I’m always doing ctrl-shift-n and then having to change from keyboard to mouse in order to maximize the window.
Can I build this into ctrl-shift-n?
Or is there another keystroke that will do it?

On Windows 7 & up you have Win+Up.

Ah, the OS.
On Linux I have ctrl+super+upArrow for that. Thanks.

How can I toggle the maximized state from a plugin? I would like to have a hotkey toggle between single layout in a normal window and two columns in a maximized window.

I have the layout commands figured out, but I can’t find out how to maximize and restore the window from Python.

I’m on OS X, so if there’s any utility to maximize the current window, simulate a ⌘⇧M keypress, or click on the Window / Zoom menu, that would do it.