macOS needs its grid back

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Old Spaces Grid vs. Current macOS Spaces

  • Many miss the pre‑Lion grid of Spaces: 2D layout mapped well to spatial memory and let users assign rows/columns to work contexts.
  • The shift to a single horizontal strip is widely viewed as a regression; users describe losing muscle memory and giving up on Spaces.
  • Some dislike grids, saying they can’t see contents well and prefer simpler linear or app‑centric workflows.
  • Full‑screen apps are divisive: some see them as a “garbage anti‑feature,” others like them but want them to coexist cleanly with a grid and with app switching.

Animations, Speed, and App Switching

  • A major frustration is slow, unskippable animations when switching Spaces; keystrokes are ignored until animations complete.
  • “Reduce motion” is criticized for keeping delay while replacing animations with crossfades.
  • Some rely on Cmd+Tab plus one‑app‑per‑desktop; others find Cmd+Tab too slow or too app‑centric versus window‑centric.

Third‑Party Tools & Workarounds

  • Multiple tools are mentioned: Instant Space Switcher, Aerospace, Rectangle/Magnet, alt‑tab, custom app switchers, and grid restorers.
  • These attempt to restore fast, grid‑like navigation, tiling, or more window‑oriented switching.
  • Some solutions require disabling SIP or injecting code, which users see as fragile or risky.

Permissions, Security UX, and Power Users

  • macOS permission flows (accessibility, screen recording, full disk) are widely seen as tedious “mini sysadmin adventures.”
  • Some argue extra friction is justified for dangerous permissions like keylogging; others say the uniform friction across many permissions is overkill.
  • There is debate over whether buried settings protect less technical users or just disrespect advanced users who can’t globally relax these constraints.
  • SIP and low‑level boot flags are noted as ways to bypass safeguards, but with significant risk.

Broader UX & Platform Direction

  • Many perceive a long‑term decline from “peak OS X” (often Snow Leopard/Mavericks era): more animation, less clarity, and removed power features.
  • Aqua and older, more skeuomorphic UIs are remembered as clearer than today’s flat, low‑contrast design.
  • Some blame corporate priorities (hardware, “number go up”) and designer culture that values novelty over usability.

Alternatives and Linux/Windows Comparisons

  • Several commenters cite Linux desktops (especially KDE, also Xfce/older GNOME) as preserving grid virtual desktops and stable workflows for decades.
  • FOSS desktops are praised for configurability and for not removing features arbitrarily, though examples like GNOME 3 and KDE 4 show regressions can happen there too.