jwdunn

How to Fix Sticky Spaces

I use my function keys for application switching via Quicksilver. Because I’ve assigned most of my major applications to their own virtual desktops using Spaces, switching between them involves both bringing their frontmost window forward and navigating to the virtual desktop (space) that holds that frontmost window.

Every so often I’ll be annoyed to find that Spaces has “fallen behind” my application switching. Pressing a function key will bring the corresponding application to the front—evidenced by that application’s title appearing in my menubar—but Spaces won’t figure out I’ve toggled that application, and so will not switch to its virtual desktop. The result is that I don’t see the application’s windows and have to manually switch to its space to use it.

I’m not sure whether this behavior can be replicated using command-tab or why exactly it occurs, but I’ve recently figured out how to fix it. Spaces is a child of the Dock process, which seems to be responsible for more elements of the OS X UI with every major release. Restarting Dock is a good bet for solving most UI glitches, and my sticky spaces problem is no exception.

Since Dock will automatically reopen after being force-quitted, you can effectively restart it by running the following simple command:

killall Dock

I only have to do this every once in a while, and it’s far less trouble than enduring sticky spaces. Has anyone else observed this bug or found a way to prevent it altogether?