Frequently asked questions

I use a zone-based window manager on Windows. Is this the same idea?
Yes. You design layouts of zones, hold a key while dragging a window, and drop it into a zone. Lattika adds per-app rules, workspaces, iCloud sync and Shortcuts actions. There is no import for layouts from other tools yet.

How is this different from the tiling built into macOS, or from apps that snap to halves and quarters?
Those offer a fixed set of positions: left half, right half, corners. Lattika lets you define any arrangement, with zones of any size that can span several grid cells or overlap, and a different arrangement per display. Snapping to a zone is one drag or one keystroke.

Why does Lattika need the Accessibility permission?
Moving and resizing the windows of other apps is only possible through that permission. Lattika uses it for nothing else: it does not read the contents of windows and does not record keystrokes. It watches mouse drags and modifier keys so that it knows when you are dragging a window with Shift held.

Why is it not on the Mac App Store?
App Store apps must run in a sandbox, and sandboxed apps cannot use the Accessibility permission on other apps' windows. Lattika is therefore sold directly, signed and notarized with an Apple Developer ID, with updates built in.

Does it work with several displays?
Yes. Each display has its own layout, the zones of every display are shown while you drag, and ⌃⌥⌘→ moves a window to the same zone on the next display. A laptop keeps a separate layout for docked and undocked use.

Can one window cover two zones?
Yes. Hold Control as well while dragging to span every zone you cross, or merge cells in the grid editor so that one zone is permanently large. Rules and workspaces also remember spans.

Can I use it without the mouse?
Yes. ⌃⌥1 to ⌃⌥9 snap the active window into a zone, ⌃⌥← and → move it between zones, ⌃⌥⌘← and → between displays, and ⌃⌥⌘↑ and ↓ switch layouts. All of them can be changed.

Can I have a different layout per Space, or per app?
Not per Space: macOS offers no way for apps to tell Spaces apart, so a display's layout applies in all of its Spaces. Per app, yes: a rule places an app's windows in a chosen zone whenever they open.

What happens when the trial ends?
Lattika stops moving windows until you enter a license key. Your layouts, rules and workspaces are kept and remain editable. Nothing is deleted.

Does Lattika collect any data?
No. Layouts, rules, workspaces and window memory stay on your Mac. If you turn on sync, layouts, rules and workspaces go to your own iCloud account and nowhere else. Entering a license key contacts the license server once, and then about once a week to check that the key is still valid. Update checks contact lattika.com. The privacy page at https://lattika.com/privacy has the details.