cmdtab v1.4

v1.4

Highlights

• Fix bug causing first app window to be skipped when switching sub-windows with Alt-` after first having Alt-Tab'ed
• Better code (always)
• Fix bug causing switcher GUI to be oversized on activation if configured to show switcher when switching sub-windows (yeah, these are tongue twisters... Imagine having to write them!)
• Oh, and autorun never worked because of a very dumb bug. Fixed! Now autoruns.

Previous patches

See below for previous patch notes: v1.3, v1.2 , v1.1 and v1.0.

cmdtab v1.3

v1.3

Highlights

• Fix hanging Alt key (woohoo!)
• Fix window restoring bug reported in issue #1
• Fix initial white flash when showing GUI
• Improvements to stability and snappiness: snappiness is happiness!
• No GUI delay by default:
  After extended use, I have determined that the lesser visual impact of a
  narrow strip of icons vs. a possibly full-screen montage of window previews
  is enough to prevent the distraction for which GUI delay was introduced. Now
  I much prefer the snappiness of no delay. Nevertheless, the functionality of
  GUI delay will remain in cmdtab, but will be disabled by default.
• Allow fast switching for both app- and window-switching (was only allowed for
  subwindow-switching)
• Allow showing GUI switcher for both app- and window-switching (was only
  allowed for app-switching)
• Dodge & weave between apps & windows by mixing & matching Alt-Tab & Alt-`
• Damn that's some pretty code!
• Long app names are now aligned to fit the switcher
• Use Alt-W and Alt-Delete to close selected window (requires some testing)
• Use Alt-M to minimize window (requires some testing)
• Cmdtab will now (re)ask if you want to enable autorun before refusing to
  start if it's already running
• Fixed a bug that caused cmdtab to no longer ask about autorun

Conclusion

This patch feels better. It feels good. It's stable now. Enjoy!
See below for previous patch notes: v1.2 , v1.1 and v1.0 .

cmdtab v1.2

v1.2

Highlights

• Filter more unwanted windows (especially a persistent explorer.exe window)
• Display pretty names for more apps (ex. Github Desktop)
• Fix autorun dialog spam on startup
• Much prettier code

Known issues

• There is sometimes a conspicuous white flash when the GUI appears
• See v1.0 release notes for full list of known issues

Conclusion

Another small patch. See below for v1.1 and v1.0 full release notes.

cmdtab v1.1

v1.1

Highlights

• Fixed drawing bug (white rectangle in switcher GUI)
• Cancel window switching by clicking outside switcher
• Confirmation dialog when quitting cmdtab
• Prettier code

Conclusion

Just a small release. See below for v1.0 full release notes.

cmdtab v1.0

First public release

Features

• Alt-Tab to show app switcher GUI
• Alt-` to instantly cycle windows of same app (no GUI, like macOS)
• Alt-Esc after Alt-Tab to cancel switcher
• Alt-Esc after Alt-` to revert to initial window
• Alt-Arrows as alternative for choosing app (repeating Alt-Tab also does this)
• Alt-Enter as alternative for confirming switch (releasing Alt also does this)
• Alt-F4 quits cmdtab

• Hold Shift to reverse direction
• Wrap bump on key repeat (yum!)
• Delayed show for flicker-free quick switching (not same as flicker-free drawing)
• Easy autorun (through registry)
• Input capture (prevent keystrokes from bleeding through to other apps)
• Double-buffered, flicker-free drawing
• Single instance protection
• Dark mode

Experimental

• Ctrl+Alt+Tab to toggle between cmdtab and default Windows switcher (buggy!)

Known issues

• Alt key gets stuck sometimes. Temporary workaround is to press Alt Ctrl Shift to release stuck Alt key
• Right-most icons sometimes not drawn correctly (white rectangle)
• Wrong icon sometimes: It's no joke trying to get nice icons of running applications
• Wrong title sometimes: It's surprisingly hard to just get the name of a running application
• Wrong apps sometimes: It's surprisingly hard to filter windows correctly (so many weird, invisible windows you'd never know)
• Wrong order sometimes: It's fundamentally flawed to rely on Z-order from EnumWindows() as window activation order (TIL!). Need a refactor for correct behavior.
• Relying on "Alt key workaround" for window activation. Doesn't cause any issues (except maybe stuck Alt key sometimes?), but will refactor for elegance.
• Leaky drawing

Roadmap/WIP

• Fix known issues
• User-facing configuration
• Custom app blacklist
• Setting for how to handle minimized apps (yeah, some people actually use window minimization for workflow management, not just visual management)

• Alt-Delete to close window (like Windows 10 and up)
• Alt-W to close window (like macOS)
• Alt-Q to close all windows of application (like macOS)
• Alt-M to minimize

• Mouse click on app icon to switch
• Mouse click outside switcher to cancel switcher

• C runtime free code
• Artisanal Win32 APIs

Conclusion

Finally, a great macOS-style window switcher for Window. Enjoy! (And check back for updates...)