I don't like the workspace animation effect when switching workspaces.
I'd like to turn it off and have an "instantaneous" switch without the Workspace n label either.
Adding to this I'd like to know whether there's a way of assigning workspaces to particular programs, like opening Firefox in the 2nd workspace by default or switching workspaces using something like Ctrl+Alt+n instead of shifting through them.
Avoiding workspace transition
Re: Avoiding workspace transition
Go to desktop effects in Settings to change animations and Workspaces for workspace labels. You don't say what Mint release or DE you're using but they all work the same.
AFAIK the only DE that does this is KDE via Activities but KDE isn't supported for Mint 19.xAdding to this I'd like to know whether there's a way of assigning workspaces to particular programs, like opening Firefox in the 2nd workspace by default or switching workspaces using something like Ctrl+Alt+n instead of shifting through them.
Re: Avoiding workspace transition
Nah, every window manager does it differently. But it's likely Cinnamon because the other default window managers don't animate by default (they can't all have Compiz' cube
).
See here for an example of how to open applications in specific workspaces: viewtopic.php?p=1529405#p1529405
Check your keybinds on how to access a numbered workspace directly, or if your DE does not have such a keybind then create one using

See here for an example of how to open applications in specific workspaces: viewtopic.php?p=1529405#p1529405
Check your keybinds on how to access a numbered workspace directly, or if your DE does not have such a keybind then create one using
wmctrl -s <workspace>
.Re: Avoiding workspace transition
Cinnamon, MATE or XFCE
For custom Nemo actions, useful scripts for the Cinnamon desktop, and Cinnamox themes visit my Github pages.