Quicksilver
Quicksilver is a free and open-source utility application for macOS that provides quick access to files, contacts, applications and other system tools through an intuitive interface. It allows searching and launching apps and files quickly using abbreviations and keywords.
macos
utility
launcher
keyboard-shortcuts
Quicksilver: Free and Open-Source Utility for macOS
Quicksilver is a free and open-source utility application for macOS that provides quick access to files, contacts, applications and other system tools through an intuitive interface. It allows searching and launching apps and files quickly using abbreviations and keywords.
What is Quicksilver?
Quicksilver is a fast and intuitive utility application for macOS. Originally developed in 2002, it aims to enhance productivity by giving quick access to files, applications, contacts and other system functionality.
Some key features of Quicksilver include:
- Typing abbreviations or keywords to quickly launch applications
- Browsing the filesystem and opening files rapidly
- Lookup and access contacts information
- Perform calculations and unit conversions
- Control iTunes and much more without switching applications
The interface uses a hotkey to bring up a small search window, where typing keywords filters the catalog of available actions. Results appear ranked according to the current context and user preferences through a continually updated learning process. This allows launching frequent tasks very rapidly with just a couple keystrokes.
Quicksilver also offers a plug-in architecture so developers can extend its capabilities even further. There are plug-ins available to integrate with applications like Firefox, Spotlight, Growl and many others.
Originally a commercial product, Quicksilver went open source in 2006 and continues to be developed by an active community of contributors. It emphasizes flexibility, breadth of capabilities and speed through smart adaptive learning.
Quicksilver Features
Features
- Keyboard-driven interface for quickly launching apps and accessing files/data
- Powerful indexing and search capabilities
- Plugin architecture to extend functionality
- Interacts with macOS services for system-wide capabilities
- Supports abbreviations and keywords for fast access
- Customizable triggers and hotkeys
- Clipboard history and text substitution
Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
Pros
Very fast and efficient for launching apps and accessing data
Highly customizable and extensible
Intuitive keyboard-focused workflow
Indexing helps find things quickly
Lightweight and low system resource usage
Cons
Steep learning curve
Dependency on user-created triggers and scripts
Development has stalled in recent years
Limited adoption reduces plugin options
Official Links
The Best Quicksilver Alternatives
Top Os & Utilities and Application Launchers and other similar apps like Quicksilver
Here are some alternatives to Quicksilver:
Suggest an alternative ❐
TinyTask
TinyTask is a free and open source automation software designed for Windows. It allows users to easily record, edit, organize, schedule and playback mouse movements, clicks and keyboard actions, allowing you to automate repetitive tasks on your computer.Some of the key features of TinyTask include:Intuitive graphical user interface for easily...
Alfred
Alfred is a productivity application for macOS that helps users save time and boost efficiency. It allows you to launch applications, search files, lookup definitions, calculate expressions, and automate workflows with just a few keystrokes.Some of the key features of Alfred include:Custom hotkeys and keywords to open files, websites, applications...
Raycast
Raycast is a free and open-source productivity application for MacOS. It provides a powerful keyboard-driven interface to quickly perform common tasks such as launching applications, searching the web, controlling system settings, and more.Some key features of Raycast include:Application launcher - Start apps, open files, adjust volume, connect devices etc. just...
Keyboard Maestro
Keyboard Maestro is a powerful and popular automation app for macOS that allows you to automate repetitive tasks, build workflows, set up hotkeys and keyboard shortcuts, create application launchers, and more. It gives you more control over your Mac by letting you set up triggers like hotkeys, application launches, timers,...
Spotlight
Spotlight is a desktop search tool that comes built-in with all versions of macOS. It provides a simple way for users to quickly find files, emails, contacts, calendar events, reminders, and more from anywhere on their Mac.To use Spotlight, simply click the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner of...
Karabiner Elements
Karabiner Elements is a powerful and flexible keyboard customization utility for macOS. It allows you to customize and remap your keyboard keys, modify key behaviors, create complex macros and shortcuts, and more.Some of the key features of Karabiner Elements include:Key remapping - Remap any key to any other key or...
Launchy
Launchy is a free and open source application launcher and file search utility for Windows. It provides a simple yet powerful interface to quickly access any application or file on your computer.Some key features of Launchy include:Quick fuzzy search to instantly locate apps, documents, folders, settings, etc.Keyboard-focused design allows you...
Ulauncher
Ulauncher is an open-source application launcher and productivity booster for Linux desktop environments. It provides a quick and convenient way to launch applications and search for files, browser history, online videos, Wikipedia articles and more using fuzzy finding.Some of the key features of Ulauncher include:Fast application launching with fuzzy searchPlugin...
