Focus and Productivity with MacOS - Workspaces and Keyboard with Aerospace

I have been a big fan of keyboard-driven workflows and have been optimizing my daily routines for years now. Window management on macOS has always been a pain point - the default experience of dragging windows around, resizing them manually, and hunting for apps buried under other windows is a productivity killer.

I was experimenting with Omarchy on Linux recently, which is built on top of Hyprland - a fantastic tiling compositor for Wayland. The keyboard-first workflow was addictive, and I found myself wanting the same experience on my Mac. That's when I discovered AeroSpace.

AeroSpace has completely transformed how I work on my Mac. If you've used i3, sway, or Hyprland on Linux, you'll feel right at home. For those unfamiliar, a tiling window manager automatically arranges your windows in a non-overlapping layout, and you control everything with keyboard shortcuts. No more mouse gymnastics.

Why AeroSpace? 🚀

Before AeroSpace, I was using Spectacle (now discontinued) and then Rectangle. While they helped with basic window snapping, they never felt native to my keyboard-first workflow. AeroSpace changes the game with:

Workspaces: Think of them as virtual desktops on steroids - I have 26+ workspaces mapped to keys
Automatic tiling: Windows arrange themselves, no manual positioning
Service mode: A special mode for window manipulation (more on this below)
Window detection rules: Apps automatically go to their designated workspaces

Installation

AeroSpace can be installed via Homebrew:

brew install --cask nikitabobko/tap/aerospace

The config file lives at ~/.aerospace.toml. Once installed, AeroSpace runs in your menu bar and starts at login.

My Configuration

I'll walk you through my curated config with explanations. This focuses on the essentials - workspaces with apps, navigation, and the powerful service mode.

Basic Settings

# Start AeroSpace at login
start-at-login = true

# Normalizations help keep layouts clean and predictable
enable-normalization-flatten-containers = true
enable-normalization-opposite-orientation-for-nested-containers = true

# Padding for accordion layout (set 0 to disable)
accordion-padding = 30

# Default layout settings
default-root-container-layout = 'tiles'
default-root-container-orientation = 'auto'

# Mouse follows focus when switching monitors
on-focused-monitor-changed = ['move-mouse monitor-lazy-center']

[key-mapping]
preset = 'qwerty'

Gaps Configuration

I like some breathing room between windows. These gaps make the layout visually cleaner:

[gaps]
inner.horizontal = 10
inner.vertical =   10
outer.left =       10
outer.bottom =     10
outer.top =        10
outer.right =      10

Window Navigation (vim-style)

Navigate between windows without touching your mouse:

[mode.main.binding]
# Focus windows using vim-style hjkl keys
alt-h = 'focus left'
alt-j = 'focus down'
alt-k = 'focus up'
alt-l = 'focus right'

Shortcut	Action
`Alt-H`	Focus window to the left
`Alt-J`	Focus window below
`Alt-K`	Focus window above
`Alt-L`	Focus window to the right

Window Swapping

Swap the focused window's position with an adjacent window:

[mode.main.binding]
# Swap windows using vim-style hjkl keys
ctrl-h = 'swap left'
ctrl-j = 'swap down'
ctrl-k = 'swap up'
ctrl-l = 'swap right'

Shortcut	Action
`Ctrl-H`	Swap with window to the left
`Ctrl-J`	Swap with window below
`Ctrl-K`	Swap with window above
`Ctrl-L`	Swap with window to the right

Window Resizing

Quickly resize the focused window:

[mode.main.binding]
alt-minus = 'resize smart -50'
alt-equal = 'resize smart +50'

Shortcut	Action
`Alt-Minus`	Shrink window by 50px
`Alt-Equal`	Grow window by 50px

Layout Controls

Switch between different layout modes:

[mode.main.binding]
alt-ctrl-h = 'layout horizontal'    # Force horizontal split
alt-ctrl-v = 'layout vertical'      # Force vertical split
alt-0 = 'balance-sizes'             # Make all windows equal size
alt-shift-0 = 'flatten-workspace-tree'  # Simplify nested layouts
alt-slash = 'layout tiles horizontal vertical'
alt-comma = 'layout accordion horizontal vertical'

Workspace Switching

This is where AeroSpace shines. I've mapped Alt + key combinations to instantly launch and focus my most-used apps:

