You can disable animations when switching between spaces. I use skhd for this to map the hotkeys to the Yabai command to switch spaces. Pressing f13 goes to the previous space immediately and f14 to the next space.
1. Install Yabai
2. install skhd
3. disable SIP (ugh): https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai/wiki/Disabling-System-I...
4. add `f13 : yabai -m space --focus prev` and `f14 : yabai -m space --focus next` to your `~/.skhdrc` file.
In macOS Setup after 15 Years of Linuxasmvik
yabai
C2019–2026
asmvik / yabai
yabai
A tiling window manager for macOS based on binary space partitioning
107Distinct people
134Mentions
3Explicit recommenders
29.8KGitHub stars
What to know before exploring
What it is
A tiling window manager for macOS based on binary space partitioning
GitHub
Where it is used
- SketchyBar — SketchyBar integrates with yabai to power workspace indicators that show active desktops, focused windows, and switching in real time. Source
What people are saying
Interesting. I used to daily drive <https://github.com/asmvik/yabai> for almost a year until a major macOS update broke it and I just didn't have it in me to diagnose the…
thefossguy69 used a recommendation phrase. 3 indexed comments match. This is a phrase match, not a verdict.
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Also in these discussions
- asmvik/skhd · linked in 20 of the same discussions
- ianyh/amethyst · linked in 5 of the same discussions
- hammerspoon/hammerspoon · linked in 4 of the same discussions
Mentioned in the same Hacker News threads. That is not proof they are substitutes.
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HN mentions by year134 dated mentions
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| Period | Start (UTC) | End (exclusive, UTC) | Mentions | Submissions | Comments |
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| 2019 | 2019-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2020-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 11 | 2 | 9 |
| 2020 | 2020-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2021-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 21 | 2 | 19 |
| 2021 | 2021-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2022-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 22 | 2 | 20 |
| 2022 | 2022-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 30 | 4 | 26 |
| 2023 | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 29 | 2 | 27 |
| 2024 | 2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2025 | 2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2026-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2026 (partial) | 2026-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2027-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 5 | 2 | 3 |
From the project README
An excerpt from the repository, fetched Nov 14, 2026.
Read the project’s introduction
Tiling window management for the Mac.
About
yabai is a window management utility that is designed to work as an extension to the built-in window manager of macOS.
yabai allows you to control your windows, spaces and displays freely using an intuitive command line interface and optionally set user-defined keyboard shortcuts using ↗ skhd and other third-party software.
The primary function of yabai is tiling window management; automatically modifying your window layout using a binary space partitioning algorithm to allow you to focus on the content of your windows without distractions.
Additional features of yabai include focus-follows-mouse, disabling animations for switching spaces, creating spaces past the limit of 16 spaces, and much more.
Installation and Configuration
The ↗ yabai wiki has both brief and detailed installation instructions for multiple installation methods, and also explains how to uninstall yabai completely.
Sample configuration files can be found in the ↗ examples directory. Refer to the ↗ documentation or the wiki for further information.
Keyboard shortcuts can be defined with ↗ skhd or any other suitable software you may prefer.
Requirements and Caveats
Please read the below requirements carefully.
Make sure you fulfil all of them before filing an issue.
Requirement
Note
Operating System Intel x86-64
Big Sur 11.0.0+, Monterey 12.0.0+, Ventura 13.0.0+, Sonoma 14.0.0+, Sequoia 15.0+, and Tahoe 26.0+ is supported.
Operating System Apple Silicon
Monterey 12.0.0+, Ventura 13.0.0+, Sonoma 14.0.0+, Sequoia 15.0+, and Tahoe 26.0+ is supported.
Accessibility API
yabai must be given permission to utilize the Accessibility API and will request access upon launch. The application must be restarted after access has been granted.
Screen Recording
yabai must be given Screen Recording permission if and only if you want to enable window animations, and will request access when necessary. The application must be restarted after access has been granted.