Albert
Albert is an open-source software application designed to serve as an artificial intelligence-powered personal assistant. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows platforms and can understand natural language voice or text queries to provide relevant information or automate simple tasks.Some key features of Albert include:Responding to basic factual questions by...
Listary
Listary is a file browser add-on and program launcher for Windows that enhances the default Windows file browsing experience. It helps power users organize, search, and access their files and folders more efficiently.Some of the key features of Listary include:Fuzzy search - find files instantly just by typing parts of...
Dmenu
dmenu is a simple, lightweight application launcher and command executor utility for X Window System. It provides a text-based interface that allows users to quickly launch applications or run shell commands by typing a few characters of the name and selecting it from the dynamically populated menu.Some key features of...
CustomShortcuts
CustomShortcuts is a free and open-source desktop application for Windows that allows users to create custom keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys to automate repetitive tasks and boost productivity.With an easy-to-use interface, users can set global or application-specific hotkeys to trigger actions like opening files and websites, executing scripts, sending keystrokes and...
Apptivate
Apptivate is a no-code development platform used to create custom mobile and web applications without needing to write any code. It features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that allows users to build workflows and logic to customize app behavior and functionality.Some key features of Apptivate include:Drag-and-drop interface to visually map out...
Gnome Do
Gnome Do is a quick launch and productivity application for Linux desktops using the Gnome interface. It provides a simple yet powerful way to quickly access applications, files, folders, and browser bookmarks.Gnome Do works by indexing files and data on your system. You simply start typing into the Gnome Do...
FCorp My Quick Launch
FCorp My Quick Launch is an innovative application launcher and productivity enhancement software for Windows. It replaces the standard Windows start menu with a clean, organized interface that allows rapid access to all your apps, files, and frequent folders.Key features include:Custom categories to organize apps and documents into a structure...
SlickRun
SlickRun is a free and open source application launcher and productivity tool designed for the Windows operating system. It provides an intuitive interface to quickly launch applications, open files and URLs, run shell commands, and more using shorthand aliases and customizable keyboard shortcuts.Some of the standout features of SlickRun include:Fuzzy...
Advanced Run
Advanced Run is a free portable Windows program that provides quick access to many system tools and advanced configuration options. It replaces the standard Windows Run dialog with an enhanced version that has tabs for launching applications, editing the registry, managing services, viewing processes, and accessing various system information.Some of...
Flow Launcher
Flow Launcher is a free, open-source application launcher and productivity tool for Windows. It provides a powerful yet simple way to search and access files, apps, folders, settings, and web information directly from an always-available input box.Some of the key features of Flow Launcher include:Instant access to files, apps, folders...
Zazu
Zazu is a free and open-source productivity application for macOS and Windows operating systems. It functions as both a search tool and launcher, allowing users to quickly find files, applications, settings, and other items on their computer.Some key features of Zazu include:Powerful fuzzy search to instantly locate files, folders, apps,...
Keypirinha
Keypirinha is a lightweight and fast application launcher and productivity booster for Windows. It allows you to quickly launch installed applications, open files and search the web simply by typing keywords, without needing to use the mouse. Keypirinha works by monitoring your keystrokes and providing suggestions based on keyword matches....
Dragthing
Dragthing is a user-friendly vector graphics software designed for creating web illustrations, diagrams, logos, and any digital artwork. Its simple yet powerful drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for novices and professionals alike to build stunning visual designs.Unlike more complex tools like Adobe Illustrator, Dragthing focuses specifically on web and UX...
Cerebro
Cerebro is an open-source, free, cross-platform productivity software and keyboard launcher. It provides a clean and intuitive interface to search for and access files, applications, bookmarks, contacts and more on your computer using keywords and shortcuts.Once installed, Cerebro runs in the background and can be activated at any time by...
Fly-Pie
Fly-Pie is an open-source virtual keyboard software designed for hands-free typing using only eye movements. It works by showing a radial menu of characters and words which users can select through dwell clicking and eye gaze tracking. Fly-Pie allows people with physical disabilities to efficiently type and communicate using just...
Gnome-Pie
Gnome-Pie is an open source circular application launcher designed for Linux desktop environments. It provides fast access to installed applications, places, bookmarks and system commands in an intuitive radial menu.Once launched, the pie menu can be easily accessed via a keyboard shortcut or configurable mouse hot corner. The menu is...
FSL Launcher
FSL Launcher is a lightweight and customizable application launcher for Windows that aims to improve productivity by providing quick access to your most used apps and files. Here are some of its key features:Clean and intuitive interface with customizable categories and iconsPowerful keyword and tag based search to quickly launch...
