The debate over whether one monitor is better than multiple monitors has been going on for years. There are many factors to consider when deciding which monitor setup is best for you, such as your work environment, the size and type of your display, and the number of applications you use on a daily basis.
No matter what your needs are, there is a monitor setup that will be perfect for you. Monitors come in different sizes, shapes, and resolutions. The most common one is the has around a 30-inch in diagonal size. Itβs the standard for most people and provides a standard viewing experience. Multiple monitors allow you to spread out your work on two screens simultaneously, which many argue can provide a better working environment overall because it can help you to focus on what youβre doing. However, this is a matter of personal preference and often depends on the tasks you are performing.
In this article, we are going to discuss some of the key benefits of using one monitor on your daily job, along with keyboard shortcuts to efficiently utilize your monitor. If you are a Linux user, then this article is definitely for you, especially if you are using Ubuntu. If it is not the case, then try to find some alternatives.
π Table Of Content (TOC).
- Benefits Of Using One Monitor
- Hidden Features of Using One Monitor
- Linux Keyboard Shortcuts
- Wrapping Up
- Reference
Benefits Of Using One Monitor
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It is a common misconception that one monitor is not enough for coding. In reality, it can be very efficient. Although, a lot of people have been using multiple monitors for years now. However, if you're a developer who really codes, there are some great benefits to using just one monitor for coding and development.
The first benefit is that you'll be able to save on desk space. With one monitor, you won't have to worry about clearing off your desk every time you need to code or work on something else. This will allow you to keep your desk clear of clutter and distractions so that it's easier for you to focus on your work.
The second benefit is that if the screen resolution is high enough, it will be easier for you to see the code in front of you without having to scroll back and forth between the two screens.
The third benefit is that your brain will be able to focus on the task at hand because the screen won't be divided into two parts. This means that your work will be easier to track and you'll have more clarity when you're working.I'm going to have one large monitor, but I might use a second monitor for something else (like a browser, for example).
The fourth benefit is that you'll be able to multitask better, because the screen will have a smaller "footprint." This means that the amount of space your monitor takes up will be less, and therefore you won't see two or three windows on one screen. This makes it easier to run multiple applications without constantly closing them. For example, you can have a spreadsheet open and a browser open, and you'll be able to move between them quickly.
The final benefit is that the screen will be easier to read because it'll have smaller borders. This means that your eyes won't need to travel as far across the screen when they're reading something on it, which will make it more comfortable for them.
Hidden Features of Using One Monitor
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One of the main advantages of using one monitor instead of multiple monitors is that it forces you to focus on one task at a time.
Studies show that multitasking can actually reduce productivity and efficiency[0]. It can also lead to more stress and even physical pain[1]. Using a single monitor reduces the risk of this happening. This is one of the main benefits. It also puts less strain on your eyes when trying to view two screens at once, reducing eyestrain, headaches.
The benefits of using one monitor are numerous. One monitor is cheaper, more convenient, and more useful for multitasking. In addition, it's easier to share what you're doing with others on a single screen than on multiple screens. It's also easier to compare two objects on the same screen.
One of the major disadvantages of multiple monitors is that they are generally more difficult to move and set up than a single monitor, even after being adjusted by an expert. Another disadvantage though is that each screen must be adjusted for the correct position and size by an expert, which is more difficult than adjusting a single monitor.
In the next section, I am going to share a handful list of shortcuts i use on a daily basis that help me to easily navigate between applications and such.
Linux Keyboard Shortcuts
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- πͺ + β: Maximize the app window.
- πͺ + β: Move the app window to the right half of the screen.
- πͺ + β: Minimize/Detach the app window.
- πͺ + β: Move the app window to the left half of the screen.
ctrl + alt + β: Move to the previous workspace.
ctrl + alt + β: Move to the next workspace.
- alt + tab: Move between applications.
Wrapping Up
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This constitutes our guide on using a single monitor for your daily work. We have discussed the pros of using a single monitor, and the cons of multiple monitors. We also went over a list of keyboard shortcuts that help you easily manage your environment.
As always, this article is a gift to you, and you can share it with whomever you like or use it in any way that would be beneficial to your personal and professional development. By supporting this blog, you keep me motivated to publish high-quality content. Thank you in advance for your ultimate support!
Happy coding, folks; see you in the next one.
Reference
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[0] American Psychological Association, Multitasking undermines our efficiency, study suggests.
[1] Madore KP, Wagner AD. Multicosts of multitasking. Cerebrum. 2019;2019:cer-04-19.
[2] Ubuntu, Windows and workspaces.
Latest comments (105)
Awesome post
One of the few downsides of just one monitor is testing. Sooner or later, someone from a graphic design agency or a customer using a large jumbotron conference screen will have a web design edge case that behaves differently on a real large monitor than on device emulation or zooming.
