Is there is tool similar to ShiftIt on OS X?

Question

I'm looking for a keyboard controlled window sizing utility similar to ShiftIt on Mac OS X: https://github.com/fikovnik/ShiftIt

Answer 1

I assume you want a feature that allows you to tile your windows like ShiftIt allows via CMD-Shift-<Left|Right>Arrow.

As your question seems to be targeted at Gnome you might want to try BlueTile that seems to specifically target the Gnome-Desktop.

Apart from that I think the new Unity-Desktop from Canonical allows similiar features via CRTL-Shift-<Left|Right> Arrow and the NumPad Keys (in 12.04 at least you can press the Windows key and see an overview over the available shortcuts).

And - even though I have never used it the Grid-Plugin for Compiz might also fit your needs.

Apart from that there are a ton of window managers that can do all the tiling for you, but they may require initial setup and be very different to use than the more common ones. Some examples in this camp include:

• Awesome
• XMonad
• DWM

Answer 2

GNOME already has some keyboard window manipulation available by default. Take a look at http://library.gnome.org/users/gnome-access-guide/2.32/keynav-14.html.en.

Otherwise, you may want to try using another window manager with more window control options.

Answer 3

Not direct answer (see mine comment), but it seems lots of X window newcomers do not know that Alt_MouseLeftBtn allows dragging windows around the screen and Alt_MouseRightBtn — resizing them (something that Mac OS X GUI sucks forlacks of) — so you don't need to take aim at hot window zones.

I usually prefer Fluxbox and it has some key-binding for changing window geom as well.