Linux Window Drag

Windows 10/11 tray app for Linux-style window manipulation:

• Modifier + left-drag: move window
• Modifier + middle-drag: resize from closest corner, anchored at opposite corner
• Mouse cursor switches to a hand while move/resize is active

The app ignores desktop/taskbar/tool windows.

Tray menu

Right-click the tray icon:

• Modifier Key
  • alt
  • windows key
  • cntrl
  • persists across restarts
• Run at Windows Startup (toggle)
• Open Log Window
• Open Log Folder
• About (shows version)
• Exit

Why this implementation looks the way it does

Several simpler approaches were attempted first and failed on real systems:

1. WM_SYSCOMMAND / SC_MOVE and WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN simulation

   • Expected: native window move loop.
   • Problem: unreliable initiation across apps/windows; sometimes no move at all.

2. Direct SetWindowPos from hook events (anchor-from-start)

   • Expected: deterministic movement.
   • Problem: jitter/snap-back due to event ordering and OS interaction.

3. Low-level mouse hook with Alt flag only

   • Problem: modifier detection inconsistency (LLMHF_ALTDOWN not always reliable).

4. Physical cursor APIs + DPI scaling variants

   • Problem: on some machines this caused under-movement, zero movement, or oscillation.

5. Aggressive Win-key event swallowing for Start-menu suppression

   • Problem: could leave Windows key in a "stuck" state for keyboard input.

What works reliably now

• Mouse hook starts/stops action only.
• A polling loop (GetCursorPos) drives movement/resizing at steady intervals.
• Win-key Start-menu suppression is handled without leaving Win-key state stuck.
• Modifier is user-selectable from tray menu and saved in user settings.

Build

dotnet build -c Release

Publish

dotnet publish -c Release -r win-x64 --self-contained false

Published EXE:

bin\Release\net9.0-windows\win-x64\publish\LinuxWindowDrag.exe