Regarding macOS Window Switching Solutions:
Throughout my experience with macOS, I've long been troubled by window switching. I've tried numerous tools on the market, which broadly fall into two categories:
1. Those mimicking Windows' Alt+Tab functionality
2. Those merely enhancing macOS's native Command+Tab feature
However, after months of testing, none have fully satisfied my needs.
Here are my key concerns:
1. Privacy Risks with Accessibility Permissions: Tools requiring "Accessibility" permissions can access unimaginable levels of user data. Without open-source code, we cannot verify whether this data is misused.
2. Alarming Screen Recording Permissions: Tools needing "Screen Recording" authorization pose even greater privacy threats.
3. Inefficient IDE Window Previews: As a developer, I often switch between multiple windows within a single app (e.g., VSCode). Existing tools fail here:
- Preview thumbnails for IDE windows are too small for quick identification
- Text labels display lengthy file names instead of the project names I need to see at a glance
4. Poor Single-App Window Cycling: macOS's native Command + ` shortcut becomes cumbersome with >2 windows, and third-party tools offer weak support for this scenario
5. Memory Leaks: A persistent challenge for tools rendering live window previews
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The Solution:
To address these issues, I've developed DevSwitcher2 - an open-source macOS window switcher designed for developers.
DevSwitcher2 can be installed via this brew command: