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Add to SafariWhen comparing Slate vs Better Touch Tool, the Slant community recommends Slate for most people. In the question“What are the best power user tools for macOS?” Slate is ranked 21st while Better Touch Tool is ranked 32nd. 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.
Question Ranking
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 Endlessly customizable
Pro Extendability
Allows user to extend my MBP with touchbar by creating custom actions per app. Also supports system-wide integration (touchbar actions).
Pro BTT makes it simple to sync your hotkey, Touch Bar and gesture setup between several machines
Pro Sync settings in the cloud
Pro There's a free companion app for iOS that you can use to remote control your Mac
Pro Supports Apple script, bash, javascript
Pro Customize window button behaviour
Pro Make your own menu bar items
Pro Active community
Pro Built-in clipboard manager
Pro Highly configurable window moving / window snapping options
Pro Key sequences
Supports key sequences for things like text expansion.
Pro Supports MIDI devices (keyboards, DAW controllers, etc.)
Listen for MIDI events and have them control anything. For example you could use a DJ controller in your favorite video editor, etc.
Pro Lets you configure your external mouse's 4th and 5th button per app
Pro Record gestures / drawings and assign them to actions
Pro Developer is regularly adding features / improvements
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.
