Cédric AellenModify

2025-12-05 05:05:00

In a previous episode of the Comfort Zone podcast, Nilean proposed a challenge: use AeroSpace for a week. This application automatically reorganizes your application windows. Unlike classic window managers, you don’t decide where to place your windows with keyboard shortcuts. The program automatically resizes them as soon as they appear.

So, I tried to take on this challenge by installing the application, and I fell in love with it instantly.

The only small snag in all this is that I’m in Switzerland and therefore use a Swiss French keyboard, aka QWERTZ.

AeroSpace offers shortcuts by combining the ALT key and numbers. On Swiss French and French keyboards, the number keys are also used to type special characters. As a result, many key combinations don’t work because they are already used.. So, I had to rework the AeroSpace configuration a bit to be able to use it.

To use this configuration, it’s essential to use a hyper key. In my case, it’s Raycast that allows me to have a hyper key. Specifically, when I press the Caps Lock key, it simulates pressing Control + Option + Command simultaneously. Usually, hyper keys also include the Shift combination, but in my case, I prefer to have two possibilities, namely Caps Lock and Shift + Caps Lock.

Here is the configuration I use.

# Place a copy of this config to ~/.aerospace.toml
# After that, you can edit ~/.aerospace.toml to your liking

# This configuration is optimized for use with a hyper key
# (ctrl-alt-cmd modifier combination)

# Config version for compatibility and deprecations
# Fallback value (if you omit the key): config-version = 1
config-version = 2

# You can use it to add commands that run after AeroSpace startup.
# Available commands : https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands
after-startup-command = []

# Start AeroSpace at login
start-at-login = true

# Normalizations. See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#normalization
enable-normalization-flatten-containers = true
enable-normalization-opposite-orientation-for-nested-containers = true

# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#layouts
# The 'accordion-padding' specifies the size of accordion padding
# You can set 0 to disable the padding feature
accordion-padding = 30

# Possible values: tiles|accordion
default-root-container-layout = 'tiles'

# Possible values: horizontal|vertical|auto
# 'auto' means: wide monitor (anything wider than high) gets horizontal orientation,
#               tall monitor (anything higher than wide) gets vertical orientation
default-root-container-orientation = 'auto'

# Mouse follows focus when focused monitor changes
# Drop it from your config, if you don't like this behavior
# See https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#on-focus-changed-callbacks
# See https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#move-mouse
# Fallback value (if you omit the key): on-focused-monitor-changed = []
on-focused-monitor-changed = ['move-mouse monitor-lazy-center']

# You can effectively turn off macOS "Hide application" (cmd-h) feature by toggling this flag
# Useful if you don't use this macOS feature, but accidentally hit cmd-h or cmd-alt-h key
# Also see: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/goodies#disable-hide-app
automatically-unhide-macos-hidden-apps = false

# List of wspaces that should stay alive even when they contain no windows,
# even when they are invisible.
# This config version is only available since 'config-version = 2'
# Fallback value (if you omit the key): persistent-workspaces = []
persistent-workspaces = ["1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9"]

# A callback that runs every time binding mode changes
# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#binding-modes
# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#mode
on-mode-changed = []

# Possible values: (qwerty|dvorak|colemak)
# See https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#key-mapping
[key-mapping]
preset = 'qwerty'

[key-mapping.key-notation-to-key-code]
# Créer des alias pour que les notations correspondent aux étiquettes Swiss-French
# Syntaxe: alias = 'notation-standard' (la notation standard réfère à la position US)

# Inverser Y et Z pour correspondre aux étiquettes physiques
y = 'z' # La touche étiquetée Y (position US de Z)
z = 'y' # La touche étiquetée Z (position US de Y)

# Gaps between windows (inner-*) and between monitor edges (outer-*).
# Possible values:
# - Constant:     gaps.outer.top = 8
# - Per monitor:  gaps.outer.top = [{ monitor.main = 16 }, { monitor."some-pattern" = 32 }, 24]
#                 In this example, 24 is a default value when there is no match.
#                 Monitor pattern is the same as for 'workspace-to-monitor-force-assignment'.
#                 See:
#                 https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#assign-workspaces-to-monitors

