Group windows by app in window overview

[seanh]

I think it'd be cool if windows were grouped together by app in the window overview, and the app icon only shown once. I think this is both helpful to the user in finding windows, and also uses space more efficiently. This screenshot shows what I mean: http://obamapacman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Mission-Control-OS-X-Lion-10.7.jpg

[seanh (seanh)]

I think maybe the grouping windows by app should only be triggered when there are enough windows from enough different apps that it's worthwhile. For example, if all I have open on a workspace is four terminal windows, it'd be much more useful when I hit ctrl+w to see the four windows in the four quadrants of the screen, as Gala currently does it. Having them all in the middle of the screen partially on top of as in the OS X screenshot above, is obviously not helpful.

This would also apply if I had, say, two file manager windows and two firefox windows.

At some point, when I have many windows from many different apps open, the OS X Mission Control layout becomes much more helpful. But I'm not sure exactly what the cut-off point is.

[Tom Beckmann (tombeckmann)]

The windowoverview is primarily meant for window switching. Switching windows from one application as well as switching windows from a single application. Grouping them would make it harder to differentiate those windows, especially as windows from the same app tend to look pretty much the same. Also grouping will make it harder to pick the right one with your mouse.

Lastly, if we were to go with this design http://bassultra.deviantart.com/art/Window-Management-Mode-384171952 that basically puts windows as they are tiled, grouping becomes unnecessary too.