Launchy

Launchy is a free and open-source application launcher for Windows, Mac OS X, FreeBSD and Linux. It indexes shortcuts in the start menu, and files in specific folders, to allow quicker access to programs without opening the start menu or browsing to folders.[1][2][3]

Launchy
Original author(s)Josh Karlin
Initial releaseJanuary 22, 2007 (2007-01-22)
Stable release
2.5 / April 4, 2010 (2010-04-04)
Written inC++ (Qt)
PlatformWindows, Mac OS X, FreeBSD, and Linux
Type
  • Application launcher
  • Linux on the desktop
LicenseGNU General Public License
Websitewww.launchy.net

Program usage

Launchy automatically loads on boot and waits for the user to call it by pressing Alt + Space or a custom hotkey. The user then starts typing the name of the program or file they wish to launch. Launchy automatically searches its list of programs for the closest match as the user types. When it finds the desired program, the user hits Enter and it is automatically launched.[4]

Launchy can add folders and file formats to its catalog for indexing, so it can launch almost anything on a computer, including programs, URLs (also from bookmarks) and documents; as well as run Google, Wikipedia, MSN and Yahoo searches, bringing the results up in the default browser.

Launchy can be extended with plug-ins.[3]

Platform

Launchy was originally written in C# (ver. 0.5), and in C++ since version 0.6.[5] The latest version, 2.0, has been completely rewritten using Qt. This has resulted in incompatibility with older skins and plugins.[6]

Included plugins

The following plugins are included with the 2.0 release:

Controly
  • Adds control panel items to the catalog

Weby
  • Allows web search
  • Can launch URLs, also from bookmarks

Calcy
  • A simple calculator

Community Plugins

Plugin development

Launchy 2 has a C++ API[7] for developing extension plugins that add new types of objects to the catalog.

Community-developed bindings for other programming languages are provided as plugins:

Awards

2007
  • SourceForge.Net Community Choice Awards, Honorable Mention: Best New Project[10]
  • PC World 15 Best Downloads of the Year: Powertools[4]
  • CNet Download.Com Top Ten Downloads of the Year[1]
gollark: I do code editing in VS Code.
gollark: Well, you can talk about programming, sure.
gollark: AMD mostly offers better perf/$ right now.
gollark: Memory *and* storage space *and* available CPU/GPU cycles *and* network bandwidth, actually.
gollark: I should really just replace my laptop with a several-kilogram desktop in my backpack and a portable monitor thing. Also a cart with batteries to power it.

See also
  • Comparison of application launchers

References
  1. Rosenblatt, Seth (December 22, 2007). "The 10 best downloads of 2007". CNet.
  2. Dolcourt, Jessica (December 20, 2007). "Launchy 2.0 quick-starts apps with class". CNet.
  3. Spector, Lincoln (October 21, 2007). "Fifteen Great Time Saving Utilities". PC World.
  4. Gralla, Preston (December 24, 2007). "The 15 Best Downloads of the Year". PC World.
  5. Project Details - Programming Language
  6. "Launchy 2.0". Neowin. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  7. Launchy 2 Plugin API
  8. PyLaunchy: Python plugins for Launchy
  9. Launchy#: .NET plugins for Launchy
  10. "SourceForge.Net Community Choice Awards". 2007.
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