# stengo/deskpad

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7,772 stars · 165 forks · Swift · MIT

## Links

- GitHub: https://github.com/Stengo/DeskPad
- awesome-repositories: https://awesome-repositories.com/repository/stengo-deskpad.md

## Description

DeskPad is a macOS virtual display manager and window management utility designed to isolate and share specific screen content. It creates software-defined monitors at the operating system level to provide a dedicated drawing surface for mirroring content to an audience without exposing the primary workspace.

The tool employs cursor location tracking to automate window focus, automatically bringing application windows to the front when the mouse enters the virtual display area. It allows for the creation and resizing of virtual monitors through system-level preferences to ensure shared content matches the required resolution.

The system manages the presentation workflow by coordinating virtual-to-physical mirroring and monitoring cursor coordinates to trigger window activation and layering changes.

## Tags

### Graphics & Multimedia

- [Virtual Displays](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/graphics-multimedia/virtual-displays.md) — Creates software-defined virtual display outputs at the OS level to act as dedicated drawing surfaces.

### Business & Productivity Software

- [macOS Virtual Display Managers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/business-productivity-software/desktop-workspace-organizers/macos-workspace-managers/macos-virtual-display-managers.md) — Functions as a specialized system for creating virtual monitors to isolate and share screen content on macOS.

### Operating Systems & Systems Programming

- [Window Management Utilities](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/desktop-environment-frameworks/desktop-environment-components/desktop-environments-ui/window-management-utilities.md) — Provides advanced control over window visibility and foreground layering through cursor-based automation.
- [Window Focus Event Management](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/window-focus-event-management.md) — Triggers window activation and layering changes specifically when the mouse enters or exits the virtual workspace.
- [Display Preference Hooks](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/macos-services-integrations/system-proxy-hooks/display-preference-hooks.md) — Interfaces with macOS system preferences to dynamically adjust the pixel dimensions of virtual displays.
- [Display Resolution Settings](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/virtualization-emulation/virtualization-platforms/virtualization-configuration/display-resolution-settings.md) — Provides tools for defining screen dimensions and aspect ratios for virtualized display surfaces. ([source](https://github.com/stengo/deskpad#readme))

### System Administration & Monitoring

- [Virtual Display Management](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/system-administration-monitoring/virtual-display-management.md) — Enables the generation and comprehensive management of dedicated virtual displays on macOS. ([source](https://github.com/stengo/deskpad#readme))
- [Virtual Display Mirroring](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/system-administration-monitoring/virtual-display-mirroring.md) — Duplicates the visual output of virtual monitors to physical screens or streams for audience viewing.
- [Isolated Content Mirroring](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/system-administration-monitoring/virtual-display-mirroring/isolated-content-mirroring.md) — Provides a dedicated display area to mirror specific windows to an audience without showing the full desktop.
- [Virtual Screen Streaming](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/system-administration-monitoring/virtual-screen-streaming.md) — Creates a dedicated virtual display to stream and share specific content without exposing the main workspace.

### User Interface & Experience

- [Cursor-Based Focus Tracking](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/coordinate-based-position-calculators/cursor-based-focus-tracking.md) — Automatically shifts window focus and brings applications to the front based on mouse cursor spatial coordinates.
- [Cursor Trajectory Tracking](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/coordinate-based-position-calculators/cursor-trajectory-tracking.md) — Monitors mouse movement and boundaries to automatically activate and highlight application windows. ([source](https://github.com/stengo/deskpad#readme))
- [Focus Triggering Coordinates](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/coordinate-based-positioning/window-snapping-coordinates/focus-triggering-coordinates.md) — Implements automated window foregrounding based on cursor position relative to virtual display boundaries.
- [Presentation Workspace Orchestration](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/presentation-frameworks/slide-management-configuration/slide-content-authoring/presentation-decks/presentation-management/presentation-workspace-orchestration.md) — Optimizes presentation workflows by using a secondary virtual monitor to isolate slides and notes.