Floating Layout by Default for Specific Workspace

[smaesx]

Hi! I’m wondering if it’s possible to automatically set all windows in a specific workspace to use the floating layout by default.

For example, suppose I have workspaces 1–4. I’d like all windows that are moved to workspace 4 to become floating by default. Additionally, if a window is moved out of workspace 4 (e.g., to workspace 3), the default tiling behavior should automatically apply again.

Is there a way to achieve this behavior in Aerospace?

[dgegen]

I think you are looking to append something like the following to your .aerospace.toml config:

[[on-window-detected]]
    if.workspace = '1'
    run = 'layout tiling'

[[on-window-detected]]
    if.workspace = '2'
    run = 'layout tiling'

[[on-window-detected]]
    if.workspace = '3'
    run = 'layout tiling'

[[on-window-detected]]
    if.workspace = '4'
    run = 'layout floating'

See also https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#dialog-heuristics.

[smaesx]

Thank you very much! I got it working by adding the following to my .aerospace.toml config:

...
# floating / tiling on workspace change
alt-shift-1 = ['layout floating','move-node-to-workspace 1']
alt-shift-2 = ['layout floating','move-node-to-workspace 2']
alt-shift-3 = ['layout tiling','move-node-to-workspace 3']
alt-shift-4 = ['layout tiling','move-node-to-workspace 4']
...
# floating / tiling for new windows created in the active workspace
[[on-window-detected]]
if.workspace = '1'
run = [
    'layout floating'
]
[[on-window-detected]]
if.workspace = '2'
run = [
    'layout floating'
]
[[on-window-detected]]
if.workspace = '3'
run = [
    'layout tiling'
]
[[on-window-detected]]
if.workspace = '4'
run = [
    'layout tiling'
]
...

Though, it might not be fully working if you have specific apps set to always float with my given config above.

Example:

[[on-window-detected]]
if.app-id = 'com.apple.finder'
run = [
    'layout floating'
]

Results:

• Window on workspace that is set to floating: Window is floating
• Window on workspace that is set to floating and moved to workspace set to tiling: Tiling applies (default is overwritten)