Waffle – Native macOS terminal that auto-tiles sessions into a grid
Hi HN. I built Waffle because I kept ending up with 15 terminal windows scattered across three spaces with no idea what was running where.Splitting/merging in iTerm kind of works but it never felt intuitive to me.With that in mind, I built something to suit my workflow:Waffle is a native macOS terminal (Built on Miguel de Icaza's SwiftTerm) that tiles your sessions into an auto-scaling grid automatically. 1 session is fullscreen, 2 is side by side, 4 is 2x2, 9 is 3x3. Open a terminal, it joins the grid. Close one, the grid rebalances. No splitting, no config.I've been using it a lot recently and one thing I've found really useful is that sessions detect which repo they're in and group accordingly. Each project gets a distinct colour. Cmd+[ and Cmd+] flip between groups. If you have three repos open across eight terminals, you can filter to just one project's sessions instantly. Also, no accidentally closing a window with CMD-W as it gives you a confirmation and requires a second CMD-W to close.Honestly, if you live in tmux, this probably isn't for you but it's really helped to speed up my workflow.Other things: It comes with a handful of themes (and has support for iTerm themes), bundled JetBrains mono, has keyboard shortcuts for everything. Free, no account, opt-in analytics only. macOS 14+.There's a demo on the landing page if you want to see it in action.
FL score
out of 100
Verdict
high confidence
Competition
9
competitors found, emerging market, funded players
Trend
No signal yet
A native macOS terminal that auto-tiles sessions and groups them by repo, simplifying workflow for developers tired of manual window management.
The pain
The gap
Build angle
Strengths
- Addresses a real, daily frustration for macOS developers.
- Clear, specific value proposition with an emphasis on simplicity and automation.
- Successfully launched MVP demonstrates technical feasibility for a solo builder.
- Differentiates from complex multiplexers and system-wide window managers by focusing on terminal-specific, 'no-config' ease of use.
- Developer tools market is large and growing.
Risks
- Monetization strategy is currently undefined (product is free) in a market with strong free alternatives.
- Willingness to pay for 'simpler' terminal management over free, feature-rich tools needs validation.
- Incumbent tools like iTerm2 and tmux are deeply embedded in many workflows, making switching difficult even with a better solution.
- Limited compound value for a solo builder's future projects, as it's a specific utility.
- Moat is not incredibly strong; features could theoretically be copied or integrated into existing tools over time.
Next steps
- Begin validating a pricing model (e.g., small one-time fee, 'pro' features subscription) by surveying existing users or introducing a premium tier.
- Actively collect feedback from current users of the free product, specifically asking about their perceived value and what they would be willing to pay for.
- Explore integrating highly requested power features that could justify a premium price, without compromising the core simplicity.
- Consider a 'pro' version that offers deeper integrations with other dev tools (IDEs, git services) or more advanced customization options.
Fly Labs Method
Is the pain real, is there a gap, is it the right time, can one person build it.
- Problem clarity
- 24
- Solution gap
- 20
- Willingness to pay
- 20
- Buildability
- 9
Waffle addresses a real and specific pain for macOS developers regarding terminal window management, offering a unique auto-tiling and repo-grouping solution that is simpler than existing complex tools. While core terminal functionality is often free, there's a clear gap for a native, intuitive, paid solution for enhanced productivity.
Value Equation
Dream outcome and how likely it feels, against the time and effort it costs.
A promising idea with clear value for developers, but monetization strategy and long-term differentiation need to be solidified in a largely free market.
One-Person Business
Curiosity pull, identity fit, and a path from free value to paid for a solo creator.
Strong problem clarity and simplicity for a niche of macOS developers, but monetization and leverage for future growth need further strategic planning.
Viral Frameworks
Hook strength, shareability, and how cheaply it can be tested.
A clear value proposition for a specific, reachable developer audience, but needs a defined business model and validation of willingness to pay for commercial success.
Builder Lens
Evidence the problem exists, timing, defensibility, and a model that fits on a napkin.
Waffle addresses a desperate and growing need for macOS developers with a well-defined, simple solution that provides immediate value, positioning it well for future relevance.