Another downside is diffing large files or developping complex applications where we have to split the logic across a lot of different files according to a software architecture principle, like model, view, and controller. If I can't fit the different parts of the puzzle together in front of my eyes at the same time, I have to imagine that layout inside my mind, which adds mental effort and possible errors just because there is not enough space to see it altogether at once.
Apart from that, relying mostly on a laptop's built-in monitor adds a lot of flexibility to my work setup. I can just take my laptop to work mostly anywhere, in a train, a cafΓ©, a campervan or a library. At least I could, if I was lucky enough to find a place where there is a seat, electricity, and a stable internet connection all at the same time. Probably too much to expect at least in Germany, but that's another story.
Finally I want to credit @dondenoncourt for the article One Too Many Monitors already published back in 2019 questioning "the deal with monster monitors".
One Too Many Monitors
Don Denoncourt γ» Dec 13 '19 γ» 10 min read
All these productivity tips really make a difference in the long run.
I much prefer using a single monitor for workβ¦ and hereβs a another post from someone else who agrees: hackernoon.com/why-i-stopped-using...
I have been using a laptop from the start, not the largest screen, and I have trained my self to to use keyboard shortcuts to navigate more. My no. 1 shortcut: alt + tab to switch between vs code and browser, also previously I would also have to do ctrl + r to reload the page, but now a days its automatic, because I use dev servers which auto reloads. I also use the built in terminal in vs code and use it split to run some commands, I have built my own terminal emulator but rarely use it.
I prefer 2 monitors for web development, one for code and one for the web app. What I strongly suggest is to be familiar with key shortcuts they indeed provide a boost to productivity
Touchpad vs Mouse would be another topic to shed light on.
I used to be an avil user of only the touchpad, but recently I got a mouse and now I carry it every where I go
I don't mind working on one monitor sometimes but I'm definitely more efficient with two (usually one external monitor and my laptop screen). After that, though, I've found adding more monitors just adds distraction and it's too much moving my head back and forth to see things.
That said, the main reason I find two monitors to be more productive is because I mostly work on the front end. I find it super annoying to have to switch back and forth between screens just to see a UI change, so if I keep one monitor open with the UI and another with the code, it's just far more convenient to see changes quicker.
That's what I am trying to convey in this article.
That's what I have realized from most UI folks over here. They opt to work on multiple screens to see how the changes reflect on the front-end. However, I worked before on the frontend side of projects, and I used an editor called bracket, which has a built-in feature called live preview that allows you to observe the changes while coding. I think VS code has this feature if you install the live preview extension.
Multi-decade software developer here. Oh heck no to just one monitor. I've been an embedded developer for a very long time and I multitask very well. Multiple monitors facilitates my personal process. Typically I'm looking at multiple files simultaneously and that alone qualifies my need for multiple monitors. One monitor? That sucks.
This comment made me laugh so hard. Hahahahaha. Thank you. But, using tmux with tiling window managers will do the trick.
Great article just wanted to point out that you shouldn't say "Linux" shortcuts.It varies on Desktop Environments and also extensions.Like you said
Alt + up arrow and down arrowto move between workspaces but in Gnome with horizontal extensions it is actuallyAlt + -> and <-A person like me, who has ADHD and multitask in frontend/backend development it will be a literal torture to work with one monitor. While I leave one monitor JUST FOR CODING, leave the other to show me frontend results as consequence of the changes on my code.
What I go with this, is that most of the time we think it is ok to ship our code thinking that it's is good enough, but not having a visual aid to ensure the shipping of our code is terrible. I think two monitors for development is good enough since I have to visually confirm my changes. It drains me to Alt tab and navigate between windows or workspaces.
Also, as consideration, if you code with ONE SCREEN, make sure it is a 4K screen. You can fit in that one 4 windows at the side of a 1080p screen.
Can you imagine the torture to work in a 720p screen? I pass, thanks. My head won't work on such narrow environment.
Like we said in Colombia: each folk has its own way to kill fleas.
I kinda agree, I almost exclusively only use my 43' screen. I don't have room for another one anyway.
I like the implementation of "go to toc" hyperlinks. I might start doing that in my own articles, especially the longer ones.
Yeah! It is pretty handy, especially for long tutorials. I started doing so two years ago writing about python and found it very convenient to have hyperlinks to jump around. Here is how the first chapter looks now. It is humongOS. Pulled out a lot of hair due to this. Coding is the primary source of hair loss.
Why not use a tiling window manager? It's so incredibly much more efficient at handling this situation.
Personally for me, I would say that a triple monitor setup is the best for coding/programming while listening music or monitoring your stream, stats, opening up a reference page for something that you want etc.
Triple monitor = Triple the fun!