I was wondering if there is a way to, when using OS X's (10.8) default application switcher (Cmd+Tab) to hide applications that don't have any windows open but are still running?
For example, I'm running the Osfoora Twitter client but have closed all of its windows. If I Cmd-Tab, Osfoora is still displayed in the application list (as it should, by default) — however, I find that this is often interfering when I'm quickly switching apps, as right now the switcher has a nasty habit of keeping Osfoora as one of the first items in the activity switcher.
I figured that there probably should be a way to hide any applications from the application switcher that don't have any windows open (i.e., that I am no longer actively using) — so is there?
Best Answer
The automatic termination feature introduced in 10.7 should already do that, but it only works with some applications and only in some cases. If you for example open Preview, open at least one window in it, close all windows, and focus another application, Preview should be hidden from the Dock and the application switcher. The process is not actually terminated, but there might be some changes in how it is managed.
Witch and Switché have options to always hide applications with no open windows: