Commands & config.

You never need any of this to use Tilemode: everything has a normal Mac window. This page is for people who like to read config files, and for the coding agent you ask to set things up.

Setup

• Requirements: macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon or Intel.
• Accessibility permission lets Tilemode move and resize windows. Web apps and hotkeys work without it; tiling turns on once you allow it in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
• The tilemode command comes inside the app. Tilemode offers to add it to your PATH on first run. You can skip that.

Config file

Everything you set up, in the app or through an agent, is saved to one plain-text file:

~/.config/tilemode/config.toml

Tilemode watches it and applies changes as soon as you save. Edits you make in the app are written back to it, and your comments are kept. Copy it to a new Mac and run tilemode apply to get your whole setup back.

# Web apps: one table per app
[apps.mail]
url    = "https://mail.example.com"
hotkey = "opt+cmd+m"     # launch or focus
tile   = "left-half"      # where it snaps when it opens

[apps.chat]
url    = "https://chat.example.com"
hotkey = "opt+cmd+c"
tile   = "right-third"

# Hotkeys for native apps, by bundle ID
[hotkeys]
"opt+cmd+e" = { bundle = "com.example.editor" }

# Named layouts: app → tile
[layouts.focus]
mail                 = "left-third"
"com.example.editor" = "right-two-thirds"

Tiles & layouts

Tiles always fit the usable area of the display the window is on, menu bar and notch included.

Hotkey syntax

Modifiers joined with +, then one key: cmd, opt, ctrl, shift. Examples: opt+cmd+m, ctrl+opt+space. Tilemode warns you if a hotkey clashes with a system shortcut.

The tilemode command

Built for coding agents and scripts. Every command takes --json for machine-readable output. Anything that removes something asks first, unless you pass --yes.

$ tilemode app add https://chat.example.com --name Chat
$ tilemode hotkey set opt+cmd+c Chat
$ tilemode rule add Chat --tile right-third

Your coding agent

• Agent skill. Tilemode includes a short plain-text instruction file that teaches a coding agent the commands and config above. In Settings → Agents, Tilemode lists the coding agents it finds on your Mac. It adds the skill only to the ones you click Install on, and you can remove it from there too.
• Then just ask. "Make mail.example.com an app on ⌥⌘M and tile it left." The agent runs the tilemode commands for you.
• Agent hotkey. Optional: pick your agent and terminal in Settings, and ⌃⌥A opens it in your Tilemode config folder, ready to go.
• No API key, no AI costs. Tilemode never calls an AI service. Your agent uses the subscription you already have.

Default shortcuts

Rebind any of these in config.toml.