offhand, how does elscreen compare to windows-el (already in debian) wicos (reference below; I happen to actually use it, but would consider a currently-maintained replacement)
;; wicos.el ;; Save and restore multiple window configurations (wicos) within ;; emacs. ;; ;; This package was called screens.el, but due to name conflict with ;; Epoch and Emacs-19 screens the name has been changed. ;; ;; v1.39 ; 29 Aug 1992 ;; ;; Copyright 1992 Heikki Suopanki ;; ;; email: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]