Re: [LUG] Opening applications

Hi All

I spent a good long time looking at Google and also using the pre-configured keys but couldn't see anything until Matt suggested hitting the meta key. The one thing I hadn't tried and this exactly what I wanted. I am glad I asked the question though because those other launchers all look useful. I'll stick with the meta key for the time being though.

Thanks for all the help.

On Sun, 26 Aug 2018 at 20:18, mr meowski <mr.meowski@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

On 26/08/18 19:58, Richard Brown wrote:
> Hi
>
> Is there a way of opening applications similar to a Mac where you use
> shortcut cmd spacebar and then type the name of the application in the
> search box provided please?

Doesn't your desktop environment provide similar functionality out of
the box? Gnome, KDE, Mate, Cinnamon and Awesome off the top of my head
all offer a full text search for installed applications when you just
press a simple key combination. On most of those you literally just
press the meta (i.e., windows) key by itself and type the name of the
app you want. Hit return when you're done and it launches. Just like MS
Windows does actually, same key too.

There are _many_ other options available in true linux fashion. The
closest to the Mac one you're thinking of is probably Albert.

https://github.com/albertlauncher/albert

Albert is a clone of Alfred which you might have seen on a Mac as a more
powerful replacement for the native launcher:

https://www.alfredapp.com/

There are a _lot_ of alternative launchers. Another nice one is Gnome Pie:

https://simmesimme.github.io/gnome-pie.html

Most are either already available from your distribution's repositories
or a 3rd party source (PPA, Copr, etc). Github for bleeding edge
versions as per usual.

But I'd be surprised if your current desktop setup doesn't already have
one. What does happen if you just press the meta key by itself, have you
tried?

Cheers
--
The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG
https://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list
FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq