asmvik / asmvik/yabai

Unable to make windows from Little Arc float

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#2,271 10 comments 8 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
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C
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Description

This might more be an issue with [Arc](https://arc.net/), but I wonder if there's any working workaround.

The issue comes from the [Little Arc feature](https://allthings.how/whats-little-arc-in-the-arc-browser-and-how-to-configure-it/), it basically allows to open links in a "temporary" floating window. Unfortunately when using yabai the window is not floating, and I haven't found a way to tell yabai to not manage those windows, here's what I get from querying the windows:

1. Little arc:

```json
{
"id":11848,
"pid":1220,
"app":"Arc",
"title":"[yabai] Now my Mac looks hecking cool but I am still very unproductive : unixporn",
"scratchpad":"",
"frame":{
"x":756.0000,
"y":510.0000,
"w":756.0000,
"h":472.0000
},
"role":"AXWindow",
"subrole":"AXStandardWindow",
"root-window":true,
"display":1,
"space":2,
"level":0,
"sub-level":-20,
"layer":"normal",
"sub-layer":"below",
"opacity":0.9800,
"split-type":"horizontal",
"split-child":"second_child",
"stack-index":0,
"can-move":true,
"can-resize":true,
"has-focus":false,
"has-shadow":true,
"has-parent-zoom":false,
"has-fullscreen-zoom":false,
"has-ax-reference":true,
"is-native-fullscreen":false,
"is-visible":true,
"is-minimized":false,
"is-hidden":false,
"is-floating":false,
"is-sticky":false,
"is-grabbed":false
}
```

Standard window

```json
{
"id":11819,
"pid":1220,
"app":"Arc",
"title":"yabai is cool",
"scratchpad":"",
"frame":{
"x":756.0000,
"y":38.0000,
"w":756.0000,
"h":472.0000
},
"role":"AXWindow",
"subrole":"AXStandardWindow",
"root-window":true,
"display":1,
"space":2,
"level":0,
"sub-level":-20,
"layer":"normal",
"sub-layer":"below",
"opacity":0.9800,
"split-type":"horizontal",
"split-child":"first_child",
"stack-index":0,
"can-move":true,
"can-resize":true,
"has-focus":false,
"has-shadow":true,
"has-parent-zoom":false,
"has-fullscreen-zoom":false,
"has-ax-reference":true,
"is-native-fullscreen":false,
"is-visible":true,
"is-minimized":false,
"is-hidden":false,
"is-floating":false,
"is-sticky":false,
"is-grabbed":false
}
```

as you can see the windows appear to be the same, so not sure if we can target either 🤔

I've tried workarounds described in #1622 but none of them work

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

Research direction

Start with the Little Arc and standard-window examples in the issue, then review the workarounds in #1622 and investigate whether yabai exposes any distinguishing accessibility or window metadata. Done means identifying a reliable way to target and float Little Arc windows, or documenting that these windows cannot be distinguished.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
macos
Domain
desktop-dev
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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