System Preferences (macOS 11.x, 12.x)
In the Mission Control pane, the setting "Displays have separate Spaces" must be enabled.
System Settings (macOS 13.x, 14.x, 15.x, 26.x)
In the Desktop & Dock tab, inside the Mission Control pane, the setting "Displays have separate Spaces" must be enabled.
Please also take note of the following caveats.
Caveat
Note
System Integrity Protection (Optional)
System Integrity Protection can be (partially) disabled for yabai to inject a scripting addition into Dock.app for controlling windows with functions that require elevated privileges. This enables control of the window server, which is the sole owner of all window connections, and enables additional features of yabai.
Code Signing
When building from source (or installing from HEAD), it is necessary to codesign the binary so it retains its accessibility and automation privileges when updated or rebuilt.
Finder Desktop
Some people disable the Finder Desktop window using an undocumented defaults write command. This breaks focusing of empty spaces and should be avoided when using yabai. To re-activate the Finder Desktop, run: "defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool true".
NSDocument-based Applications
Windows that utilize native macOS tabs such as Terminal and Finder, do not behave correctly when creating tabs. Avoid creating tabs in these applications, consider alternatives that do not use NSDocument's tab system, or make these windows float using rules.
System Preferences (macOS 11.x, 12.x)
In the Mission Control pane, the setting "Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use" should be disabled for commands that rely on the ordering of spaces to work reliably.
System Settings (macOS 13.x, 14.x, 15.x, 26.x)
In the Desktop & Dock tab, inside the Mission Control pane, the setting "Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use" should be disabled for commands that rely on the ordering of spaces to work reliably.
System Settings (macOS 14.x, 15.x, 26.x)
In the Desktop & Dock tab, inside the Desktop & Stage Manager pane, the setting "Show Items On Desktop" should be enabled for display and space focus commands to work reliably in multi-display configurations.
System Settings (macOS 14.x, 15.x, 26.x)
In the Desktop & Dock tab, inside the Desktop & Stage Manager pane, the setting "Click wallpaper to reveal Desktop" should be set to "Only in Stage Manager" for display and space focus commands to work reliably.
License and Attribution
yabai is licensed under the ↗ MIT License, a short and simple permissive license with conditions only requiring preservation of copyright and license notices.
Licensed works, modifications, and larger works may be distributed under different terms and without source code.
Thanks to @fools-mate for creating a logo and banner for this project and making them available for free.
Thanks to @dominiklohmann for contributing great documentation, support, and more, for free.
Disclaimer
Use at your own discretion.
I take no responsibility if anything should happen to your machine while trying to install, test or otherwise use this software in any form.
You acknowledge that you understand the potential risk that may come from disabling ↗ System Integrity Protection on your system, and I make no recommendation as to whether you should or should not disable System Integrity Protection.
Read the full README on GitHubWhat Hacker News says
22 sourcesI really tried to like macOS for an entire year. I used Yabai[1] as tilling window manager which is much better than Amethyst mentioned in the article. I also wrote my own compose key tool macos-compose[2] and rofi-like clone choosem[3] (eventually bought into Alfred).
Yet with all of this effort I still went back to linux after a year (Arch with Qtile and Gnome). What really killed macos for me was the fact that animations could not be disabled entirely and everything felt like it's behind several ms of a delay. I work on the move so I don't have the luxury of multi-screen setup so switching between programs, workspaces and windows is the most important part of my workflow - it just drove me nuts.
Now I run simple Lenovo yoga laptop with arch+qtile+gnome and honestly, my performance at work at least doubled. That's my anecdote anyway.
1
Read the rest
Another alternative is yobai (+ skhd) https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai
I switched to it after having some issues with rectangle sending some of my windows into the abyss (way outside of the screen) which forced me to kill the app and restart it to get it back. But if Rectangle works for you that's good too, it's probably easier to configure.