[gaps]
inner.horizontal = 10
inner.vertical = 10
outer.left = 10
outer.bottom = 10
outer.top = 10
outer.right = 10

# 'main' binding mode declaration
# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#binding-modes
# 'main' binding mode must be always presented
# Fallback value (if you omit the key): mode.main.binding = {}
[mode.main.binding]

# All possible keys:
# - Letters.        a, b, c, ..., z
# - Numbers.        0, 1, 2, ..., 9
# - Keypad numbers. keypad0, keypad1, keypad2, ..., keypad9
# - F-keys.         f1, f2, ..., f20
# - Special keys.   minus, equal, period, comma, slash, backslash, quote, semicolon,
#                   backtick, leftSquareBracket, rightSquareBracket, space, enter, esc,
#                   backspace, tab, pageUp, pageDown, home, end, forwardDelete,
#                   sectionSign (ISO keyboards only, european keyboards only)
# - Keypad special. keypadClear, keypadDecimalMark, keypadDivide, keypadEnter, keypadEqual,
#                   keypadMinus, keypadMultiply, keypadPlus
# - Arrows.         left, down, up, right

# All possible modifiers: cmd, alt, ctrl, shift

# All possible commands: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands

# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#exec-and-forget
# You can uncomment the following lines to open up terminal with alt + enter shortcut
# (like in i3)
# alt-enter = '''exec-and-forget osascript -e '
# tell application "Terminal"
#     do script
#     activate
# end
# '''

# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#layout
alt-shift-comma = 'layout tiles horizontal vertical'
alt-shift-period = 'layout accordion horizontal vertical'

# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#focus
alt-h = 'focus left'
alt-j = 'focus down'
alt-k = 'focus up'
alt-l = 'focus right'

# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#move
alt-shift-h = 'move left'
alt-shift-j = 'move down'
alt-shift-k = 'move up'
alt-shift-l = 'move right'

# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#resize
ctrl-alt-cmd-k = 'resize smart -50'
ctrl-alt-cmd-j = 'resize smart +50'

# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#workspace
ctrl-alt-cmd-1 = 'workspace 1'
ctrl-alt-cmd-2 = 'workspace 2'
ctrl-alt-cmd-3 = 'workspace 3'
ctrl-alt-cmd-4 = 'workspace 4'
ctrl-alt-cmd-5 = 'workspace 5'
ctrl-alt-cmd-6 = 'workspace 6'
ctrl-alt-cmd-7 = 'workspace 7'
ctrl-alt-cmd-8 = 'workspace 8'
ctrl-alt-cmd-9 = 'workspace 9'

# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#move-node-to-workspace
ctrl-alt-cmd-shift-1 = 'move-node-to-workspace 1'
ctrl-alt-cmd-shift-2 = 'move-node-to-workspace 2'
ctrl-alt-cmd-shift-3 = 'move-node-to-workspace 3'
ctrl-alt-cmd-shift-4 = 'move-node-to-workspace 4'
ctrl-alt-cmd-shift-5 = 'move-node-to-workspace 5'
ctrl-alt-cmd-shift-6 = 'move-node-to-workspace 6'
ctrl-alt-cmd-shift-7 = 'move-node-to-workspace 7'
ctrl-alt-cmd-shift-8 = 'move-node-to-workspace 8'
ctrl-alt-cmd-shift-9 = 'move-node-to-workspace 9'

# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#fullscreen
ctrl-alt-cmd-space = 'fullscreen'

# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#workspace-back-and-forth
ctrl-alt-cmd-tab = 'workspace-back-and-forth'
# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#move-workspace-to-monitor
ctrl-alt-cmd-shift-tab = 'move-workspace-to-monitor --wrap-around next'

# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/commands#mode
ctrl-alt-cmd-s = 'mode service'

