Ordinary Space

Window tiling for macOS, without the auto-tiling

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Category
Window Manager
WM Type
snap
License
paid
Open Source
No
Keybindings
Yes
Scripting
No
Last Update
—

Features

  • Manual Workarea Layout
  • Multiple Monitor Support
  • Customizable Presets
  • Window Stacking
  • Searchable Command Interface
  • Customizable Accent Colors
  • Fully Customizable Shortcuts
  • Native Desktop Integration

About

Ordinary Space is a manual window tiling app for macOS built around user-defined workareas rather than automatic retiling. You lay out workareas on your native desktop, apps open in whichever workarea you're working in, and a keystroke moves them between workareas or across monitors. Layouts are saved as presets, with window stacking inside each workarea and a searchable command interface for actions.

Who It's For

Ordinary Space is for users who want deliberate, hand-arranged desktop layouts instead of a tiling engine that reshuffles windows every time one opens or closes. The creator built it explicitly against auto-tiling: "I don't like windows shuffling themselves every time something opens." It suits people who settle into a small number of recurring layouts — an editor-and-terminal workarea, a browser-and-notes workarea — and want to jump between them and across monitors with a single keystroke, rather than fight a layout algorithm.

How It Works

Ordinary Space works with the native macOS desktop rather than replacing it: you define workareas directly on your desktop and across multiple monitors, and save the resulting arrangement as a preset. Apps open into whichever workarea you're currently working in, and windows can stack within a workarea rather than each needing its own slot. Moving a window, or moving focus, between workareas or monitors is done with a keystroke — defaults include ⌥+N/P to cycle the stack, ⌥+H/J/K/L to move focus, and ⌥+⇧+H/J/K/L to move a window, and every shortcut can be reassigned in Settings. A searchable action center exposes layout and window commands without needing to memorize every shortcut.

Compared to Alternatives

Compared to Rectangle (free, fixed halves/thirds/quarters), Ordinary Space is built around persistent, named workareas you arrange once and reuse, rather than one-off snap commands you repeat each time. Compared to custom zone editors like BentoBox ($9) and MacsyZones (free, open-source), which snap windows into hand-drawn zones on demand, Ordinary Space's workareas behave more like lightweight virtual desktops that apps stay attached to, with a keystroke moving windows between them or across monitors instead of re-snapping into a zone each time.

Requirements

  • macOS 15 (Tahoe) or later
  • Accessibility permission required for window placement
  • $10 one-time for one year of updates, or $20 one-time for lifetime updates; license activates one Mac
  • 7-day free trial, no credit card or account required

Getting Started

Download the trial from wzordinaryventures.com and launch it. Grant Accessibility access when prompted, then lay out your first workareas on the desktop and save the arrangement as a preset. Use the default shortcuts (⌥+N/P, ⌥+H/J/K/L, ⌥+⇧+H/J/K/L) to move focus and windows between workareas and monitors, or open the searchable action center to browse available commands. Shortcuts and accent colors can be customized in Settings.

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