Who Windows is for#
Mac developers transitioning from Rectangle or Magnet
Windows ships with default shortcuts that cover the same core positions as Rectangle and Magnet: left and right halves, full screen, and center. The conflict detection and coexistence mode let you run both apps side by side during a transition, then remove the other once your muscle memory has transferred.
Skip if:
You rely on Rectangle Pro's window cycling, thirds positioning, or iCloud sync across multiple Macs. Windows does not include any of those and the developer has not listed them as planned features.
Privacy-focused macOS users
Because Windows has no outgoing network code, no account, and no analytics, it is the right choice when you prefer your window manager to make zero external connections. You can verify this directly from the public source code on GitHub.
Skip if:
You need automatic silent updates. Windows has no built-in update mechanism; to get a new version you re-run the install script manually.
Mac users on dual-monitor setups
The next-display shortcut moves the front window to the next monitor at the same relative size and position. Custom sizes can target the window's current display, the main display, or the next display, making it practical to build per-monitor size presets.
Skip if:
You need tiling across three or more displays with saved named layouts or per-application rules. Windows moves one window at a time and has no saved-layout concept.
The problem it solves#
Managing multiple windows on macOS without a dedicated tool means manually dragging and resizing every time you switch tasks or connect a second display. The free native macOS tiling is limited to Stage Manager and Split View, neither of which covers the common case of snapping a window to a precise half-screen position with one keystroke.
The paid tools that fill this gap, Magnet, Moom, Rectangle Pro, and Mosaic, cost $4.99 to $9.99 each and are distributed through the Mac App Store or developer sites. Each has its own shortcut defaults, and switching between them during a trial period means re-learning muscle memory. When a macOS major update breaks one, you wait for a paid fix or live without the feature until the developer ships a release.
How it solves it#
11 customizable keyboard shortcuts
Ships with shortcuts for left, right, top, and bottom halves, full screen, center, back to previous size, next display, and three named sizes (97%, 80%, 60% of the screen). All 11 are reassignable from Settings: click a slot and press the new combination. Delete clears it; Escape cancels without saving.
Drag-to-edge window snapping
Dragging a window by its title bar to the left or right edge snaps it to half the screen; the top edge gives full screen; any corner gives a quarter. An outline previews the final position before you release. Snapping fires only when the window has moved without resizing, so it does not interfere with resize handles or text selection.
Custom window sizes with shortcuts
Define your own size by name, width and height (percentage of screen or fixed points), a position on a 3-by-3 grid, which display to target (current, main, or next), and a keyboard shortcut. Three sizes ship ready to use. Deleting a custom size requires a 3-second hold to prevent accidental removal.
Zero network code
Windows contains no URLSession calls, no sockets, and no outgoing connections. Shortcuts and custom sizes are stored in the app's user defaults on your Mac. There is no account, no telemetry, no license server, and no auto-update connection of any kind.
Shortcut conflict detection
Before accepting a new shortcut, Windows checks macOS's active system shortcuts, the menus of every open application through the Accessibility API, and any other window manager it detects. Conflicts are shown in red; a shortcut already used inside Windows is refused outright, and the settings panel notes when a conflict comes from a global hotkey that macOS's public API cannot enumerate.
Coexists with Rectangle, Magnet, and Moom
Windows recognizes Rectangle, Rectangle Pro, Magnet, Moom, Spectacle, BetterSnapTool, Loop, and Divvy. When another manager is running, Windows warns in the menu bar and yields its shortcuts to avoid conflicts. When you quit the other manager, Windows resumes its shortcuts automatically.
Strengths and trade-offs#
Strengths
- MIT license with no purchase requiredThe full source is on GitHub under the MIT license. Install it from one shell command at no cost, use it in any environment, and modify the code without restriction. Unlike Magnet ($4.99, App Store) or Rectangle Pro ($9.99), there is no purchase, no account, and no subscription.
- Native Swift with no external dependenciesBuilt with AppKit, SwiftUI, and swiftc; no Xcode project, no package manager, and no third-party libraries. The installed app is 3.4 MB. On Apple Silicon with macOS 14+ it runs on the native architecture with no translation layer and starts instantly from the menu bar.
- Verifiable privacy: zero outgoing connectionsUnlike commercial window managers that may check for license validity or collect usage analytics, Windows has no network code. The README lists every Accessibility API call the app makes and confirms it reads only window position and size. You can build it from source to verify.
- Signed and notarized by AppleRelease builds are signed with Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so the .dmg opens without a Gatekeeper warning on any Mac that allows Developer ID apps. Versions from 0.2.0 onward install cleanly from a browser download without any override step.
