When comparing Slate vs Paste, the Slant community recommends Slate for most people. In the question“What are the best power user tools for macOS?” Slate is ranked 20th while Paste is ranked 55th. The most important reason people chose Slate is:
Slate is similar to Linux WMs like Xmonad in that it is nearly infinitely configurable. You can either use the default configuration file or just Javascript for very complex/dynamic settings. Slate also offers editing a ".js" or a ".slate" file for configuration.
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Pros
Pro Extremely configurable
Slate is similar to Linux WMs like Xmonad in that it is nearly infinitely configurable. You can either use the default configuration file or just Javascript for very complex/dynamic settings. Slate also offers editing a ".js" or a ".slate" file for configuration.
Pro Based on hotkeys
Hotkeys can be set to re-size and focus windows, as well as activate layout presets.
Pro It's free
Slate is completely free to download and use, which is a great option in a field of Mac WMs that often costs money to use.
Pro Allows for tiling
Slate allows for customizing the config file in order to emulate tiling windows.
Pro Lets you set default layouts
By using a feature called "snapshots", users can set up different default window layouts in Slate that they can switch to and from on the fly.
Pro Window hints
Slate offers window hints which are an intuitive way to change window focus.
Pro Available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
Allows to copy and paste and keep clipboard history in sync across devices.
Pro iCloud sync
Syncs clipboard history across Mac, iPhone, iPad.
Pro Simple design and usage
Pro Offers free trial
14-days free trial.
Pro Actively maintained
Gets updated with new features constantly.
Pro Allows editing
You can edit clipboard history items in place.
Pro Offers "Copy as plain text"
Pro Allows sequential paste
Pro Offers named folders
Can be used to organize frequently used snippets like signatures etc.
Pro Offers search and filters
Fast and efficient search by content and metadata.
Pro Supports rich text data
Generates previews for any type of content.
Cons
Con Project is no longer in development
Development is no longer active on this project as of 2017.
Con Hard to configure
There's no graphical user interface for configuring Slate, meaning it has to be done from the command line interface or by editing a config file. This makes it somewhat difficult and time-consuming.
Con Missing features
Unable to perform all tasks of software it was meant to replace.
Can not move windows between 'Spaces' (virtual desktops).
Con Video fail
Demonstration video failed to highlight any of the advantages of the windowing system. Or at least, the advantages were so subtly intrinsic that no-one who didn't already use the system could appreciate them.
Con Subscription based
Con Closed source
Con You shouldn't buy separately from a subscription like SetApp
Free/inexpensive options probably good enough for most users.