Why this verdict
Five lenses, one composite. How scoring works
The angle
This weekend
- Begin validating a pricing model (e.g., small one-time fee, 'pro' features subscription) by surveying existing users or introducing a premium tier.
- Actively collect feedback from current users of the free product, specifically asking about their perceived value and what they would be willing to pay for.
- Explore integrating highly requested power features that could justify a premium price, without compromising the core simplicity.
- Consider a 'pro' version that offers deeper integrations with other dev tools (IDEs, git services) or more advanced customization options.
Who is already there, emerging market
- iTerm2Visit
A feature-rich terminal emulator for macOS that offers split panes, hotkey windows, and extensive customization.
Pricing: Free and open-source (GPL-2.0-or-later license).
- tmuxVisit
A terminal multiplexer for Unix-like operating systems that allows users to create, access, and control multiple terminal sessions within a single window, with support for panes and windows.
Pricing: Free and open-source.
- AlacrittyVisit
A GPU-accelerated terminal emulator focused on performance and simplicity, explicitly not supporting tabs or splits, instead encouraging the use of terminal multiplexers or window managers.
Pricing: Free and open-source.
- KittyVisit
A fast, feature-rich, GPU-accelerated terminal emulator that offers powerful tiling capabilities, tabs, and extensibility with 'kitten' plugins.
Pricing: Free and open-source.
A modern, AI-powered terminal for developers with features like AI command assistance, collaborative terminals, and a focus on productivity.
Pricing: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $18/month for 'Build' (1,500 AI credits/month), $180/month for 'Max' (more AI capacity), and $45/user/month for 'Business' (per user credits). Enterprise pricing is custom.
- yabaiVisit
A tiling window manager for macOS based on binary space partitioning, allowing control over windows, spaces, and displays with a command-line interface and user-defined shortcuts.
Pricing: Free and open-source.
- AmethystVisit
A tiling window manager for macOS inspired by xmonad, automatically arranging windows into various layouts.
Pricing: Free and open-source.
- RectangleVisit
A window management tool for macOS that allows users to move and resize windows using keyboard shortcuts or snapping areas.
Pricing: Free and open-source, with a 'Pro' version available for additional features.
- MagnetVisit
A window manager for macOS that organizes your workspace by snapping windows into predefined tiles with keyboard shortcuts or drag-and-drop.
Pricing: $7.99 (one-time purchase) on the Mac App Store.
What they charge
Recent news
- SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS MARKET OVERVIEW
Business Research Insights, March 16 2026
- Software Development Tools Market Size, Trends & Share Analysis 2031
Mordor Intelligence, January 21 2026
- New Changes to Warp Pricing : r/warpdotdev
Reddit, January 26 2026
- 12 Fastest Growing Developer Tools Companies and Startups - Landbase
Landbase, February 05 2026
- Software Development Tools Market | Industry Analysis Report, 2035
Verified Market Reports, April 09 2026
Market signals
The developer tools market is large and experiencing rapid growth, projected to reach between $15.72 billion by 2031 and $33.9 billion by 2035, with a CAGR of around 14.5% to 16.12%. This growth is significantly driven by digital transformation, the increasing adoption of cloud computing, DevOps integration, and agile development methodologies. A key trend is the unprecedented growth of AI-powered developer tools, with some achieving over 1,000% year-over-year growth, and 84% of developers now using or planning to use AI tools in their workflows. Recent funding rounds indicate continued investment in enterprise-focused platforms and AI-driven solutions.
What frustrates people
- iTerm2 users sometimes struggle with its complexity and less intuitive aspects compared to simpler terminals.
- tmux has a steep learning curve and can be challenging for new users to configure and master.
- Alacritty intentionally lacks features like tabs and splits, forcing users to rely on external tools like tmux, which can be seen as a weakness for those desiring an all-in-one solution.
- Some users find Warp's AI credit system limiting for meaningful work on medium to large projects and feel the pricing is too high for the value received.
- yabai requires disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) on macOS, which can be a significant security concern for many users.
Semble – Code search for agents that uses 98% fewer tokens than grep
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