XMenu
XMenu is an open-source application that provides a global app menu for Linux desktop environments. It moves the menu bars from application windows into the top panel to provide a consistent and easily accessible menu for all your desktop apps.Some of the key features of XMenu include:Works with most Linux...
Rocket App Launcher
Rocket App Launcher is a free, open source application launcher and productivity software for Windows. It provides a fast and minimal interface to search and launch applications on your computer.Key features of Rocket App Launcher include:Quick app searching and launchingKeyboard shortcuts for opening frequent apps and filesCustomizable categories and groups...
Fluent Search
Fluent Search is an open-source search engine software designed for building fast and relevant search experiences. It is built on top of Apache Lucene, a high-performance full-text search engine library, and optimized specifically for low latency and high throughput.Some key capabilities and benefits of Fluent Search include:Out-of-the-box full-text search and...
Mutate
Mutate is an open-source web analytics tool that focuses on heatmap analysis. It allows website owners to visualize and understand how users interact with their website pages.Some key features of Mutate include:Click heatmaps - See a heatmap overlay on your site pages showing the most clicked areas. This helps identify...
8start launcher
8start launcher is an open source, customizable Android launcher developed by a community of developers and designers. It is designed for power users who want maximum control and customization over their device's home screen, app drawer, icons, and overall look and feel.Some of the key features of 8start launcher include:Highly...
JetStart
JetStart is a powerful yet easy-to-use website builder designed for entrepreneurs, small businesses, bloggers, artists, and anyone looking to establish an online presence without learning how to code. It provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that allows you to create fully customizable website designs in just a few clicks.With JetStart's extensive...
Fingertips
Fingertips is a powerful mobile network analysis tool used to gather detailed information about networks, devices, traffic flows, and vulnerabilities. It provides a comprehensive set of features for network scanning, analysis, and troubleshooting.Some of the key capabilities of Fingertips include:Network mapping and topology discovery - Automatically map out network infrastructure...
Promptu
Promptu is an artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant app designed to have natural conversations and complete tasks for users. It utilizes advanced natural language processing to understand requests and have dialogue like a human.Some key features of Promptu include:Conversational AI assistant that can chat, tell jokes, share opinions, and have discussions...
Krunner
Krunner is a versatile launcher and search utility built into KDE Plasma desktop environments. It provides a quick and easy way for users to launch applications, open files or URLs, do basic calculations, convert units, lookup definitions, control media playback, and more.To use Krunner, users simply need to start typing...
Application Finder
Application Finder is a intelligent software recommendation engine that helps users discover new applications and software that match their interests and needs. It works by monitoring the user's browsing behavior, currently installed applications, expressed preferences and tastes to build a profile of the user.With this profile, Application Finder can then...
LaunchPanel
LaunchPanel is an application launcher and task switcher designed to improve workflow on Windows computers. It provides quick access to installed programs, documents, folders, and open application windows using an intuitive keyboard-driven interface.Key features of LaunchPanel include:Search and launch apps, files, folders without taking your hands off the keyboardSwitch between...
GNOME Launch Box
GNOME Launch Box (formerly Lutris) is an open source video game library manager and gaming platform for Linux. It allows you to easily install and manage your games without having to use the command line. Some key features include:Supports running native Linux games as well as games from multiple emulators...
Kupfer
Kupfer is an open source launcher and productivity tool designed for the GNOME desktop environment. It provides a flexible and convenient way to quickly access applications, documents, folders, bookmarks, contacts, and other computer resources.Some key features and capabilities of Kupfer include:Keyboard-focused interface allowing you to efficiently launch apps and open...
Keybreeze
Keybreeze is a powerful keyboard shortcut utility software for Windows that allows users to create custom keyboard shortcuts for automating various tasks. It goes beyond just launching applications and can also type predefined text strings, paste clipboard contents, play media control keys, run macros and scripts, open files and folders,...
GoToFile
GoToFile is a user-friendly file management application designed to help you efficiently access, manage, and share your files across local storage and cloud services. With its intuitive interface, robust feature set, and seamless cloud integration, GoToFile aims to simplify your file management workflow.Some of the standout features of GoToFile include:Unified...
ICanHazShortcut
iCanHazShortcut is a free, open-source keyboard shortcut manager developed specifically for the Windows operating system. It provides users with an easy way to create customized keyboard shortcuts to quickly access files, folders, websites, and perform various actions on their computer.Some of the key features of iCanHazShortcut include:Intuitive and user-friendly interface...
Namely
Namely is a cloud-based human resource management and payroll software designed for mid-sized companies typically with 200-1000 employees. It allows businesses to handle all their key HR and people processes in one unified platform.Key features of Namely include:Core HR - maintain employee records, organizational charts, job profilesPayroll - process payroll,...
