TECH Signal 411
Nehir: a tiling window manager for macOS
Nehir is a tiling window manager for macOS that implements a scrolling column layout inspired by Niri, offering multi-monitor support, workspaces, and an IPC-driven control interface.
Engineers gain a window-keeps windows in vertically-stacked workflow that reduces manual resizing on wide or multi-monitor setups by arranging windows in horizontally scrollable columns. The built-in Unix socket and nehirctl command line tool let scripts or external programs manipulate focus, workspaces, and layouts without leaving the keyboard. Developer-mode tracing and debug commands provide a way to capture and share behavior logs when diagnosing issues.
Written by elseif from the cluster below · every claim links back to a sourceThe three things worth knowing
Nehir arranges windows in columns that scroll horizontally, with automatic overflow tabbing when windows exceed column height.
It provides per-monitor workspaces, a workspace bar, focus-follows-mouse option, and an overview mode for quick window inspection.
Control is exposed through a Unix socket (nehirctl) and a TOML-based config, allowing scripted window management and debugging traces via Developer Mode.
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What elseif makes of it.
Nehir introduces a tiling window manager for macOS that uses a scrolling column layout derived from the Niri paradigm. Windows are placed in vertical columns that can be scrolled horizontally, with automatic overflow tabbing when a column exceeds its minimum height. This layout differs from traditional grid-based tilers by keeping windows in a single dimension that flows like a river. The design aims to reduce manual resizing on wide or multi-monitor setups.
Adopting Nehir requires installing the binary, either via the guria/tap Homebrew tap or by building from source with mise. After installation the app must be granted Accessibility permissions in System Settings. For optimal behavior the macOS Dock should be set to auto-hide and displays arranged vertically in System Settings to prevent parked windows from spilling onto adjacent screens. Users also need to learn the default hotkeys and edit a TOML configuration file under ~/.config/nehir/ to tailor borders, workspaces, and app-specific rules.
The manager does not recover windows after a force quit, crash, or kill -9 because those actions bypass its shutdown cleanup, leaving previously parked windows at the screen edge. Trace capture and related debug commands are only available when Developer Mode is enabled in the Diagnostics tab of Settings. If the Dock remains visible or displays are not stacked vertically, offscreen windows may bleed onto neighboring monitors, breaking the intended column flow. Consequently, the tiling behavior relies on both user-configured system settings and proper graceful termination of the process.
Nehir exposes a Unix socket IPC mechanism accessed through the nehirctl command line tool, enabling scripts to move focus, switch workspaces, or toggle layout features without leaving the keyboard. Per-application layout overrides, a workspace bar with app icons, and an overview mode give operators quick visual and programmatic control over window arrangement. Focus-follows-mouse can be toggled, and multi-monitor support allows seamless column scrolling across connected displays. Together these features provide a deterministic, scriptable environment for engineers who need repeatable window layouts and the ability to diagnose issues via trace logs.
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