Many PC enthusiasts have different preferences when it comes to choosing a computer monitor. Some prefer curved screens with a wide field of view, while others prefer a more square aspect ratio with flat screens. However, what if the existing options with the traditional landscape or portrait orientation of the screen don’t suit your needs? What if these options are seen as outdated and not useful for a better user experience?
Well, there is a new solution! A developer from Melbourne, known as “Xssfox”, has proposed a unique approach to monitor usage – a 22-degree screen rotation. This idea is currently only relevant for Linux users, as this operating system is the only one that currently supports this mode of monitor operation.
The idea came about as an alternative to the traditional horizontal and vertical modes of using monitors. The developer was dissatisfied with the limitations of existing solutions and decided to experiment with different angles of monitor tilt in order to optimize the software development process.
Through the experiments, it was discovered that a 22-degree angle is the most effective. According to the developer, this screen orientation provides the most convenient workspace, the longest line length, and eliminates the need to adhere to an 80-column limitation.
The experiments were conducted using the Xrandr tool, which is part of the Linux system and allows for flexible adjustment of the screen’s size and orientation. For users with non-standard monitor orientation needs, XSSFOX offers a specially designed calculator in JavaScript that generates the necessary commands for Xrandr based on specific preferences and the initial parameters of the monitor. The calculator can be accessed here.
It is worth noting that Windows and MacOS users do not have the same flexibility in screen setup, as the AMD and NVIDIA drivers limit the ability to rotate the display in increments of 90 degrees.
This approach may be of interest to developers who are seeking new ways to optimize their workspace. Perhaps 2024 will be the year of diagonal setups on Linux.