# 'service' binding mode declaration.
# See: https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#binding-modes
[mode.service.binding]
esc = ['reload-config', 'mode main']
r = ['flatten-workspace-tree', 'mode main'] # reset layout
f = [
  'layout floating tiling',
  'mode main',
] # Toggle between floating and tiling layout
backspace = ['close-all-windows-but-current', 'mode main']

# sticky is not yet supported https://github.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace/issues/2
#s = ['layout sticky tiling', 'mode main']

alt-shift-h = ['join-with left', 'mode main']
alt-shift-j = ['join-with down', 'mode main']
alt-shift-k = ['join-with up', 'mode main']
alt-shift-l = ['join-with right', 'mode main']

I hope this article has been able to help people who want to use AeroSpace and don’t have a compatible keyboard.

This configuration may change over time. You can find the latest updated version on GitHub.

2025-08-20 03:15:00

This isn’t about the latest piece of tech or some camera fresh off the assembly line. Nope, it’s just a 1981 Polaroid Sun 660 that I hunted down for my birthday.

Why I gave up on photography

I’d dropped photography a few years back, tired of everything that came with it: lugging gear around, endless technical fiddling, post-production, sorting, and filing thousands of images… The whole digital routine had completely killed the joy of the moment for me.
Then I saw the ad for the new Polaroid Flip, and that instant gratification thing immediately caught my eye. The idea of just pressing a button and having a photo develop right before your eyes… sure, it takes a few minutes, but it’s still something analog, something tangible.

The purchase: 20 CHF to get the magic back

Before splurging on the new model (the Flip), I thought to myself: why not try out an old one first? They’re easy to find on resale sites. And that’s how I scored this Polaroid Sun 660 for about twenty CHF.

The experience: Lomography all over again

Using this camera threw me back twenty years, to when I was obsessed with lomography and those quirky cameras that produced imperfect but oh-so-charismatic results. That’s exactly what I found again with this Polaroid: photos that are sometimes dark (often very dark, actually), never technically perfect, but with an authenticity that gives them a soul.
Embracing that imperfection is what makes the camera so charming. Every shot is unique, with flaws that become its best features.

Making people smile

A bonus is that this camera makes people smile. Everyone laughs and everyone absolutely wants to have their picture taken with it, which is quite an advantage.

The “flaw” that becomes a strength: The price

Let’s be real: at almost 2 CHF per shot, every photo has a price tag. But is that really a flaw? This financial constraint forces you to think, to take your time framing the shot, to ask yourself if the moment is truly worth capturing. Gone are the days of compulsively shooting 20 photos of the same thing. Here, every click of the shutter counts.
It forces you to think before the shot and not after..

A lesson for my kids

What I love most is showing this camera to my kids, who are used to the instant gratification of digital. With the Polaroid, you have to wait 15 to 20 minutes for the photo to develop properly. If you want to share it, you have to scan it first. But most importantly, you have something real in your hands, something you can touch and feel without needing a screen.
This different approach to photography is opening their eyes to a less connected but more tangible world, and from talking with them, I can tell it fascinates them.

Verdict

The Polaroid Sun 660 has made me fall back in love with photography by bringing back its contemplative and precious side. It’s a camera that slows you down in a good way, makes you savor every moment, and produces memories that are as imperfect as they are unforgettable.

2025-08-14 05:45:00

An impromptu DJ mix featuring a bunch of tracks from minimal to electro.

I hadn’t really prepped for this mix, but I remembered to hit record this time to share these few tunes.

You can listen to the audio version here.

2025-05-31 19:35:00

This mix was put together spontaneously. I just dug through my vinyl collection without a clear idea of what to play, going from label to label, rummaging here and there. That’s how I ended up with this.

You can listen to it here—hope you enjoy.

