I use them for tasks, and I use a lot of them. For example, at work, I currently have twelve (assigned to alt-f1 through alt-f12). I'd have more, except I'm out of F-keys.
- Currently, writing some documentation for a software project. LyX, a few xterms, a gvim or two, etc.
- Writing code for said project, on trunk. Several xterms, many gvims, a few screen sessions.
- Different project, not doing much active work on this one at the moment. Sometimes need to do an import/export job, or other little task, so its nice to have it up. xterms with screen running in it, also a few xtails for watching the logs.
- Next deployment branch of software project on 2.
- whatever (use when I need a desktop for something else)
- whatever
- whatever
- bugzilla
- bacula monitor/config (mostly xterms, some with screen sessions)
- databases (xterms running mysql command line client, also a few psql as well)
- email (icedove, mutt, and xterms with local mail logs)
- misc (e.g., random web browsing)
At home, I only have six desktops (its a dual-monitor setup, unlike work, so I need fewer), and only two of them are one-use-only (one for dealing with video, the other for dealing with images). One is for general whatever, and the other three are for whatever projects I happen to be working on.
All the setups with multiple xterms, screen sessions, etc. are started fully automatically (including positioning the windows) using shell scripts.
These setups probably makes me certifiably insane.
I'm not sure I get that. I usually use 80x50 terms and emacsen and tiling wm:s tend to want to maximize everything. (Even if it didn't I still don't see the advantage) I could add that I have a 5-button rat and use two thumb-buttons for move and resize which is very intuitive. (just grab the window in the middle, or wherever...) – Anders Eurenius – 2011-07-22T09:33:21.680
If you are using that amount of desktops, you should be using a tiling window manager, so you have less things to worry about (positioning windows, resizeing, etc). My personal favorite is
Awesome
. – voyager – 2009-07-17T01:50:58.543