emulate a master and stack layout

hlwm has no native master layout (with a main window, and a row of small windows below it), but you can easily emulate one.

Assuming you've a single terminal open, these calls to herbstclient will do the trick :

alias hc=herbstclient
hc split bottom 0.618
hc focus down
# launch a terminal in the bottom frame
hc set_layout horizontal
# launch other terminals

Of course, you want to bind all these calls to herbstclient to the keys of your choice, then use it on any window.

A similar trick can lead you to a main window with a column of small windows on the right.