Rectangle - A Powerful macOS Window Management Tool

Rectangle is a free, open-source macOS window management application. It allows you to quickly and precisely arrange windows to specific screen positions using keyboard shortcuts or simple mouse drag-and-drop operations (known as "snap areas"), significantly enhancing multitasking efficiency and screen space utilization.

Official Website & Download Link:

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Key Features

1. Extensive Keyboard Shortcuts

Rectangle provides a comprehensive and logically organized set of keyboard shortcuts (based by default on ⌥ Option + ⌘ Command combinations) to perform almost all window layout operations:

• Basic Split-Screen: Left/right half, top/bottom half, quarter corners.
• Third-Screen Layout: Place windows at left, center, or right third of the screen.
• Advanced Layouts: Maximize, center, almost-maximize, move to next/previous display.
• Size Adjustment: Make windows larger or smaller.

All shortcuts can be fully customized in the app settings to suit personal preferences, offering high flexibility.

2. Intuitive Mouse Drag-and-Drop Snapping (Snap Areas)

This is one of Rectangle’s standout features, inspired by Windows’ "Snap Assist" functionality.

• Usage: Simply drag any window to the edge or corner of the screen.
• Visual Feedback: When the cursor reaches the screen edge, a transparent "footprint" highlight appears, clearly previewing the window’s target position and size.
• Drop to Complete: Release the mouse, and the window will automatically snap and resize to the designated area.

3. Application Ignore Function

This feature resolves shortcut conflicts.

• Smart Exclusion: You can add specific apps (e.g., virtual machines, video editing software with complex shortcuts) to an "ignore list."
• Automatic Handling: When an ignored app is in focus, Rectangle’s shortcuts automatically disable; they reactivate when switching to another app—no manual toggling required.

4. URL Scheme & Automation Support

For advanced users or those seeking workflow automation, Rectangle supports URL Scheme.

• Remote Triggering: You can trigger Rectangle’s window management actions via a URL like rectangle://execute-action?name=left-half (e.g., from Alfred, Keyboard Maestro, or scripts), eliminating the need to manually press keyboard shortcuts.

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Core Advantages

1. Completely Free and Open Source: Rectangle is released under the MIT License, meaning it’s free to use, inspect, and contribute to. No subscriptions, in-app purchases, or hidden limitations.

2. Lightweight and Efficient: Built in Swift and evolved from the classic Spectacle app, Rectangle is lightweight (minimal memory usage) and runs efficiently and stably, placing negligible load on system resources.

3. Easy to Start, Powerful to Master:

   • Beginners can immediately use the intuitive drag-and-drop snapping.
   • Intermediate users gain significant productivity by memorizing core shortcuts (e.g., left/right half).
   • Advanced users can leverage custom shortcuts and automation tools to build personalized workflows.

4. Excellent Customization: From keyboard shortcuts to snap delay timing, nearly every interaction detail can be adjusted in settings to fit individual preferences and hardware setups (e.g., external displays).

5. Active Community and Continuous Updates: As a GitHub project with tens of thousands of stars, Rectangle boasts an active developer and user community, ensuring ongoing bug fixes, macOS version compatibility, and new feature additions.

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System Requirements & Installation

• System Requirements: macOS Catalina (10.15) or later.
• Installation Methods:
  1. Direct Download: Download the .dmg installer from the official website or GitHub Releases page.
  2. Homebrew Installation (Recommended for developers or command-line users):

     brew install --cask rectangle
     

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Conclusion: Whether you're a programmer, writer, designer, or general office user, if you need to manage multiple windows on macOS, Rectangle is an essential productivity tool. It offers far greater flexibility and convenience than macOS’s native Split View, all at zero cost. It’s the ideal choice for optimizing your multitasking experience on macOS.