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Overview

Mango uses a tag-based workspace system inspired by dwm, offering more flexibility than traditional workspace models. Instead of windows belonging to a single workspace, each window can be assigned to one or multiple tags simultaneously.

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How Tags Work

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Tag Basics

By default, Mango provides 9 tags (numbered 1-9). Think of tags as labels you can apply to windows:
  • Each window can have multiple tags assigned to it
  • You can view one or more tags at a time
  • Windows are visible when at least one of their tags matches the currently active tags
The tag system is implemented as a bitmask (TAGMASK), where each tag corresponds to a bit. This allows efficient operations and multiple tag assignments.

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Tag vs. Traditional Workspaces

Traditional WorkspacesTag System
Window belongs to one workspaceWindow can have multiple tags
Switch between workspacesSwitch between tag views
Moving window changes its workspaceAdd/remove tags from window
Linear navigationFlexible tag combinations

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Configuring Tags

Each tag can have its own layout and settings defined in config.conf: 
# Assign default layouts to tags
tagrule=id:1,layout_name:tile
tagrule=id:2,layout_name:tile
tagrule=id:3,layout_name:scroller
tagrule=id:4,layout_name:grid
tagrule=id:5,layout_name:tile
tagrule=id:6,layout_name:tile
tagrule=id:7,layout_name:tile
tagrule=id:8,layout_name:tile
tagrule=id:9,layout_name:monocle

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Working with Tags

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Viewing Tags

Switch to a specific tag: 
# View tag 1-9
bind=Ctrl,1,view,1,0
bind=Ctrl,2,view,2,0
bind=Ctrl,3,view,3,0
# ... and so on
Navigate between tags: 
# Move to previous/next tag
bind=SUPER,Left,viewtoleft,0
bind=SUPER,Right,viewtoright,0

# Jump to previous/next tag that has windows
bind=CTRL,Left,viewtoleft_have_client,0
bind=CTRL,Right,viewtoright_have_client,0

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Moving Windows to Tags

Assign windows to tags using the tag or tagsilent actions: 
# Move window to tag and follow it (focus)
bind=Alt,1,tag,1,0
bind=Alt,2,tag,2,0

# Move window to tag without focusing (silent)
# bind=Alt,1,tagsilent,1

# Move window to adjacent tags
bind=CTRL+SUPER,Left,tagtoleft,0
bind=CTRL+SUPER,Right,tagtoright,0
The tag action moves the window and focuses it, while tagsilent moves the window without changing your current view.

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Multi-Monitor Tag Management

Move windows between monitors while preserving tags: 
# Focus adjacent monitor
bind=alt+shift,Left,focusmon,left
bind=alt+shift,Right,focusmon,right

# Move window to adjacent monitor
bind=SUPER+Alt,Left,tagmon,left
bind=SUPER+Alt,Right,tagmon,right

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Per-Tag Settings

Mango maintains per-tag settings using the Pertag structure. Each tag remembers:
  • Layout: The arrangement algorithm (tile, grid, scroller, etc.)
  • Master count (nmaster): Number of windows in the master area
  • Master factor (mfact): Size ratio between master and stack areas
  • Visibility settings: Border rendering, gaps behavior

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Tag State Management

The compositor tracks: 
// Current and previous tag for quick switching
uint32_t curtag, prevtag;

// Per-tag master window count
int32_t nmasters[LENGTH(tags) + 1];

// Per-tag master area ratio
float mfacts[LENGTH(tags) + 1];

// Per-tag layout selection
const Layout *ltidxs[LENGTH(tags) + 1];
Automate tag assignments in window rules: 
# Example: Automatically assign Firefox to tag 2
windowrule=appid:firefox,tags:2

# Assign to multiple tags (use bitmask)
windowrule=appid:music,tags:256  # Tag 9 only

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Tag Animations

When switching tags, windows animate in and out: 
# Configure tag switch animation
animation_duration_tag=350
animation_curve_tag=0.46,1.0,0.29,1
tag_animation_direction=1  # 1=horizontal, 0=vertical
The animation system handles:
  • Slide in: Windows entering the view (tagining)
  • Slide out: Windows leaving the view (tagouting)
  • Direction: Based on tag_animation_direction setting

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Special Tag States

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Global Windows

Windows with the isglobal flag appear on all tags: 
bind=SUPER,g,toggleglobal,
Global windows:
  • Are visible regardless of the current tag
  • Automatically update their tags when you switch views
  • Useful for persistent overlays or monitoring tools

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Unglobal Windows

Windows with isunglobal are temporarily removed from normal tag visibility without being minimized.

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Implementation Details

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Tag Bitmask System

Tags are implemented as bit flags: 
#define TAGMASK ((1 << LENGTH(tags)) - 1)

// Example: Window on tags 1 and 3
window->tags = (1 << 0) | (1 << 2);  // Binary: 0b00000101

// Check if window is visible on current tag
if (window->tags & monitor->tagset[monitor->seltags])
    // Window is visible

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Tag Switching Logic

The view() function handles tag switching:
  1. Store current tag as previous tag
  2. Toggle the tagset selection
  3. Update monitor’s active tagset
  4. Trigger arrange to update layout
  5. Animate windows in/out based on visibility

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Best Practices

Tag Organization

Organize tags by purpose:
  • Tag 1: General/browsing
  • Tag 2: Development
  • Tag 3: Communication
  • Tag 4: Media
  • Tags 5-9: Project-specific

Multi-Tag Workflow

Use multi-tag assignments for:
  • Reference windows (documentation)
  • Monitoring tools
  • Chat/communication apps
  • Music players

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Common Patterns

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Quick Tag Switching

# Use Ctrl+Number for quick tag access
bind=Ctrl,1,view,1,0
bind=Ctrl,2,view,2,0

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Workflow-Based Tags

# Organize by activity type
tagrule=id:1,layout_name:tile        # Coding
tagrule=id:2,layout_name:monocle     # Focus work
tagrule=id:3,layout_name:grid        # Multitasking
tagrule=id:4,layout_name:scroller    # Research/reading
  • Layouts - How windows are arranged within each tag
  • Window States - Special window modes that interact with tags
  • Animations - Tag switching animation behavior

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