Track list

• Lenka Clayton - A - My [Accidental 14 - 2004]
• The Matthew Herbert Big Band - Café de Flore [Accidental 06 - 2003]
• Doctor Rockit - A Camera and Rocks [Accidental 08 - 2004]
• Herbert - You Saw It All (DJ Koze Mix) [Accidental 61 2012]
• Herbet - Her Face [Accidental 82 2015]
• Beckett & Taylor - Let’s Smash Up Our Love [Soundslike 19 - 2005]
• Herbert - Fantasy (Floating Points Remix) [Accidental 194 -2023]
• Luciano and Matthew Johnson - Alpine Rocket [Perlon 32 - 2003]
• Matt John - The Rising Scope [Perlon 49 - 2005]
• Pantytec - Moriomelo [Perlon 53 - 2006]
• Horror Inc. - I Plead Guilty [Perlon 42 - 2004]
• Murat Tepeli feat Prosumer - Work it [Playhouse 110 - 2005]
• Martinez - Solar Beams [Players Paradise 02 -2005]
• Coburn vs. Dumb Blonde - Sugar Lips (Beatsport Remix) [Hörspielmusik 47 - 2005]
• The Field - Thought vs Action [Kompakt 116 - 2005]
• Rework - Psych Doll [Playhouse 118 - 2005]
• Art Of Kissing – Kiss Mountain (Rmx By 100 & Feyerabendt) [BPitch Control 06 - 1999]

I wanted to include the release dates for the tracks in the tracklist. Well, that hurts.

2025-05-08 01:45:00

Today, here’s what I posted on Instagram:

I’ve decided to remove my posts from Instagram as I no longer feel aligned with the values of this platform. You can still access my photos at alienlebarge.ch/photos. All my active social profiles are listed on my website as well.
More info on alienlebarge.ch/quit-instagram

Yes, I’ve decided to leave Instagram for now. Maybe it’s just for a while (which I hope isn’t the case), but we’ll see.
The only thing I find unfortunate is that Instagram is the main communication channel for many companies I’m interested in (I’m looking at you, Eurorack module manufacturers). That’s why, for now, I’ll keep an account just for browsing. Maybe I’ll use services like RSS-Bridge. I haven’t looked into this yet.

Some of the reasons I’m leaving Instagram are as follows:

• Waste of time: Instagram has never saved me time. It’s one of those infinite scroll apps that sucks you in the moment you open it. Try, just once, to identify posts that have actually added value to your life.
• No time saved: I once tried to identify posts that were useful to me, or had any added value or interest for me. Not all of it is fluff, but it’s appalling how much useless stuff you find there (or rather, that finds you).
• Meta’s new “Hateful Conduct” policy update: which now allows posts calling LGBTQ people mentally ill, is a plot twist I didn’t see coming—and it’s a dealbreaker.
• AI Content: Lately, more and more AI-generated posts were being suggested to me, and I consider many of them to be visual pollution, utterly uninteresting, with very little thought behind the message conveyed.
• OnlyFans likes: I was fed up with constantly getting likes from scantily clad individuals who, in addition to their uncovered body parts, were promoting their OnlyFans accounts.
• Data privacy and manipulation: Instagram collects a vast amount of user data, including personal information, interactions, preferences, and even location data. The goal was to create user profiles for targeted advertising. I see this as an invasion of privacy and information manipulation.

Now, if you want to keep seeing my photos, you’ll need to come here.

2025-04-24 14:40:00

I have created my first Kirby plugin.

It transforms handles like @[email protected] into proper links, such as <a href="https://server.xyz/@username" title="@username's profile on server.xyz." class="...">@username</a>.

I developed this plugin for personal use, but it may also be useful to others.

Supported sites:

• Fediverse (Mastodon, etc.) : @[email protected] changes to @alienlebarge
• Bluesky (bsky.app): @[email protected] changes to @alienlebarge.bsky.social
• Flickr: @[email protected] changes to @alienlebarge
• GitHub: @[email protected] changes to @alienlebarge
• Instagram: @[email protected] changes to @alienlebarge
• LinkedIn: @[email protected] changes to @alienlebarge
• Micro.blog: @[email protected] changes to @alienlebarge
• Reddit: @[email protected] changes to @alienlebarge
• YouTube: @[email protected] changes to @alienlebarge
• Vimeo: @[email protected] changes to @alienlebarge

This is my first plugin, so I’m open to any advice.