SnapZones

Window management for Linux - Snap windows to predefined zones using keyboard modifiers and visual overlays. Inspired by Windows PowerToys FancyZones.

⚠️ Disclaimer

This entire application was vibe-coded with Claude. I take no responsibility for it breaking your system. I developed it for myself, I use it regularly, and I applied best practices while developing it with Claude and tested it thoroughly. It works for me - your mileage may vary. Use at your own risk.

Features

• 🎯 Zone-based window snapping - Hold Alt + drag to snap windows to custom zones
• 🔀 Overlapping zones support - Not limited to grids - zones can overlap and be positioned freely
• 🎨 Visual zone editor - Create and edit layouts with live preview on your desktop
• 📐 Preset layouts - Quick layouts: halves, thirds, quarters, and 3x3 grid
• 🗂️ Multiple layouts - Different layouts for different workspaces
• ⚡ Fast & lightweight - Minimal resource usage, runs silently in background

System Requirements

• Linux with X11 (Wayland not currently supported)
• Python 3.10+
• GNOME Desktop Environment (for keyboard shortcuts)

Verify your system:

echo "X11: $XDG_SESSION_TYPE" && gnome-shell --version 2>/dev/null

Installation

System Packages

First, install the required system packages:

sudo apt install python3 python3-pip python3-venv python3-gi python3-gi-cairo gir1.2-gtk-3.0 gir1.2-wnck-3.0 python3-xlib

Optional: Snap Application Support

If you use snap-confined applications (like Slack, Discord, Spotify) and want to snap them to zones, install the Window Calls GNOME extension before installing SnapZones:

1. Visit https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/4724/window-calls/
2. Click "Install"

If you install Window Calls after installing SnapZones, run:

systemctl --user restart snapzones

Quick Install

git clone https://github.com/Mahrkeenerh/SnapZones.git
cd SnapZones
./install.sh

The installer will:

• ✅ Set up Python virtual environment
• ✅ Symlink SnapZones to ~/.local/bin/
• ✅ Configure keyboard shortcut (Super+Shift+Tab)
• ✅ Install systemd user service for autostart
• ✅ Start the daemon

That's it! SnapZones is ready to use.

Usage

Quick Start

1. Press Alt + Drag a window - Zone overlay appears
2. Drag to a zone - Zone highlights
3. Release mouse - Window snaps to zone

That's it! No clicking, no extra keys.

Opening the Zone Editor

Press Super + Shift + Tab to open the zone editor

Zone Editor Controls

• H - Show/hide help

Creating Zones:

• Click & Drag empty space to draw a new zone

Precise Movement (1px accuracy):

• Arrow Keys - Move selected zone by 1 pixel
• Alt + Arrow Keys - Resize selected zone by 1 pixel

Planned Features

• 🖱️ System tray icon - Quick access to settings and controls
• ⚙️ Settings and configurations - Customizable behavior and preferences
• 🧲 Multi-zone proximity snapping - Combined area detection when zones are close together
• 📏 Magnetic edge snapping in editor - Toggle-able snap-to-grid for precise zone alignment

Managing SnapZones

Check Status

systemctl --user status snapzones

Restart Daemon

systemctl --user restart snapzones

Restart is needed after:

• Installing/updating Window Calls extension
• Configuration changes
• Troubleshooting issues

Stop Daemon

systemctl --user stop snapzones

View Logs

journalctl --user -u snapzones

Enable/Disable Autostart

systemctl --user enable snapzones   # Start on login
systemctl --user disable snapzones  # Don't start on login

Uninstall

cd SnapZones
./uninstall.sh

Configuration

Configuration files are stored in ~/.config/snapzones/:

• layouts/ - Your custom zone layouts
• workspace_layouts.json - Workspace-to-layout mappings

Note: Zones are automatically constrained to your usable screen area, excluding panels and docks. Windows won't be placed under your top panel.

Troubleshooting

Snap apps won't move

Install the Window Calls extension (see installation section above). SnapZones will automatically detect and use it.

Keyboard shortcut doesn't work

Check if Super+Shift+Tab is already used by another application:

gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings switch-group-backward

Daemon not starting

Check logs for error messages:

journalctl --user -u snapzones

Zone editor won't open

Make sure the daemon is running:

systemctl --user status snapzones

If stopped, restart it:

systemctl --user restart snapzones

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Credits

Inspired by Microsoft PowerToys FancyZones.

Built with Python, GTK3, Cairo, and python-xlib.

Optional integration with Window Calls GNOME extension.