Search & Ranking
- Instant search across macOS apps & scripts
- Smart ranking that prioritizes prefix matches
- Launch history boosts frequency & recency
- Empty queries resurface recent launches
Workflows
All the essentials tuned for flow
Search faster, toggle system behaviors, manage scripts, and keep everything in sync—with a UI that feels like a native tool.
Keyboard & Windowing
- Cmd+Space global toggle + Arrow navigation
- Tabbed interface for Search / Settings / Scripts
- Automatic search focus & minimalist glass UI
- Menu bar icon for quick access
System Integration
- Toggle macOS System Settings panes
- Surface curated commands (Sleep, Lock, etc.)
- Quick switches for menu bar icon & login launch
- Context menus to reveal and copy paths
Settings Panel
- Launch at login powered by SMAppService
- System panes & command toggles with reloads
- Shortcut cheatsheet and disable Spotlight link
- Open app folder shortcut to Finder
Custom Scripts
- Built-in editor with run/save/delete actions
- Scripts live in ~/.dux-app-launcher/*.sh
- Executable permissions handled automatically
- Programmatic refresh keeps search in sync
Configuration & Persistence
- Preferences in ~/.dux-app-launcher/options.yaml
- Launch history stored in history.txt
- Instant refresh after every launch
- Settings surface the entire state at a glance
Search
Instant results with ranking context
The search surface combines apps, scripts, and system commands with live ranking feedback. Empty queries show your last launches for fast recall.
Settings
One panel for all system knobs
Toggle launch-at-login, menu bar icons, curated system commands, and macOS panes—without digging into System Settings.
Scripts
Built-in editor for custom workflows
Create, run, save, and delete scripts directly inside Dux. Everything syncs to `~/.dux-app-launcher/*.sh` with automatic executable permissions.
Setup
Install & configure instantly
Build from source with a single `make`, or grab the latest binary release. Configuration lives in a simple YAML file you can version or sync.
Install
Run `make`, `make build`, `make clean`, or `make install` depending on your workflow.
Config
Preferences live in `~/.dux-app-launcher/options.yaml`. Launch history is stored in `history.txt` and updates after each launch.
Scripts
Drop scripts into `~/.dux-app-launcher/*.sh` or use the built-in editor in the Scripts tab.
Usage Cheatsheet
- Cmd+Space / Shift+Cmd+Space Toggle launcher
- Arrow Keys Navigate & switch tabs
- Enter Launch selected
- Esc Hide window
Need more context? Explore code, issues, and roadmap on the main repo.
github.com/dux/app-launcherWhy Dux
Feel like you built your launcher
Dux is open source. Clone it, tweak it, and push the workflow you want. The GitHub repo is the single source of truth for releases, issues, and roadmap.