Set up a writing workspace

Give a writing workspace a stable ID, send new editor windows there, and use gnoblinctl to switch between workspaces or move an open window. Add this to ~/.config/gnoblin/init.lua after any gnoblin.load(...) lines:

gnoblin.configure {
    workspaces = {
        {id = "write", name = "Write"},
        {id = "research", name = "Research"},
        {id = "review", name = "Review"},
        {id = "other", name = "Other"},
    },
    window_management = {
        new_window_placement = "center",
        attach_modal_dialogs = true,
    },
}

gnoblin.window_rule {
    match = {type = "window", app_id = [[^org%.gnome%.TextEditor$]]},
    workspace = {id = "write"},
    corners = {radius = 10, smoothing = 0.5},
}

gnoblin.window_rule {
    match = {
        type = "window",
        app_id = [[^org%.gnome%.TextEditor$]],
        workspace_id = "write",
        focused = true,
    },
    corners = {border_width = 2, border_color = "#72c7ce"},
}

Each object declares a persistent workspace. Its ID stays attached when the workspace position changes; the list order sets the initial positions. Declare every ID used by a placement effect or workspace matcher here.

The list must contain at least one entry. Each declared workspace stays available when empty and across sessions. If workspaces is omitted, Gnoblin starts with four unconfigured workspaces.

The editor's workspace effect runs once when it opens. Modal dialogs stay with their parent. The border rule follows the editor on the write workspace and adds a border only while it is focused.

Create a temporary workspace from Lua

This callback creates a session-only Review session workspace the first time you activate review. It checks the current workspace snapshot first, so switching away and back does not create duplicates. Add it to the same Lua file:

local creating = false
local requests = {}

gnoblin.on("gnoblin.workspace.activated", function(event)
    if event.id ~= "review" or creating then return end
    for _, workspace in ipairs(gnoblin.workspaces.list()) do
        if workspace.id == "review-session" then return end
    end

    creating = true
    local operation = gnoblin.workspaces.create("Review session", {id = "review-session"})
    requests[operation.id] = true
end)

gnoblin.on("gnoblin.operation.completed", function(event)
    if not requests[event.operation_id] then return end
    requests[event.operation_id] = nil
    creating = false

    if not event.ok then
        print("Workspace action failed: " .. event.error.message)
    end
end)

gnoblin.workspaces.list() reads the current snapshot immediately. Creating a workspace returns an operation handle; Gnoblin reports its result through gnoblin.operation.completed. See Lua events for event payloads and callback rules.

Runtime-created workspaces are temporary even when you provide an ID. Config-declared workspaces cannot be removed, and Gnoblin rejects removal of the active or occupied workspace. The Lua runtime API lists available methods and result fields.

Only workspace creation returns an operation handle and completion event.

Save the file, then reload and inspect the workspace IDs and positions:

gnoblinctl config reload
gnoblinctl workspace list

Switch using the stable ID or the current one-based position. Move the focused window to a workspace and switch there with --follow:

gnoblinctl workspace switch --id research
gnoblinctl workspace switch --number 2
gnoblinctl workspace next
gnoblinctl workspace previous
gnoblinctl workspace move-active --id review --follow

To move a particular open window without changing the active workspace, get its window ID from gnoblinctl window list and run:

gnoblinctl window workspace 42 --id write
gnoblinctl window workspace 42 --number 1

Replace 42 with the ID shown on your system. Workspace numbers can change when workspaces are removed or reordered; use configured IDs in saved rules and scripts. See workspace settings, the window rules guide, Lua events, and the gnoblinctl reference.