Trade-offs
- -Apple Silicon and macOS 14 or newer onlyWindows requires an M1 or later chip and macOS Sonoma (14) or newer. Intel Macs, Macs on macOS 13 or earlier, and all non-Apple platforms are unsupported. The README lists no plan to add Intel support.
- -No saved layouts, gestures, or iCloud syncWindows deliberately omits features present in Moom and similar tools: saved window layouts, thirds and size cycling, gaps between windows, trackpad gestures, and iCloud sync. The developer lists these as out-of-scope, not as planned additions, so users who depend on those workflows need a different tool.
- -Very new project with minimal track recordThe GitHub repository was created on October 19, 2026 and had 2 stars at the time of this writing. There is no issue history and no external contributors yet. For production Mac setups that depend on window management stability, the absence of a track record is a real uncertainty compared to established tools.
Windows vs alternatives#
Windows vs Magnet
Both tools snap Mac windows to screen positions using keyboard shortcuts and drag-to-edge. The decision comes down to cost and source transparency.
| Feature | Windows | Magnet |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | Proprietary |
| Price | Free | $4.99 (App Store) |
| Source code | Public GitHub | Closed |
| Network code | None | Standard App Store rules |
| Apple Silicon | Yes | Yes |
Windows is the better pick for users who want no App Store purchase, no background connections, and the ability to read every line of code. Magnet is worth considering if you already own it from the App Store, prefer managed App Store updates, and value an established release history over code transparency.
Windows vs Moom
Moom has a broader feature set: window cycling, per-application saved layouts, a grid-based custom positions editor, and keyboard canvas mode. Windows is deliberately narrower.
| Feature | Windows | Moom |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | Proprietary |
| Price | Free | $9.99 (App Store) |
| Saved layouts | No | Yes |
| Thirds and size cycling | No | Yes |
| Network code | None | Standard App Store rules |
If you manage a complex multi-window workflow that benefits from named saved layouts or per-app rules, Moom's broader toolkit justifies its price. Windows is the better fit when your needs are covered by halves, full screen, quarters, and a few custom sizes, and you want a free, auditable codebase with no App Store account required.
Windows vs Rectangle Pro
Rectangle is the open source benchmark in this space; Rectangle Pro is its $9.99 paid successor. The Windows README names Rectangle as an explicit design reference.
| Feature | Windows | Rectangle Pro |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | Proprietary |
| Price | Free | $9.99 |
| Shortcut coexistence | Yes | Yes |
| Size cycling | No | Yes |
| iCloud sync | No | Yes |
| Track record | New (Oct 2026) | Established |
Windows matches Rectangle Pro on the core snap-to-position use case at zero cost with a fully public codebase. Rectangle Pro adds size cycling, iCloud sync across machines, and years of release history. For users who need iCloud sync or the size-cycling shortcut pattern, Rectangle Pro is the stronger choice.
Quick start#
Run the setup script to install on macOS 14+ Apple Silicon.
```bash
curl -fsSL https://blob.ciromaciel.click/tools/windows/install.sh | bash
```What it's built on#
- Languages
- JavaScriptSwift
FAQ#
Why does Windows ask for Accessibility permission?
macOS requires Accessibility permission for any app that moves other apps' windows. Windows uses it only to read the front window's position and size and to reposition it. On the first run, the app opens System Settings to the correct Privacy and Security page and detects when the permission is granted without requiring a restart.
Can Windows run alongside Rectangle or Magnet?
Yes. Windows recognizes Rectangle, Rectangle Pro, Magnet, Moom, Spectacle, BetterSnapTool, Loop, and Divvy. When another manager is detected, Windows warns in the menu bar and in its Settings panel, and yields its shortcuts to avoid conflicts. When you quit the other manager, Windows resumes its shortcuts automatically.
Does Windows run on Intel Macs?
No. The app requires Apple Silicon (M1 or newer) and macOS 14 (Sonoma) or newer. Intel Macs and older macOS versions are not supported, and the README lists no plan to add Intel support.
How do I update Windows to a newer version?
Re-run the original install script. The script downloads the latest version, replaces the app in /Applications, and preserves your shortcuts and custom sizes. Only the upgrade to version 0.2.0 required re-granting Accessibility permission once.
Can I build Windows from source?
Yes. Clone the repository from github.com/ciro-maciel/windows and run the scripts/build.sh script. You need only the Xcode Command Line Tools; Xcode itself is optional. The build uses swiftc directly with no package manager or third-party dependencies required.
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