Add support for per-monitor workspace switching

[kalj]

MATE Desktop just like most other desktop environments only support single workspace mode when using multiple monitors, i.e. both monitors always show a single large workspace. The only thing that keeps me using Xmonad for my window management is that it lets both monitors show different workspaces independently. In my opinion, this is the most logical way of making use of several monitors; let them be cursors into a common list of workspaces. This way I can freely combine any two workspaces allowing for a very dynamic workflow. This feature is frequently requested by users (e.g. here and here).

I suggest implementing support for this in MATE. I think MATE would get a very strong position by being the first in offering separate workspace switching per monitor in a standard desktop environment.

If I didn't completely lack any experience in desktop development, I would have happily started working on this. I think I could still be of some use in implementation and testing if someone with more experience could pick this up.

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[deltragon]

If implemented, it would have to be optional, since some people (like me) base their workflow on the current behaviour.

[kalj]

@deltragon Agreed! This new behavior is fairly nonstandard among DEs.

Considering the actual idea -- how big changes would be required to implement this? How well does it go with the current architecture?

[royrwood]

So @kalj is talking about something like i3wm's support for desktops and monitors?