App exclusion recipes

Patterns for excluding apps from tiling. Blocklist mode (default) tiles everything except listed apps. Allowlist mode tiles only listed apps.

System apps

Exclude apps with non-standard windows or dialogs:

spoon.Shoji:configure({
  filter_mode = "blocklist",
  filter_apps = {
    "com.apple.finder",
    "com.apple.systempreferences",
    "com.apple.Preview",
    "com.apple.calculator",
    "com.apple.ActivityMonitor",
  },
})

Finder windows have variable sizes. System Settings uses sheets and popovers. Preview is often used for quick document viewing.

Spotlight alternatives

Launcher apps should float over tiled windows:

spoon.Shoji:configure({
  filter_mode = "blocklist",
  filter_apps = {
    "com.raycast.macos",
    "com.runningwithcrayons.Alfred",
    "com.flexibits.fantastical2.mac",
  },
})

Password managers

Password manager windows are temporary and should overlap:

spoon.Shoji:configure({
  filter_mode = "blocklist",
  filter_apps = {
    "com.1password.1password",
    "com.bitwarden.desktop",
    "com.lastpass.lastpassmacdesktop",
    "org.keepassxc.keepassxc",
  },
})

Video conferencing

Exclude meeting apps where camera/sharing windows behave unpredictably:

spoon.Shoji:configure({
  filter_mode = "blocklist",
  filter_apps = {
    "us.zoom.xos",
    "com.microsoft.teams",
    "com.microsoft.teams2",
    "com.google.Chrome.app.kjgfgldnnfoeklkmfkjfagphfepbbdan",
    "com.cisco.webexmeetingsapp",
    "com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap",  -- Slack huddles
  },
})

Media and creative tools

Apps with floating palettes, inspectors, and preview windows:

spoon.Shoji:configure({
  filter_mode = "blocklist",
  filter_apps = {
    "com.apple.iPhoto",
    "com.apple.Photos",
    "com.spotify.client",
    "com.apple.Music",
    "com.figma.Desktop",
    "com.bohemiancoding.sketch3",
  },
})

Development focused allowlist

Tile only coding apps, everything else floats:

spoon.Shoji:configure({
  filter_mode = "allowlist",
  filter_apps = {
    "com.apple.Terminal",
    "com.googlecode.iterm2",
    "io.alacritty",
    "com.mitchellh.ghostty",
    "com.microsoft.VSCode",
    "com.jetbrains.intellij",
    "org.mozilla.firefox",
    "com.apple.Safari",
    "com.google.Chrome",
  },
})

This is stricter than blocklist. Only the listed apps participate in tiling. Useful when you have many utility apps that shouldn’t be tiled.

Combining with minimum size

Filter apps and small windows together:

spoon.Shoji:configure({
  filter_mode = "blocklist",
  filter_apps = {
    "com.apple.finder",
    "com.apple.systempreferences",
  },
  min_width = 400,
  min_height = 300,
})

Finder floats regardless of window size. Other apps float only if their windows are smaller than 400x300.

Finding bundle IDs

Look up an app’s bundle ID:

osascript -e 'id of app "AppName"'

Replace “AppName” with the app’s display name. For example:

osascript -e 'id of app "Visual Studio Code"'
# Returns: com.microsoft.VSCode

For Electron apps or apps with unusual names, check the app’s Info.plist:

defaults read /Applications/AppName.app/Contents/Info.plist CFBundleIdentifier

Common bundle IDs reference

Application	Bundle ID
Finder	com.apple.finder
System Settings	com.apple.systempreferences
Terminal	com.apple.Terminal
Safari	com.apple.Safari
VS Code	com.microsoft.VSCode
iTerm2	com.googlecode.iterm2
Alacritty	io.alacritty
Ghostty	com.mitchellh.ghostty
Firefox	org.mozilla.firefox
Chrome	com.google.Chrome
Slack	com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap
Discord	com.hnc.Discord
1Password	com.1password.1password
Raycast	com.raycast.macos
Alfred	com.runningwithcrayons.Alfred
Zoom	us.zoom.xos
Teams	com.microsoft.teams2
Spotify	com.spotify.client