GitHub - qa3-tech/launchdock: cross platform app launcher

4 min read Original article ↗

A fast, cross-platform application launcher with fuzzy search that helps you quickly find and launch applications from anywhere on your system.

LaunchDock screenshot

Features

  • Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS
  • Daemon Architecture: Lightweight background service for instant response
  • Smart Fuzzy Search: Intelligent character matching with proximity-based scoring
  • Custom Hotkeys: Configure any key combination to show the launcher
  • Auto-Discovery: Automatically finds applications in standard system directories
  • Clean Interface: Minimal, distraction-free design
  • Icon Support: Platform-specific icon loading with smart fallbacks
  • System Integration: Works with your OS's application management

Installation

Prerequisites

Ensure you have Rust 1.89+ installed on your system.

From Source

git clone https://github.com/qa3-tech/launchdock.git
cd launchdock
cargo build --release
cargo install --path .

From Binaries

Download the latest release for your platform from the releases page.

Usage

Basic Commands

# Start/stop the daemon
launchdock start
launchdock stop

# Show the launcher
launchdock show

# Check status
launchdock status

# View logs
launchdock logs
launchdock logs clear

Using the Launcher

  1. Press your configured hotkey to show the launcher
  2. Type to search for applications (fuzzy matching supported)
  3. Use arrow keys or number shortcuts (1-7) to select
  4. Press Enter to launch, or Escape to close

Search Examples:

  • Type fx to find Firefox
  • Type gv to find applications like "Gnome Video" or "GoodVibes"
  • Type code to find VS Code, Visual Studio Code, etc.

How It Works

LaunchDock uses intelligent fuzzy search that matches characters in order but not necessarily consecutively. The search algorithm considers:

  • Character proximity: Closer matches rank higher
  • Application name length: Shorter names get slight preference
  • Early matches: Matches at the beginning of names score higher
  • Consecutive characters: Sequential character matches get bonus points

This means typing psg will find "Photoshop Graphics" before "Photo Studio Gallery" because the characters are closer together.

Platform Support

Linux

  • Scans /usr/share/applications/, user applications, and desktop entries
  • Supports .desktop files, AppImages, and executables
  • Icon loading from standard theme directories

macOS

  • Scans /Applications/, system apps, and user applications
  • Supports .app bundles with comprehensive icon discovery
  • Searches multiple icon naming patterns and formats
  • Includes system commands: Shutdown, Logout, Restart, Lock Screen

Configuration

LaunchDock works out of the box with zero configuration. It automatically:

  • Discovers applications in standard system directories
  • Finds and loads application icons
  • Generates fallback icons for apps without icons

Building from Source

Development Setup

git clone https://github.com/qa3-tech/launchdock.git
cd launchdock

# Build debug version
cargo build

# Run tests
cargo test

# Build optimized release
cargo build --release

# Install locally
cargo install --path .

Code Quality

# Format code
cargo fmt

# Lint code
cargo clippy

# Run with debug logging
RUST_LOG=debug cargo run -- start

Troubleshooting

Daemon Issues

# Check if running
launchdock status

# View error logs
launchdock logs

# Restart daemon
launchdock stop && launchdock start

Missing Applications

  • Ensure apps are installed in standard directories
  • Restart daemon to refresh: launchdock stop && launchdock start
  • Check logs to see scan results: launchdock logs
  • Verify system permissions for application directories

Performance

  • Clear large log files: launchdock logs clear
  • Check for repeated errors: launchdock logs | grep ERROR

Platform-Specific

Linux: Ensure desktop entries are properly installed

macOS:

  • Grant permissions in System Settings → Privacy & Security if needed

  • Lock Screen Command: The Lock Screen system command requires Accessibility permissions to work properly:

    1. Try using Lock Screen from LaunchDock
    2. macOS will prompt you to grant Accessibility permissions (or the command will fail silently)
    3. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility
    4. Find LaunchDock in the list and enable it (you may need to click the + button to add it manually)
    5. You may need to restart LaunchDock: launchdock stop && launchdock start

    Note: Shutdown and Restart commands will always prompt for your password as they require administrator privileges. This is a macOS security requirement.

Architecture

LaunchDock uses a clean client-server architecture:

  • CLI Client: Handles commands and communicates with daemon
  • Background Daemon: Manages application discovery and UI lifecycle
  • UI Module: Cross-platform launcher interface with Iced framework
  • Model Layer: Application data structures and fuzzy search logic

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please see our dual licensing model below.

Development Workflow

  1. Fork the repository
  2. Create a feature branch: git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature
  3. Make your changes and add tests
  4. Ensure code quality: cargo fmt && cargo clippy
  5. Commit: git commit -m 'Add amazing feature'
  6. Push: git push origin feature/amazing-feature
  7. Open a Pull Request