Pros of yabai

• Focused specifically on window management and tiling
• Offers more advanced tiling features and layouts
• Faster and more lightweight for window operations

Cons of yabai

• Requires disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) for full functionality
• Less versatile than Hammerspoon, primarily focused on window management
• Steeper learning curve for configuration

Code Comparison

yabai configuration example:

yabai -m config layout bsp
yabai -m config top_padding 10
yabai -m config left_padding 10
yabai -m config right_padding 10
yabai -m config bottom_padding 10

Hammerspoon window management example:

hs.hotkey.bind({"cmd", "alt", "ctrl"}, "Left", function()
  local win = hs.window.focusedWindow()
  local f = win:frame()
  local screen = win:screen()
  local max = screen:frame()
  f.x = max.x
  f.y = max.y
  f.w = max.w / 2
  f.h = max.h
  win:setFrame(f)
end)

Hammerspoon offers a more general-purpose scripting environment for macOS automation, while yabai specializes in advanced window management and tiling. Yabai provides more powerful tiling features but requires more setup and potential security trade-offs. Hammerspoon is more versatile and easier to get started with but may be less efficient for complex window layouts.

Pros of Dozer

• Focused, single-purpose tool for hiding menu bar icons
• Lightweight and easy to use with a simple interface
• Free and open-source

Cons of Dozer

• Limited functionality compared to Hammerspoon's extensive capabilities
• Less customizable and extensible
• Smaller community and fewer updates

Code Comparison

Dozer (Objective-C):

- (void)toggleHidden {
    [self setHidden:![self isHidden]];
    [self updateStatusItem];
}

Hammerspoon (Lua):

function toggleHidden()
    local isHidden = hs.menubar.isHidden()
    hs.menubar.setHidden(not isHidden)
    updateStatusItem()
end

While both projects deal with menu bar management, their scopes and implementations differ significantly. Dozer is a specialized tool for hiding menu bar icons, written in Objective-C. Hammerspoon, on the other hand, is a powerful automation tool for macOS, using Lua for scripting and offering a wide range of functionalities beyond menu bar management.

Dozer provides a straightforward solution for users who only need to manage menu bar clutter, while Hammerspoon offers a more comprehensive set of tools for power users looking to automate various aspects of their macOS experience.

Pros of Amethyst

• Focused specifically on window management, making it simpler to use for this purpose
• Provides a more streamlined, out-of-the-box experience for tiling windows
• Lighter weight and less resource-intensive than Hammerspoon

Cons of Amethyst

• Less flexible and customizable compared to Hammerspoon's extensive scripting capabilities
• Limited to window management tasks, while Hammerspoon offers a broader range of system automation features
• Smaller community and fewer extensions/plugins available

Code Comparison

Amethyst configuration (in JSON):

{
  "layouts": ["tall", "wide", "fullscreen", "column"],
  "mod1": ["option", "shift"],
  "mod2": ["option", "shift", "control"]
}

Hammerspoon configuration (in Lua):

hs.hotkey.bind({"cmd", "alt", "ctrl"}, "Left", function()
  local win = hs.window.focusedWindow()
  local f = win:frame()
  local screen = win:screen()
  local max = screen:frame()
  f.x = max.x
  f.y = max.y
  f.w = max.w / 2
  f.h = max.h
  win:setFrame(f)
end)

This comparison highlights Amethyst's simplicity for window management tasks, while showcasing Hammerspoon's flexibility for more complex automation through its Lua scripting capabilities.

Pros of Rectangle

• Simpler and more focused on window management
• Easier to set up and use for beginners
• Lightweight with minimal system resource usage

Cons of Rectangle

• Less customizable and extensible
• Limited to window management functionality
• Fewer advanced features for power users

Code Comparison

Rectangle (Swift):

func moveWindowToCenter() {
    if let screen = NSScreen.main {
        let visibleFrame = screen.visibleFrame
        let newFrame = NSRect(x: visibleFrame.midX - frame.width / 2,
                              y: visibleFrame.midY - frame.height / 2,
                              width: frame.width,
                              height: frame.height)
        setFrame(newFrame, display: true)
    }
}

Hammerspoon (Lua):

function centerWindow()
    local win = hs.window.focusedWindow()
    local f = win:frame()
    local screen = win:screen()
    local max = screen:frame()

    f.x = max.x + (max.w / 2) - (f.w / 2)
    f.y = max.y + (max.h / 2) - (f.h / 2)
    win:setFrame(f)
end

Summary

Rectangle is a more straightforward window management tool, ideal for users seeking a simple solution. Hammerspoon offers greater flexibility and customization but requires more setup and learning. The code comparison shows Rectangle using Swift for macOS-specific functionality, while Hammerspoon employs Lua for a more versatile scripting approach.