[mode.main.binding]
# Development
alt-1 = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Visual\ Studio\ Code.app'
alt-2 = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Ghostty.app'
alt-d = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Dbeaver.app'

# Browsers
alt-3 = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Brave\ Browser.app/'
alt-b = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Firefox.app'

# Communication
alt-4 = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Microsoft\ Outlook.app'
alt-5 = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Microsoft\ Teams.app'
alt-w = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/WhatsApp.app'
alt-z = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/zoom.us.app'

# AI Tools (Brave PWAs)
alt-6 = 'exec-and-forget open -b com.brave.Browser.app.fmgjjmmmlfnkbppncabfkddbjimcfncm' # Gmail
alt-7 = 'exec-and-forget open -b com.brave.Browser.app.kpmdbogdmbfckbgdfdffkleoleokbhod' # Perplexity
alt-8 = 'exec-and-forget open -b com.brave.Browser.app.fmpnliohjhemenmnlpbfagaolkdacoja' # Claude
alt-9 = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/ChatGPT.app'

# Productivity
alt-a = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Utilities/Activity\ Monitor.app/'
alt-e = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Microsoft\ Excel.app'
alt-m = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Meld.app'
alt-n = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Microsoft\ OneNote.app/'
alt-o = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Overcast.app/'
alt-p = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/Preview.app'
alt-r = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/ResponsivelyApp.app'
alt-y = 'exec-and-forget open -a /Applications/FreeTube.app'

# Quick workspace toggle
alt-tab = 'workspace-back-and-forth'

# Multi-monitor (uncomment if needed)
# alt-shift-tab = 'move-workspace-to-monitor --wrap-around next'

The beauty here is that Alt-1 doesn't just switch to workspace 1 - it launches VS Code if it's not running, or focuses it if it is. One key does everything.

Moving Windows to Workspaces

Sometimes you want to send a window to a different workspace:

[mode.main.binding]
alt-shift-1 = 'move-node-to-workspace 1'
alt-shift-2 = 'move-node-to-workspace 2'
alt-shift-3 = 'move-node-to-workspace 3'
alt-shift-4 = 'move-node-to-workspace 4'
alt-shift-5 = 'move-node-to-workspace 5'
alt-shift-6 = 'move-node-to-workspace 6'
alt-shift-7 = 'move-node-to-workspace 7'
alt-shift-8 = 'move-node-to-workspace 8'
alt-shift-9 = 'move-node-to-workspace 9'
alt-shift-a = 'move-node-to-workspace A'
alt-shift-b = 'move-node-to-workspace B'
alt-shift-d = 'move-node-to-workspace D'
alt-shift-e = 'move-node-to-workspace E'
alt-shift-m = 'move-node-to-workspace M'
alt-shift-n = 'move-node-to-workspace N'
alt-shift-o = 'move-node-to-workspace O'
alt-shift-p = 'move-node-to-workspace P'
alt-shift-r = 'move-node-to-workspace R'
alt-shift-w = 'move-node-to-workspace W'
alt-shift-y = 'move-node-to-workspace Y'
alt-shift-z = 'move-node-to-workspace Z'

Service Mode ⚡

Service mode is AeroSpace's power feature. Press Alt-Shift-; to enter it, and you get access to advanced window manipulation commands:

[mode.main.binding]
alt-shift-semicolon = 'mode service'

[mode.service.binding]
esc = ['reload-config', 'mode main']
r = ['flatten-workspace-tree', 'mode main']
f = ['layout floating tiling', 'mode main']
backspace = ['close-all-windows-but-current', 'mode main']

# Join windows (for creating custom layouts)
alt-shift-h = ['join-with left', 'mode main']
alt-shift-j = ['join-with down', 'mode main']
alt-shift-k = ['join-with up', 'mode main']
alt-shift-l = ['join-with right', 'mode main']

# Volume controls
down = 'volume down'
up = 'volume up'
shift-down = ['volume set 0', 'mode main']

Shortcut (in service mode)	Action
`Esc`	Reload config and exit service mode
`R`	Reset/flatten workspace layout
`F`	Toggle floating/tiling for current window
`Backspace`	Close all windows except current
`Alt-Shift-H`	Join window with container to the left
`Alt-Shift-J`	Join window with container below
`Alt-Shift-K`	Join window with container above
`Alt-Shift-L`	Join window with container to the right

