Ueli: The Cross-Platform Keystroke Launcher for Enhanced Productivity

In today’s fast-paced digital world, efficiency is key. Whether you’re a developer, a designer, or simply someone who spends a lot of time on your computer, having tools that enhance your workflow can make a significant difference. One such tool that has gained considerable attention is Ueli, a cross-platform keystroke launcher developed by Oliver Schwendener. This article will delve into the features, benefits, and usage of Ueli, making it an essential read for anyone looking to boost their productivity across different operating systems.

What is Ueli?

Ueli is a powerful keystroke launcher designed to provide quick access to various applications, files, and actions on your computer. It works seamlessly across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it an incredibly versatile tool for users who switch between different operating systems. The primary goal of Ueli is to help users save time by allowing them to launch their most frequently used applications and perform common tasks with just a few keystrokes.

Key Features of Ueli

Cross-Platform Compatibility

One of the standout features of Ueli is its cross-platform compatibility. Whether you’re using a Windows machine, a Mac, or a Linux distribution, Ueli ensures that you have a consistent experience. This is particularly beneficial for users who work in a multi-OS environment, as they can rely on a single tool to streamline their workflow.

Extensive Customization

Ueli offers a high degree of customization, allowing users to tailor the launcher to their specific needs. You can configure hotkeys, add favorite items, and even customize the appearance of the launcher. This flexibility ensures that Ueli can adapt to your workflow rather than the other way around.

Rich Set of Extensions

Ueli’s functionality is further enhanced by a wide range of extensions. These extensions add additional capabilities to the launcher, such as application search, file search, system commands, and even web search. With over 20 extensions available, users can extend Ueli’s functionality to cover almost any task they perform regularly.

User-Friendly Interface

Despite its powerful features, Ueli maintains a user-friendly interface. The main window is clean and intuitive, allowing users to quickly type in what they’re looking for and navigate through the results. The use of familiar keyboard shortcuts like “Alt+Space” to toggle the launcher ensures that users can interact with Ueli without taking their hands off the keyboard.

Installation and Setup

Installing Ueli is straightforward, thanks to the detailed instructions provided by the developer. For Windows users, the app can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store or installed via winget. macOS users can download the app directly from the Ueli GitHub repository, while Linux users have access to binaries that can be easily installed on their systems.

Once installed, launching Ueli for the first time brings up the main window, where users can start typing to search for applications, files, or actions. The initial setup also includes configuring hotkeys and adding frequently used items to favorites, ensuring that the most important tasks are always just a few keystrokes away.

Using Ueli

Using Ueli is as simple as pressing the configured hotkey (default is “Alt+Space”) and typing in what you need. The search results appear in real-time, allowing you to navigate through them using the arrow keys and launch the desired item with the Enter key. Ueli also supports additional actions for each search result, accessible via “Cmd+K” (macOS) or “Ctrl+K” (Windows, Linux).

For example, if you’re looking for a specific application, you can type its name, navigate to it in the search results, and launch it directly. If you need to perform an action related to the selected item, such as opening its settings or adding it to your favorites, you can access these options through the additional actions menu.

Extensions: Enhancing Ueli’s Functionality

One of the most powerful aspects of Ueli is its extensive library of extensions. These extensions add new features and capabilities to the launcher, making it even more versatile. Some of the notable extensions include:

• Application Search: Quickly find and launch installed applications.
• File Search: Search for files and folders on your system.
• System Commands: Execute system commands directly from Ueli.
• Web Search: Perform web searches without opening a browser.
• Calculator: Quickly perform calculations.
• Color Converter: Convert color codes between different formats.

Each extension can be enabled or disabled from the settings menu, allowing users to customize the launcher to include only the features they need.

Development and Contribution

For developers interested in contributing to Ueli, the project is open-source and hosted on GitHub. The repository includes detailed contribution guidelines, ensuring that new contributors can get up to speed quickly. The development process involves using modern tools like Node.js, React, and TypeScript, making it an excellent project for developers looking to work with cutting-edge technologies.

Contributing to Ueli can take many forms, from fixing bugs and adding new features to improving documentation and creating new extensions. The active community of contributors ensures that Ueli continues to evolve and improve over time.

Known Issues and Workarounds

While Ueli is a robust tool, there are a few known issues that users might encounter. For example, global hotkeys may not work under Wayland sessions on Linux. However, the developers have provided workarounds, such as binding custom shortcuts in system settings to call Ueli directly.

Conclusion

Ueli is a powerful and versatile keystroke launcher that offers significant benefits for users looking to enhance their productivity. Its cross-platform compatibility, extensive customization options, and rich set of extensions make it a valuable tool for anyone who spends a lot of time on their computer. Whether you’re a developer, a designer, or a casual user, Ueli can help you streamline your workflow and get more done in less time.

With its user-friendly interface, detailed documentation, and active development community, Ueli is a tool that is both accessible to beginners and powerful enough for advanced users. If you’re looking to take control of your workflow and make your computer interactions more efficient, Ueli is definitely worth a try.

oliverschwendener/ueli: Cross-Platform Keystroke Launcher
https://github.com/oliverschwendener/ueli

Ueli – A Cross-Platform Keystroke Launcher
https://ueli.app/