Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Show HN: A Raycast-compatible launcher for Linux

github.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 62 posts

Re: Show HN: A Raycast-compatible launcher for Linux

#11

Post by kstrauser »

imcritic wrote: post #2

I don't really see any value in such combines. You want some calculation? Run calc and do the calculation, do you save so much time by replacing the "run calc" step with "open launcher" that it's worth adding more software to your setup?

On a Mac, opening the launcher means pressing cmd-space at any time, getting a popup text entry field, typing "1+2", seeing the answer, and hitting esc to dismiss it. That's the entire workflow for operating a calculator, launching an app, searching Google, locating a file, or whatever. I challenge you to do that operation with a separate app more (or even as) efficiently.

There are good tools for doing each of those things separately. A good launcher that allows you to do any of them with such trivial overhead is a huge time saver.

Re: Show HN: A Raycast-compatible launcher for Linux

#13

Post by sangeeth96 »

ByteAtATime wrote: post #10
mynegation wrote: post #6

Raycast will either hire you or send you a cease-and-desist order. Either way, I would change the name now.

Fair point! I've actually thought about that before; I've tried to be extremely clear in the project's README with a disclaimer that this is a non-commercial hobby project and is not affiliated with the official Raycast team in any way. The name is just for identification, as the project's goal is to be a compatible, open-source alternative for the Linux community, a platform they don't currently serve. That being sa…

That shouldn't matter. They might even have a Linux version in the works, given they are doing Windows now. They are within their rights to ask you to get rid of it. You also seem to be using their brand assets like the logo. I get your intention and love what you were able to accomplish but if you intend for this to grow, you are better off doing this now.

Re: Show HN: A Raycast-compatible launcher for Linux

#14

Post by MisterSandman »

imcritic wrote: post #2

I don't really see any value in such combines. You want some calculation? Run calc and do the calculation, do you save so much time by replacing the "run calc" step with "open launcher" that it's worth adding more software to your setup?

Do you remember the command line command to convert 5:30 IST to PDT? Or convert $70 USD to SGD? Or what 17.3 years in seconds is? Or how many days are between 2024-12-30 and 2025-06-17?

Raycast can all of do that automatically, and the only shortcut you need to know is Cmd-Space.

Re: Show HN: A Raycast-compatible launcher for Linux

#17

Post by rafram »

ByteAtATime wrote: post #10
mynegation wrote: post #6

Raycast will either hire you or send you a cease-and-desist order. Either way, I would change the name now.

Fair point! I've actually thought about that before; I've tried to be extremely clear in the project's README with a disclaimer that this is a non-commercial hobby project and is not affiliated with the official Raycast team in any way. The name is just for identification, as the project's goal is to be a compatible, open-source alternative for the Linux community, a platform they don't currently serve. That being sa…

“Just for identification” is the point — the name Raycast identifies their product, and it’s their trademark. You can’t use it without permission, even with a disclaimer in the readme.

Re: Show HN: A Raycast-compatible launcher for Linux

#18

Post by ByteAtATime »

sangeeth96 wrote: post #13
ByteAtATime wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fair point! I've actually thought about that before; I've tried to be extremely clear in the project's README with a disclaimer that this is a non-commercial hobby project and is not affiliated with the official Raycast team in any way. The name is just for identification, as the project's goal is to be a compatible, open-source alternative for the Linux community, a platform they don't currently serve. That being sa…

That shouldn't matter. They might even have a Linux version in the works, given they are doing Windows now. They are within their rights to ask you to get rid of it. You also seem to be using their brand assets like the logo. I get your intention and love what you were able to accomplish but if you intend for this to grow, you are better off doing this now.

That makes sense -- I'll go figure something out, thanks for the explanation!

Re: Show HN: A Raycast-compatible launcher for Linux

#19

Post by runjake »

Looks great! Change the name. The Raycast people are going to (initially) ask you to anyway.

Raycast also runs on Windows now, albeit in beta.

Other Linux launchers with extensibility:

KRunner: https://userbase.kde.org/Plasma/Krunner

Albert: https://albertlauncher.github.io/

Re: Show HN: A Raycast-compatible launcher for Linux

#20

Post by znort_ »

imcritic wrote: post #2

I don't really see any value in such combines. You want some calculation? Run calc and do the calculation, do you save so much time by replacing the "run calc" step with "open launcher" that it's worth adding more software to your setup?

"write programs that do one thing and do it well. write programs to work together."

it's sad to see this core principle being increasingly ignored in linux, but i guess that ship sailed a while ago.

Post reply on HN