3 ms·

Try LaunchBar instead of Quicksilver. It's not free, but is worth every penny. It's like Quicksilver, except it's actually quick.

by swombat 16y ago

geuis 16y ago
I used to use Quicksilver 3 years ago when Spotlight was unbearably slow on Mac OS. So what is the reason people use things like Quicksilver today? I personally find Spotlight to be everything I need. I can quickly open any application or system preference within seconds, all from the keyboard with Spotlight.
- tortilla 16y ago
  Some examples: - Open file with, select one or a bunch of files and specify the app to open it with - Move multiple files to another location - Clipboard history - Keyboard triggers for custom actions (open all the apps and files I need for a certain project) - Custom web searches (I have one setup to search "site:news.ycombinator.com + search term")
- swombat 16y ago
  Spotlight still takes a few seconds, rather often, to open up and receive keyboard input. I HATE waiting a few seconds for something that's a part of my thought process. When I think "Open chrome" and I move my fingers into the magic incantation needed to make that happen, it should be opening, now, RIGHT THIS FUCKING MOMENT. Not three seconds later. I don't care if it's fast enough most of the time. It needs to be fast enough every single time. Launchbar is always there within 200ms, no matter what my computer is chugging on at the moment. That's well worth the 20 bucks.
  - dilap 16y ago
    I've found spotlight to be reliably instant since moving to SSD. That might explain the difference in experiences here. (I also don't index docs -- just apps and prefs.)
    - evgen 16y ago
      Even on a SSD spotlight can be slow if you have not turned off doc indexing. I tend to use LaunchBar and Spotlight as a combination team for specific purposes: LaunchBar to get apps fired up quickly and Spotlight to do search within documents and as a general indexer.
psadauskas 16y ago
I replaced Quicksilver with Alfred[1]. I think its on the mac store, too. [1]: http://www.alfredapp.com/ http://www.alfredapp.com/
danudey 16y ago
I've switched to using Alfred, and I'll never go back. Bought the powerpack as well for those handy extra features. It's fast as heck, and has a lot of little niceties, but while I never liked LaunchBar, Alfred is just fantastic. It's also available from the Mac app store, or you can grab it from the website (http://www.alfredapp.com/ http://www.alfredapp.com/). Highly recommended.

Try LaunchBar instead of Quicksilver. It's not free, but is worth every penny. It's like Quicksilver, except it's actually quick.

by swombat 16y ago

Try LaunchBar instead of Quicksilver. It's not free, but is worth every penny. It's like Quicksilver, except it's actually quick.

geuis 16y ago

I used to use Quicksilver 3 years ago when Spotlight was unbearably slow on Mac OS. So what is the reason people use things like Quicksilver today? I personally find Spotlight to be everything I need. I can quickly open any application or system preference within seconds, all from the keyboard with Spotlight.

tortilla 16y ago
Some examples: - Open file with, select one or a bunch of files and specify the app to open it with - Move multiple files to another location - Clipboard history - Keyboard triggers for custom actions (open all the apps and files I need for a certain project) - Custom web searches (I have one setup to search "site:news.ycombinator.com + search term")
swombat 16y ago
Spotlight still takes a few seconds, rather often, to open up and receive keyboard input. I HATE waiting a few seconds for something that's a part of my thought process. When I think "Open chrome" and I move my fingers into the magic incantation needed to make that happen, it should be opening, now, RIGHT THIS FUCKING MOMENT. Not three seconds later. I don't care if it's fast enough most of the time. It needs to be fast enough every single time. Launchbar is always there within 200ms, no matter what my computer is chugging on at the moment. That's well worth the 20 bucks.
- dilap 16y ago
  I've found spotlight to be reliably instant since moving to SSD. That might explain the difference in experiences here. (I also don't index docs -- just apps and prefs.)
  - evgen 16y ago
    Even on a SSD spotlight can be slow if you have not turned off doc indexing. I tend to use LaunchBar and Spotlight as a combination team for specific purposes: LaunchBar to get apps fired up quickly and Spotlight to do search within documents and as a general indexer.

psadauskas 16y ago

I replaced Quicksilver with Alfred[1]. I think its on the mac store, too. [1]: http://www.alfredapp.com/ http://www.alfredapp.com/

danudey 16y ago

I've switched to using Alfred, and I'll never go back. Bought the powerpack as well for those handy extra features. It's fast as heck, and has a lot of little niceties, but while I never liked LaunchBar, Alfred is just fantastic. It's also available from the Mac app store, or you can grab it from the website (http://www.alfredapp.com/ http://www.alfredapp.com/). Highly recommended.