Proposal: Optional Global Workspace Mode for Multi‑Monitor Setups

[amacieli]

Summary

I’m working with a 3‑monitor setup (maybe 4 if I get my extra suppor), and the current per‑monitor workspace model makes it difficult to treat all displays as a single unified workspace. A global mode would allow multi‑monitor users to keep different full-screen layouts in different workspaces, which is a common workflow in tiling WMs like Sway, i3, and Hyprland.

Omarchy’s current workspace behavior is per‑monitor: workspace 1 is tied to monitor 1, workspace 2 to monitor 2, etc. This works well for single‑monitor setups, but on multi‑monitor systems it can feel unintuitive because switching to workspace N only affects one monitor.

I’d like to propose an optional “Global Workspace Mode” that preserves the existing behavior by default but allows users to opt into a global model where all monitors switch together.

Motivation

For multi‑monitor workflows, it’s often desirable to treat all displays as part of a single workspace. In this model:

• Pressing <special>-N switches all monitors to workspace N.
• Each workspace represents a full multi‑monitor layout.
• Users can keep different multi‑monitor configurations in different workspaces.
• The existing per‑monitor behavior remains available as “Local Workspace Mode.”

This would make Omarchy more flexible without changing its default behavior.

Proposed Design (minimal impact)

Introduce a configuration option:

workspace_mode = "local" # current behavior (default)
workspace_mode = "global" # new optional behavior

When workspace_mode = "global":

• Workspaces are not bound to specific monitors.
• Switching workspace N updates all monitors.
• Windows moved to workspace N remain on their original monitor.
• <special><alt>-N moves the focused window to workspace N (same monitor).

When workspace_mode = "local":

• Omarchy behaves exactly as it does today.

Low‑risk change, because:

• Default behavior remains unchanged.
• Global mode is opt‑in.
• Code changes can be isolated to a small module.
• No architectural rewrite is required.
• No impact on users who prefer the current model.

References

This feature is conceptually similar to:

• Sway global workspace switching
• i3’s workspace model
• Hyprland’s global_workspaces option

Request

If this direction seems acceptable, I’d be happy to prepare a small, incremental PR implementing:

1. The workspace_mode config option
2. A global workspace manager
3. Global workspace switching logic
4. Window move hotkeys
5. Minimal changes to existing local workspace code

I’d be aiming for a minimal diff by isolating global workspace logic behind a configuration flag and leaving the existing local workspace behavior untouched. The goal is to add functionality without increasing maintenance burden.

Please let me know if this proposal doesn't align with Omarchy’s design goals.

[cacarr-pdxweb]

COSMIC DE also has "Workspaces span multiple displays" and "Displays have separate workspaces" options.

Workspaces spanning multiple displays really ought to be an option for Omarchy if it is at all feasible. Not having this option significantly reduces the benefit of having multiple displays, for many people.