macos-window-management

macOS Window Management and AppKit Patterns

WindowsManager for Window Operations

ALWAYS use WindowsManager for creating and managing browser windows:

// ✅ CORRECT - WindowsManager usage
@MainActor
final class FeatureCoordinator {
    func openNewWindow() {
        let tabCollection = TabCollectionViewModel()
        WindowsManager.openNewWindow(
            with: tabCollection,
            burnerMode: .regular,
            droppingPoint: nil
        )
    }
    
    func openWindowWithURL(_ url: URL) {
        let tabCollection = TabCollectionViewModel()
        let window = WindowsManager.openNewWindow(with: tabCollection)
        window?.tabCollectionViewModel.addTab(with: url)
    }
}

// ❌ INCORRECT - Direct window creation
final class FeatureCoordinator {
    func openNewWindow() {
        let window = NSWindow() // Don't create windows directly
        window.makeKeyAndOrderFront(nil)
    }
}

Window Controller Architecture

Use NSWindowController for complex window management:

// ✅ CORRECT - NSWindowController pattern
final class FeatureWindowController: NSWindowController {
    private let viewModel: FeatureViewModel
    
    init(viewModel: FeatureViewModel) {
        self.viewModel = viewModel
        super.init(window: nil)
        setupWindow()
    }
    
    required init?(coder: NSCoder) {
        fatalError("init(coder:) has not been implemented")
    }
    
    private func setupWindow() {
        let contentViewController = FeatureViewController(viewModel: viewModel)
        
        window = NSWindow(contentViewController: contentViewController)
        window?.setContentSize(NSSize(width: 800, height: 600))
        window?.minSize = NSSize(width: 400, height: 300)
        window?.center()
        window?.title = "Feature Window"
        
        // Configure window behavior
        window?.isRestorable = true
        window?.identifier = NSUserInterfaceItemIdentifier("FeatureWindow")
    }
    
    override func windowDidLoad() {
        super.windowDidLoad()
        
        // Additional window setup
        window?.delegate = self
        setupToolbar()
    }
}

// MARK: - NSWindowDelegate
extension FeatureWindowController: NSWindowDelegate {
    func windowWillClose(_ notification: Notification) {
        // Clean up resources
        viewModel.cleanup()
    }
    
    func windowDidBecomeMain(_ notification: Notification) {
        // Handle window becoming main
        viewModel.windowDidBecomeActive()
    }
}