Pros of Rectangle

• Active development with frequent updates and bug fixes
• Offers more advanced window management features like snap areas and keyboard shortcuts
• Cross-platform support (macOS and Windows)

Cons of Rectangle

• Larger codebase and potentially more complex to contribute to
• May have a steeper learning curve for users due to more features

Code Comparison

Rectangle (Swift):

func snapWindowToEdge(_ edge: Edge) {
    guard let screen = window.screen else { return }
    let frame = calculateFrameForEdge(edge, on: screen)
    window.setFrame(frame, display: true, animate: true)
}

NSWindowStyles (Objective-C):

- (void)setWindowStyle:(NSWindowStyleMask)styleMask {
    [self.window setStyleMask:styleMask];
    [self.window makeKeyAndOrderFront:nil];
}

Key Differences

• Rectangle focuses on window management and positioning
• NSWindowStyles primarily demonstrates various macOS window styles
• Rectangle is more feature-rich and actively maintained
• NSWindowStyles serves as a simpler, educational resource for macOS window styling

Use Cases

• Rectangle: Users needing advanced window management on macOS or Windows
• NSWindowStyles: Developers learning about macOS window styling options

Community and Support

• Rectangle has a larger community and more frequent updates
• NSWindowStyles is a smaller project with less active development

Pros of Amethyst

• Actively maintained with regular updates and bug fixes
• Offers advanced window management features like tiling and hotkey customization
• Supports multiple monitors and spaces

Cons of Amethyst

• Steeper learning curve due to more complex functionality
• May consume more system resources due to its extensive features
• Requires more setup and configuration to fully utilize its capabilities

Code Comparison

Amethyst (Swift):

let layouts: [Layout] = [
    TallLayout(),
    WideLayout(),
    FullscreenLayout(),
    ColumnLayout()
]

NSWindowStyles (Swift):

let window = NSWindow(contentRect: .zero, styleMask: [.titled, .closable, .miniaturizable, .resizable], backing: .buffered, defer: false)
window.titlebarAppearsTransparent = true
window.titleVisibility = .hidden

Summary

Amethyst is a more feature-rich window management tool, offering tiling and advanced customization options. It's actively maintained but may require more setup and resources. NSWindowStyles, on the other hand, focuses on demonstrating various window styles and is simpler to use, but has more limited functionality. The choice between them depends on whether you need advanced window management features or just want to explore different window styles in macOS applications.

Pros of yabai

• Offers advanced window management and tiling capabilities
• Provides extensive customization options through scripting
• Actively maintained with regular updates and improvements

Cons of yabai

• Steeper learning curve due to its complexity
• Requires disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) for full functionality
• May have compatibility issues with some macOS versions or applications

Code comparison

NSWindowStyles:

let window = NSWindow(contentRect: NSRect(x: 100, y: 100, width: 300, height: 200),
                      styleMask: [.titled, .closable, .miniaturizable, .resizable],
                      backing: .buffered,
                      defer: false)

yabai:

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

Summary

NSWindowStyles is a simpler, more focused project that demonstrates various window styles in macOS using Swift. It's ideal for developers looking to understand and implement different window appearances in their applications.

yabai, on the other hand, is a comprehensive window management tool that offers advanced tiling and scripting capabilities. It's better suited for power users who want to customize their macOS window management experience extensively.

While NSWindowStyles is primarily a demonstration project, yabai is a full-fledged application with ongoing development and a dedicated user base.

Pros of Hammerspoon

• More comprehensive functionality for macOS automation and window management
• Actively maintained with regular updates and a larger community
• Extensible through Lua scripting, allowing for custom solutions

Cons of Hammerspoon

• Steeper learning curve due to its broader scope and Lua scripting
• Larger codebase and resource footprint

Code Comparison

NSWindowStyles:

let window = NSWindow(contentRect: .zero, styleMask: [.titled, .closable, .miniaturizable, .resizable], backing: .buffered, defer: false)
window.titlebarAppearsTransparent = true
window.titleVisibility = .hidden

Hammerspoon:

local window = hs.window.focusedWindow()
window:setFullScreen(true)
window:moveToUnit(hs.layout.right50)

Summary

NSWindowStyles focuses specifically on macOS window styling options, providing a straightforward way to customize window appearances. Hammerspoon, on the other hand, offers a more comprehensive toolkit for macOS automation, including window management, hotkeys, and system interactions. While NSWindowStyles is simpler to use for its specific purpose, Hammerspoon provides greater flexibility and power at the cost of increased complexity.

Pros of Phoenix

• More comprehensive window management functionality
• Actively maintained with regular updates
• Extensible through JavaScript plugins

Cons of Phoenix

• Steeper learning curve due to configuration complexity
• Requires JavaScript knowledge for advanced customization
• Larger codebase and resource footprint

Code Comparison

NSWindowStyles:

let window = NSWindow(contentRect: NSRect(x: 100, y: 100, width: 300, height: 200),
                      styleMask: [.titled, .closable, .miniaturizable, .resizable],
                      backing: .buffered,
                      defer: false)

Phoenix:

const window = Window.focused();
window.setFrame({
  x: 100,
  y: 100,
  width: 300,
  height: 200
});

Summary

NSWindowStyles focuses on demonstrating various macOS window styles and configurations, making it ideal for developers looking to understand and implement specific window appearances. Phoenix, on the other hand, offers a more robust window management solution with extensive customization options through JavaScript. While NSWindowStyles provides a straightforward approach to window styling, Phoenix allows for complex window arrangements and automation at the cost of a steeper learning curve.

Pros of ShiftIt

• Actively maintained with recent updates
• Provides window management functionality for macOS
• Offers keyboard shortcuts for resizing and moving windows

Cons of ShiftIt

• Limited to window management features
• Less focus on customizing window appearance

Code Comparison

NSWindowStyles:

let window = NSWindow(
    contentRect: NSRect(x: 100, y: 100, width: 300, height: 200),
    styleMask: [.titled, .closable, .miniaturizable, .resizable],
    backing: .buffered,
    defer: false
)

ShiftIt:

- (void)moveWindowToLeftHalf {
    AXUIElementRef app = [self frontmostApplication];
    AXUIElementRef window = [self frontmostWindow:app];
    [self moveWindow:window toRect:[self leftHalfRect]];
}

Summary

NSWindowStyles focuses on demonstrating various window styles and appearances in macOS applications, providing a comprehensive showcase of different window configurations. On the other hand, ShiftIt is a practical tool for window management, offering keyboard shortcuts and functions to resize and reposition windows efficiently. While NSWindowStyles is more of a reference for developers working on window customization, ShiftIt is an end-user application for improving productivity through better window organization.