the other desktop. If I could simply minimize it to the actual notification area I wouldn't even use the workspace switcher.

[Duliwi]

Xfce: For me I also do not see any reason why to use more than one workspace.

When I want to change between programmes, I use the docklike Icons:
The most important programmes are pinned. So they are always at the same position and I can click them almost blindly:

k20240518-085603.png

(My panel does not look well, but it is very functional.


Or I use alt+tab to change between programmes:

k20240518-085606.png

Virtualbox: To change to the VM, that is open, I use a separate key combination. It is Ctrl+Alt+tab. You have to configure this key combination via -> settings -> keyboard.
With this shortcut the following script starts:
~/.bin/WechselnZwischenVMundLinux.sh

The content of the script is:

Code: Select all

#!/bin/bash
# List all windows with wmctrl -l and search for ‘[is running]’
window=$(wmctrl -l | awk '/\[is running]/ {print substr($0, index($0,$4))}')
# When a window has been found, switch to this window
if [ "$window" != "" ]
then
    wmctrl -a "$window"
fi

Please make sure, that "wmctrl" is installed. Maybe in the script you will have to adapt "[is running]". It depends from the title of your VM window.:

k20240518-092532.png

Virtualbox: To change back from the VM into Linux we can use this key combination out of the box:
pressing Ctrl – Release Ctrl button – pressing Alt + tab
... or somethimes...
pressing Ctrl – Release Ctrl button – pressing Alt + tab – Release tab button – press tab button again.

[8bit]

When I want to change between programmes, I use the docklike Icons:
The most important programmes are pinned. So they are always at the same position and I can click them almost blindly:

Each to their own, and for me it's a menu, right here, right now. With a desktop of 5440x2880, Id rather not mouse across that real estate and shoot for an icon.
To get that, turn off desktop icons for a right-click menu. Desktop icons are like piling the clean laundry on top of the dresser and not using the drawers.
No Whisker Menu, desktop switcher, etc in the panel; just a few indicator icons in the tray. Switch desktops with the mouse wheel.
Four desktops; online, image editing, text editing, anything else.

[manyroads]

Just so you can appreciate how 50+ years of computer use might generate a different view...

I typically have use 10 workspaces and at login have the option to choose 1 of 5 window managers. I like the different window manager choice to change up style whenever the spirit moves me (these days I'm most often using hlwm). I assign apps to open to a pre-designated workspace via keybinding scripts that use wmtcrl to open my app (https://linux.die.net/man/1/wmctrl)

As for why I do things this way?!?!? Well because I can.

[Tovian]

I have my own reasons (below) but I just did a Google search on "what are uses for multiple workspaces in Linux" and there are lots of hits. Personally, I always thought of my multiple workspaces as a way of going to my home office environment or going to my work office environment without changing a single thing at either one just to accommodate the other - they are as separate as if they are in physically different locations. In essence, that's just a way of organizing work so that some activities don't bleed over into other unrelated activities. And, when you leave one environment you can come back to it later with absolutely everything just as you left it. It's a great feature for some and a trip to Hell-and-back for others. But the very best attribute is: it's there if you like/need it.