Workspace in browser
I have to write something on workspace in browser. Popularized by Arc browser I think, other browsers re-implement the idea, mainly Zen browser and Vivaldi.
The concept
The main idea is to group tabs it a workspace. If like me you have 100+ tabs open, you can thinks it will help you to manage it, at least it was that I though at first (spoiler no). I tested only Vivaldi and Zen browser but I have the same problem in both even if both browser have their own specific feature.
Usecase
My previous workflow, without browser workspace
Lets describe my usecase. I am not an only keyboard user, I don't have tiling windows manager, but, I use some keyboard shortcut. I have 27” monitor at work and 34” (21:9) monitor at home. I like to have 1 windows full size or 2 side to side. I use the same shortcut on both windows and kde : – alt + tab to switch windows – super + up to maximize windows – super + left or right to tile the current windows on left or right (take the half of the monitor – super + shift + left or right to move windows on another monitor
I enough for me and if i need specific management, I use my mouse.
To manage my tabs, I use to create 1 or 2 windows, one with mainly Youtube video, the other with other stuff (code or personal stuff). I can switch from one to the other by using alt + tab and i can have 1 windows next to another using previously described shortcut.
The only problem is have to much tabs open because I let them open “just in case”
Using workspace
I tried to move on workspace, I try both Vivaldi and Zen browser. I create some space 1st. Lets took the example of work: – 1st space will be video (easy, I have already a dedicated windows for that) – 2nd here is the trick, I can just create a “work” space but I think it does not change anything, so I created 1 group by programming language (python and go in my case) and 1 group for business application.
Now the first problem I have is before to open a new link, I have to check in which space I am. In Vivaldi you can move automatically tabs in space according the URL not in Zen.
Then, you want to switch from to the other using shortcut (but it is the same problem with mouse). So you have to switch on the browser windows with one shortcut then selecting the correct space with another shortcut (2 operations).
So I finish to created 2 windows, with 1 different space opened in each. Zen does not manage well this case, the same space cannot be open on different window so you end up open tabs in the same space but different windows and to re-find it, good luck. With Vivaldi it is a bit better for space you created (you can open it in different windows and retrieve all tabs it contains) but not for the default one.
It also do not help to close tidy my tabs and I even less motivate to do it because where do I start.
My opinion
In conclusion, it adds an additional layer (at least for me) of management which is not always practical. I end up to not use them. In Vivaldi, I deactivated them completely and I switch back on Firefox. It remains me the statement of suckless programs which is to let windows manager or terminal multiplexer manage things: > Do not re-implement tmux and his comrades. Apply to browser it became do not re-implement windows manager feature