Windows-Style Application Switcher (ALT+TAB)

Another of the instantly annoying features of OS X that I quickly encountered was the behavior of the application switcher, which you use by pressing ALT+TAB in Windows or Option+TAB in OS X.

In Windows, the application switcher will switch between all windows on your system, minimized or not. In OS X, you have the following functionality:

• Option+Tab: Cycle through all applications
• Option+Tilde: Cycle through all open windows
• Control+F4: Cycle through and bring to the forefront all windows

Not to mince words, I find that all of these options suck and are less productive than the Windows application switcher which will cycle through all Windows and only bring to the forefront the window that you select, and a quick ALT+TAB afterwards will switch back to your prior window (so you can easily flip back and forth between applications).

The OS X functionality was driving me crazy until I found Witch, which (no pun intended) will allow you to mimic the Windows application switching behavior in OS X. Unfortunately, although it is free to try it is not free to use, and will run you €9.95 (that's euros, not dollars). That said, in my estimation for a Windows switcher it is money well spent.

Once you install Witch, you will only have to change one setting to mimic Windows behavior, and that is in the Behavior section. Change the "Sort windows by" value to "window activity order," and that should do it. Additionally you may want to remap the Forward and Backward key combinations under Triggers » All applications depending on how you have laid out your keyboard.