Build and reuse a working layout

Keep implementation and tests side by side. Save a layout as a preset so you can use it again for your next task.

1. Divide your workspace

1. Open the project’s Workspace and change to its directory in the terminal.
2. Press Alt+E to split the Pane horizontally. This uses the default Tasty bindings. If you changed them, check keybindings.
3. Work on the implementation on one side and run your project’s test command on the other.

Each Pane has independent tabs, so you can leave test output visible while checking documentation on the other side. To switch several views together as one tab, use a Surface split.

2. Keep documentation close

Right-click an empty part of the tab strip in the Pane where you want the document, choose New Markdown…, and open the project’s README. Select the terminal tab in that Pane to return to your shell. The other Pane’s test view stays in place.

You can also inspect images and HTML output with the viewers described in opening files. The layout keeps execution and results close together; it does not replace a file editor or every browser feature.

3. Save the layout as a preset

1. Right-click the Workspace in the sidebar.
2. Choose Save as workspace preset.
3. Open Tools > Presets and find the saved Workspace preset.
4. Choose Edit to check each area’s kind, working directory, and startup command. Structure changes save automatically; area settings save only when you press OK (Editing).

Startup commands run when new terminals open. Leave them empty where you do not need automatic execution. Adjust paths and commands before using a layout for another project.

Browse… beside a directory or file field opens the Tasty picker inside the preset editor. For directories, confirm a selected subfolder or the current folder; for files, choose a listed file. The result fills only that field. Press OK to save the settings. Esc in the picker closes only the picker, leaving your settings draft open.

4. Reuse it for a new task

Right-click New Workspace and choose Create workspace from preset…. Select your preset, then check that each terminal starts in the intended directory.

Presets reuse layout and startup settings. They do not clone running processes. Restoring layouts and output when you reopen the app is a separate feature.

Work alongside an agent

Connect Claude Code or Codex CLI on one side and continue your own work on the other. An agent creating a background tab does not change your view’s focus, selection, or scroll position.

To run something without a tab and inspect it later, see bringing a background task into a tab.

Use the same environment on every OS

Working the same way on Windows, macOS, and Linux is a Tasty user-experience principle. The workflow for arranging Panes, tabs, and presets is the same. When moving a layout between operating systems, check file paths, installed tools, and shell commands for the destination environment.