ALaunch
aLaunch is a lightweight and customizable application launcher and productivity tool for Windows.It provides quick access to your most frequently used applications, documents, folders, and web bookmarks through an interactive interface. Simply start typing the name of what you're looking for and aLaunch will instantly display matching results.Beyond launching apps...
Sapiens
Sapiens is a leading low-code platform that empowers organizations to quickly and easily build sophisticated enterprise-grade applications. With Sapiens, businesses can digitize workflows, modernize legacy systems, integrate data sources, and develop innovative customer-facing solutions without the time and cost of traditional software development.The Sapiens Platform features an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface...
Salmon
Salmon is an open-source software tool developed primarily at the University of California, Berkeley for estimating transcript abundance from RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data. It employs a lightweight mapping model to align RNA-seq reads to a reference transcriptome and uses maximum likelihood estimation to quantify abundance at the transcript level.Some key features...
TypeAndRun
TypeAndRun is a keyboard launcher and productivity enhancement software for Windows. It enables you to quickly launch applications, files, folders, websites and perform actions by typing text shortcuts rather than clicking through menus or hunting for icons.The software indexes all your programs, documents, downloads, folders, websites and other items on...
AddToRun
AddToRun is a small but useful Windows utility that allows you to easily add shortcuts for applications, files, folders, URLs, and other items to the Run dialog box in Windows. This allows you to quickly launch these items by pressing Win+R and selecting it from the populated list.Some key features...
LaunchOne
LaunchOne is an all-in-one customer messaging and engagement platform that serves as an alternative to Intercom. It brings together various tools including live chat, knowledge base, help desk software, and customer data management into one integrated solution.Key features of LaunchOne include:Live Chat - Real-time messaging with website visitors via chat...
EasyShell
EasyShell is an open-source SSH and SFTP client for Windows that aims to provide an intuitive graphical interface for connecting to Linux/UNIX servers. Developed by Stavros Fasoulas, EasyShell simplifies SSH connections by allowing users to save sessions for frequently accessed servers and manage them through tabbed browsing.Once connected via SSH,...
Mini Run
Mini Run is a minimalist running app built for athletes who want a straightforward way to track their workouts without getting bogged down by excessive data and features. Designed with a clean, intuitive interface, Mini Run allows you to easily record key running metrics using your phone's GPS.At the heart...
Findspot
Findspot is a privacy-focused web browser launched in 2021. It blocks online ads, trackers, and malicious websites by default to protect users' privacy and security. Key features include:Built-in ad blocker that removes ads from websites to improve loading speeds and eliminate privacy concerns associated with targeted advertisingBlocks known trackers that...
Fast Launcher
Fast Launcher is a lightweight application launcher and productivity tool designed specifically for Windows. It aims to enhance your workflow and productivity by giving you quick access to your most used applications, files, folders, and websites.The interface is clean, minimal, and intuitive. When you launch Fast Launcher, it opens a...
Typhoeus Hotkeys
Typhoeus Hotkeys is a lightweight yet powerful hotkey and automation utility for Windows. It allows users to set global keyboard shortcuts to open files, launch programs, run scripts, open websites, and automate repetitive tasks.Some of the key features include:Create shortcuts for opening files, folders, and websitesLaunch applications and run scripts...
NuKit
NuKit is an open-source software prototyping toolkit that allows developers and designers to quickly create interactive prototypes for mobile and web applications. With NuKit's intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you can rapidly build prototypes of your app designs without needing to write any code.Some of the key features of NuKit include:Drag-and-drop interface...
Atlas Recall
Atlas Recall is a personal knowledge management and memory retention application designed to help users organize information and improve recall. It utilizes spaced repetition flashcards and notes to boost memorization through periodic reviews.Key features of Atlas Recall include:Spaced repetition flashcard system to improve memory retentionHierarchical note organization for linking ideas...
Lightweight Launcher
Lightweight Launcher is a popular home screen replacement app for Android that prioritizes speed, simplicity, and customization. It replaces the default home screen on your Android device with one that is faster, cleaner, and easier to use.Some key features of Lightweight Launcher include:Very fast and smooth performance - uses less...
LaunchIt
LaunchIt is a utility application for Windows that enables users to easily access and launch applications, files, folders, and websites. Its key features include:A clean, organized interface to store shortcutsCustomizable categories and folders to group shortcutsA quick search function to instantly find any programSimple drag and drop to add new...
Mighty Box
Mighty Box is a free and open source note taking application available for Windows, Linux and macOS. It provides a simple yet powerful way for users to create rich text documents and organize them into notebooks for easy access and management.Some of the key features of Mighty Box include:Intuitive rich...
