I think I remember "window list" from KDE also, in the "Add applet to panel" dialog

It's like a taskbar, but condensed into one single button-thing right? And when you hover or click it, it expands to show all the tasks (windows) in a vertical list? Sort of like a stacked taskbar.

Well, as far as this thread is concerned, a taskbar = any stationary bar or panel taking up screen space that one regularly utilizes - regardless of any type of autohide feature.

There are two in "Add to panel" in Gnome. The one I am talking about just shows the buttons horizontally. The one you are explaining is called the Window Selector which shows them vertically like a menu.

realbluntz: where is you explanation on how to not use a taskbar?

Again, I use Compiz.

If I were to use a taskbar, it's functions would include: a menu list of applications and a way to manage windows and available screen space.

The menu part is simple. For one, Alt+F1 gives me my application menu. But launching applications usually takes place in gnome-terminal or the app runner Alt+F2.

For managing windows, there are many ways to go about it without a taskbar and this is where I'm having trouble explaining - let's see how it goes...

It's a combination of all of these tools:

• Virtual Desktops - This is essential. It is key to keeping similar tasks/applications together.
• Expo - zooms out to show all of your virtual desktops, here you can move windows from one desktop to another very easily.
• Window Rollup - often used with windows that are 'always ontop'. This is possibly my equivalent of 'minimizing'.
• Send window to background - saves a lot of time when you want to see all of the windows behind your current maximized window. Or to just get the focus of the next window. Kinda like Alt+tab without the preview.
• Compiz's Window Picker - I believe this is the single most important tool. It will display previews of all the windows residing on your desktop. Displays windows on all desktops as well.

I have a Logitech G500 with many buttons which speeds things up greatly.

... i dont think i missed anything...

Just one question, and it always bothered me:

Do you put applications of the same kind on each virtual desktop, or do you but applications for the same task on every desktop?

Basically, how to use virtual desktops best?

Also, what's this window picker you keep talking about? how do I enable it in CCSM?

Either or!

But most often, I have my main desktop with more than less unrelated appz. Then I switch over to another desktop to view pictures in nautilus and run gimp. I have another desktop for my cameras, ect ect.
My main goal is to not cluster-f*ck the desktops - organize to your preference.

** Oh - memory plays a role here too. I have 8 virtual desktops with 2 monitors. Although, I rarely use more than 4 virtual desktops.

I use Fluxbox. I used the Fluxbox tabbed programs feature for the applications I use most frequently (browsers, file managers, office, text editors).

I will occasionally use the taskbar portion of the Fluxbox panel to switch back and forth to programs that I start, use briefly, and close again (GIMP, KolourPaint, terminal windows). If I am using any of those programs for a long session, I'll add them to my line up of Fluxbox tabs.

Window Management --> Scale

first edge flipping is an absolute must
you have to use edge flipping to make the most out of having multiple work spaces (virtual desktops)

example gimp you have the tool section window , the layers window , the canvas window
using edge flipping you full screen the canvas window on work space say 1 you put the on say work space 2 tool section window and the layers window then you just slide the mouse to the edge of the work space to access the other windows

or your writing something in a word processor using information from another source you put the information in a file viewer on one work space and the word processor in another work space and flip between the 2 as needed

or answering questions in these forums you open a terminal in one work space and the web browser in another

edge flipping is orders of magnitude faster than raising and lowering windows better yet you just have to find the edge of the screen with your mouse and not some tiny button or small label to top it all off
it's super easy to keep track of where things are because there laid out in space instead of stacked up is some almost random order that keeps changing depending on witch one was last used

I guess you could say my layout is like a mash-up of Windows, OS X, and Xfce-specific things...

• Virtual Desktops: Not often used, but sometimes useful for keeping things "clean". Right now I have GNOME MPlayer on Desktop 2 with FF on Desktop 1.
• Task list/"Windows-Start-bar" functionality: Yeah I use the Xfce task list thing...but it only shows the open windows on the current desktop.
• Menus/applets/etc.: Lots: To the left of the task list, I have the menu (duh ) and the default "quick-launch" things for Terminal, Mousepad, Thunar, and FF. To the right, I have the CPU frequency indicator, battery level, volume button, CPU load bars and history, tray icons (for anything that wants to hang out there), virtual desktop list, "Show desktop" button (come to think of it I could probably remove that; I never use it), the clock, and the logout button.
• Show all windows/"Exposé-like" functionality: I almost never use them, but I still have both Expo and Scale enabled in Compiz. Scale only shows windows on the current desktop, just as the task list does...yes I know it's redundant...stop bugging me!

Anyways, that's about it. Of course there are other things I have on in Compiz, but they're mostly for show and/or a boredom cure.

Not when you have a keyboard shortcut. Or better yet, a mouse button assigned to that function - G500 rules

Incorrect.
Under Scale in CCSM, the Window Picker can show all windows on current desktop as well as all windows on all desktops.

"Initiate Window Picker"
"Initiate Window Picker For All Windows"

You don't need a taskbar to switch windows, haven't heard of Alt-TAB?^^ The default switch-window key binding in many WMs. At least you use only one hand with your computer (don't want to imagine why...) the WM's key bindings are usually faster in WM-related stuff (obviously).
You can for example minimize with M-F9, search through the opened windows with Alt-TAB, maximize a window with M-F10, move a window to another desktop with S-M-right, maximize that window too... etc. And remember, you have lots of desktops^^.
Not related with the taskbar, but in the key bindings subject; instead of clicking a window's title and drag it to move it around, you can just hold ALT and click on any part of the window to move it.

Although, of course if you have a decent window manager, you can still use a taskbar with the "same" above results. The thing is, if you can do it faster with the bindings, why would you sacrifice space in your monitor, and memory in your computer (think of slow computers with gnome-panel or something).

And WMs that don't have a taskbar, usually have some other way to switch windows with your mouse, like a menu-bar that pops up with the mouse's middle button, etc.

But of course, I understand that for people that don't use computers in regular basis or are beginning to, having a plain desktop without any icons/bar would be rather frightening^^.
So I think for starters it would be a good thing to have one. But according to your personality and computer usage, it might become annoying or a waste of computer resources, so getting rid of it is a very good option.

2 members found this post helpful.

I'm frightened becuase I used Windows since I was a small child so it's just what I'm used to and it's so ingrained in me that I can't think of any other way to manage windows on my desktop

But I find it a bit frustrating to manage the windows this way so I'd like to see the alternatives.

What I mean is I have it set to only show windows on the current desktop. Probably should've worded that differently...