Idk I like to lean into the tiling but you also need WORKSPACES (or tags, since I'm a dwm guy). You can configure which specific programs don't need to be filed and float them which is the method I prefer.
BUT.
You're right, it is nice to separate functionality. I like sxhkd for consistent hot keys across distros (I'm mostly mouseless), tmux as a multiplexer, and related unrelated I think at OPs stage picking an editor is going to be important.