Automatic Window Placement

This is where AeroSpace becomes magical. Define rules to automatically send apps to specific workspaces:

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.microsoft.VSCode'
run = ['move-node-to-workspace 1']

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.brave.Browser'
run = ['move-node-to-workspace 3']

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.microsoft.teams2'
run = 'move-node-to-workspace 5'

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.apple.finder'
run = ['move-node-to-workspace F']

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'org.jkiss.dbeaver.core.product'
run = 'move-node-to-workspace D'

Now whenever I open VS Code, it automatically lands in workspace 1. Finder always goes to workspace F. No manual organization needed.

Creating Multi-Window Layouts with Service Mode 🪟

By default, AeroSpace tiles windows vertically. But what if you want a grid layout like 2×2 or 3×2? Service mode's join-with commands make this easy.

2×2 Grid Layout (4 windows)

Starting position - 4 windows stacked vertically:

┌──────────────┐
│      W1      │
├──────────────┤
│      W2      │
├──────────────┤
│      W3      │
├──────────────┤
│      W4      │
└──────────────┘

Steps:

Focus Window 3 (Alt-J twice from W1)
Enter service mode: Alt-Shift-;
Join with right: Alt-Shift-L
Focus Window 2 (Alt-K)
Enter service mode: Alt-Shift-;
Join with left: Alt-Shift-H

Result - 2×2 grid:

┌───────┬───────┐
│  W1   │  W2   │
├───────┼───────┤
│  W3   │  W4   │
└───────┴───────┘

3×2 Grid Layout (6 windows)

Starting position - 6 windows stacked vertically:

┌──────────────┐
│      W1      │
├──────────────┤
│      W2      │
├──────────────┤
│      W3      │
├──────────────┤
│      W4      │
├──────────────┤
│      W5      │
├──────────────┤
│      W6      │
└──────────────┘

Steps:

Focus Window 2 (Alt-J from W1)
Enter service mode: Alt-Shift-;
Join with right: Alt-Shift-L → W2 joins right of W1
Focus Window 4 (Alt-J twice)
Enter service mode: Alt-Shift-;
Join with right: Alt-Shift-L → W4 joins right of W3
Focus Window 6 (Alt-J twice)
Enter service mode: Alt-Shift-;
Join with right: Alt-Shift-L → W6 joins right of W5

Result - 3×2 grid:

┌───────┬───────┐
│  W1   │  W2   │
├───────┼───────┤
│  W3   │  W4   │
├───────┼───────┤
│  W5   │  W6   │
└───────┴───────┘

Pro tip: Use Alt-0 (balance-sizes) after creating your layout to make all windows equal size. If things get messy, Alt-Shift-; then R resets the workspace to a flat layout.

Quick Reference Card

Category	Shortcut	Action
Navigation	`Alt-H/J/K/L`	Focus left/down/up/right
Swap	`Ctrl-H/J/K/L`	Swap with left/down/up/right
Resize	`Alt-Minus/Equal`	Shrink/grow window
Layout	`Alt-Ctrl-H/V`	Force horizontal/vertical split
Layout	`Alt-0`	Balance all window sizes
Workspace	`Alt-[key]`	Switch to app/workspace
Move Window	`Alt-Shift-[key]`	Send window to workspace
Service Mode	`Alt-Shift-;`	Enter service mode
Service: Join	`Alt-Shift-H/J/K/L`	Join with left/down/up/right
Service: Reset	`R`	Flatten workspace layout
Service: Float	`F`	Toggle floating/tiling

Full Configuration

The curated config above covers the essentials. If you want my complete configuration with all workspaces and window detection rules, you can download it here:

📥 Download full aerospace.toml

Final Thoughts

AeroSpace has genuinely changed how I use my Mac. The combination of instant app launching, automatic window placement, and keyboard-driven layouts means I spend zero mental energy on window management. My hands stay on the keyboard, and apps are always exactly where I expect them.

If you're coming from Linux and missing i3/sway, or if you're just tired of manually arranging windows, give AeroSpace a try. The learning curve is about a day, and the productivity gains are permanent.