In macOS Setup after 15 Years of LinuxYabai. System integrity permissions changes required.
https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai
In Review of “Ask HN: Predictions for 2021?”You may find this osx tiler useful. These days I can't live without it and it's been stable for me for quite some time.
https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai
In Integrating Emacs with Siri ShortcutsI love yabai. I don't do anything fancy with it, but I found that its one of the few twms for MacOS that can do three up on the left with a large window on the right.
I also love that it isn't locked into auto-balancing windows. For me, I don't want my three-up to be the same size.
For those concerned that SIP needs to be completely disabled, you can use [1]
csrutil enable --without fs --without debug
All in all, yabai is great and really is the best twm for MacOS at this time. The installation and config is a breeze, too.
[1] https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai/discussions/5#discussio...
In Yabai is a tiling window manager for macOSYabai is a tiling window manager for macOS
51 points · Open discussionIf you're looking for a good OSX window manager, Yabai [1] is excellent. If you're willing and allowed too you can get greater control by disabling SIP. However even with system integrity enabled (which bars access to certain WindowServer APIs - space control, removing shadows, multi-monitor integrations) Yabai functions great.
It uses a messaging passing API to interface with a local service, so it's completely programmable and can be integrated with something like skhd [2]
1: https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai
2: https://github.com/koekeishiya/skhd
My skhdrc setup: https://pastebin.com/5GT8yiGK
In macOS MontereyXMonad is the one thing I miss dearly from Linux since I had to switch to a Mac. With some effort, yabai [1] on Mac can approximate XMonad well enough (mainly, multiple workspaces, automatic tiling, focus follows mouse, and a few other key bits).
[1] https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai/
In XMonad – The Automated Tiling WMFor Mac, there's yabai: https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai
In Show HN: Web browser to help programmers think clearlyThese were all a bit limited for me. I've settled on yabai[1] (window manager) and SKHD[2] (hotkeys), cannot recommend it enough.
[0] https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai
[1] https://github.com/koekeishiya/skhd
In Ask HN: What tiny purchases have disproportionately improved your life?I went from using i3 on my personal Linux machine, to my macOS machine for work. I've had the same thoughts about switching back, but it wasn't an option. Amethyst pulled me through the worst. It can't compare to i3.
There's also this: https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai, but I haven't tried it out because of the disclaimer: "You acknowledge that you understand the potential risk that may come from disabling arrow_upper_right System Integrity Protection on your system"
In Ask HN: Which tools/services have your favorite UI/UX?Ah, the SIP requirement for yabai isn’t that important IMO. They detail it in their wiki [1]. Incidentally, I tried it out since making the comment, and even without SIP disabled I’ve got it close to where I want it to be. It’s still not as great as my custom i3 setup was, but a few more weekends might get it to a much more comfortable place.
1: https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai/wiki/Disabling-System-I...
In Lima: Linux-on-Mac> I sometimes have 100+ editor, terminal, and browser windows. Linux has many window managers up to the task (i3, xmonad, openbox, and countless more). Mac has the default one which you CAN'T change.
This is so much my issue. I love i3wm, it's been a revolution for how I work. I never really understood the "desktop" concept with overlapping windows very much, and i3 works at an abstraction that is very close to how I imagine my desktop. I keep stacks of windows open in an arrangement that might be bizarre to anyone except me, but when I look at it it's 90% how I want it to be, a place no other WM/DM has ever gotten.
But I also don't want to deal with linux any more. Please don't sealion me with "but linux works fine for me!" here, but using linux feels like death by a thousand frustrations. Most recently I had to alias pulseaudio -k to p
Read the rest
k because pulseaudio got out of whack so often I got used to killing it. That, plus I can't live with Ctrl-based shortucts anymore: I get serious pinky and wrist fatigue from a full day's work on linux. I can't be bothered to work around an entire missing staircase, so I switched back to macOS, where even if the WM isn't as good I can live with it.
(Incidentally, have you heard of yabai[1] / amethyst[2]? They're tiling WMs for macOS. I've been thinking of trying both out for a while now but I can't spare the time.)
1: https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai/
2: https://github.com/ianyh/Amethyst
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