DEV Community

Cover image for MacOS, more like Windows 10 with free apps.
Javier Carmona
Javier Carmona

Posted on

MacOS, more like Windows 10 with free apps.

Intro

This post is focused on new users on MacOS that come from windows 10 or linux distros.
You have been working on windows or linux distros and for some reason now you are working on MacOS, that is my story.
Before I started to use MacOS, I already know the basics like the command + c for copy, but now I have more than a half year working on MacOS Monterrey I have noticed that a lot of basic functions are missing fortunately I found a couple of apps that fix them so let's start.

Ve la versión en Español


Alt + TAB

alt tab cover

The Missing function: Command + TAB works horribly and only shows the opened apps, not the windows, lucky for us there is Alt + TAB a simple software to emulate the same function on windows 10 using Option (Alt) + TAB and works great.

Cool functions:

  • You can jump from windows (not the app) on different virtual desktops.
  • You can have multiple windows on multiple displays and jump on it.
  • You can close windows and the app with a shortcut and not from the dock.
  • You can add customization to the look and feel.

Do not spend money on Witch or other apps, trust me they work awful.

Link:
Get Alt + TAB HERE


Rectangle

rectangle cover

The Missing function: MacOS does not have a cool way to split a screen with two or more apps and you can't move the windows with the keyboard arrows, rectangle fix that.

Cool functions:

  • You can move a single-window from a display to another display using command + arrows
  • You can maximize the entire window to fit on display using the command + up arrow.
  • You can minimize the window to hide it on the docker using the command + down arrow.
  • You can add a lot of customization to split windows.

Note: It has a pro version, but the free version works prefectly

Do not spend money on Magnet.

Link:
Get Rectangle


Copy less 2

Copy less 2 cover
The Missing function: MacOS does not have a clipboard manager like the Windows + V function introduced on Windows 10 and Linux distros.

Cool functions:

  • You have the clipboard history adding a custom shortcut.
  • It saves the clipboard history even if you power off the MacBook.

Disadvantages:

  • The free version is not enough to accomplish the same feel like Windows 10 function.
  • Does not save the images on the clipboard.

Link:
You can get it from the app store but I leave you the link.
Get copyless


Command (windows) + S to save a screenshot to the clipboard.

This is not a missing function, but you can change the shortcut that makes that function as on windows.

You need to go System Preferences -> Keyboard -> shortcuts -> screenshots -> and change it like the down image.

screenshot config

Conclusion and final thinking.

That are the apps that helped me to not break my workflow that I had using Fedora, mangaro with Cinnamon desktop or Windows 10.

But I still looking for an app that changes the command + c, +v, +z, +x globally to the classic control combinations. I had tried karabiner but that is not what I'm looking for.

And I think finder sucks I also looking for adding a new file explorer, but maybe this is the hardest one, so happy hacking.

Top comments (0)