Layouts overview

You will learn

• What layouts Shoji includes
• Which layout fits which workflow
• How to extend layouts with modifiers

Shoji includes eight built-in layouts. Each layout arranges windows differently to suit various workflows.

Overview

Layout	Description	Ratio	Main count	Resize	State
Tall	Main left, stack right	✓	✓	—	—
Wide	Main top, stack bottom	✓	✓	—	—
Three columns	Main center, stacks on sides	✓	✓	—	—
Monocle	Windows stacked full size	—	—	—	—
BSP	Recursive binary splits	—	—	✓	✓
Column	Equal-width columns	—	—	—	—
Floating	No automatic tiling	—	—	—	—
Grid	Even grid pattern	—	—	—	—

Legend:

• Ratio: Supports main_ratio adjustment
• Main count: Supports main_count adjustment
• Resize: Per-window resize with layout-specific actions
• State: Maintains state between retiles

Choosing a layout

For focus work with one main window: Tall or Wide layouts emphasize a primary window with supporting windows alongside.

For ultrawide monitors: Three columns centers your main window with supporting content on both sides.

For managing many equal windows: BSP, Grid, or Column layouts treat all windows equally without hierarchy.

For distraction-free work: Monocle stacks windows so only the focused one is visible.

For manual control: Floating disables automatic tiling entirely.

Custom layouts

Create your own layouts. See Creating custom layouts for details.

Layout composition

Combine built-in layouts with modifiers and combinators:

• Layout modifiers — mirror, center, or add gaps to any layout
• Partition — split the screen into regions, each running its own layout
• IfMax — switch layouts based on window count
• Composition recipes — ready-to-use examples