Thread: Launching Apps at quicksilver speed

Mac users generally are extremely fanatical about their operating systems. In fact, many will point out that one of the reasons they switched to a Mac was because they liked the different interface and that the Mac OS manages to do so much more than its counterparts, and much faster at that. Of course, the Mac OS vs other open OSs argument is a perennial one, and not one that we propose to enter into now.

But even the Mac's perceived superiority has not stopped Mac users from using FOSS applications from time to time. And this is not only when the open source application provides functionality that is not inherent in the Mac OS . Quicksilver is one such application that, in spite of having a counterpart in the Mac OS itself, is still popular among Mac users. So popular that it has inspired clones on other platforms-most famously, GNOME-Do on Linux.


Ready, set, launch!
In the simplest terms, Quicksilver is a launcher. It primarily helps users find and launch applications and access information and files on their systems. Of course, there is more, as we will find out. But first things first-getting Quicksilver is easy; you can download the latest version of the application from getqs. blacktree. com. At less than 2 MB, it won't take much time and will install smoothly. Incidentally, Quicksilver is available for versions of the Mac OS going back to OS 10.3 (Panther), allowing those who have stayed with older versions (the latest is 1O.5-Leopard) to use the application too, in the best FOSS tradition. Once installed, Quicksilver can be set to start at boot-up and can be invoked by a shortcut key combination (the default is space+control).

On launching, Quicksilver takes a bit of time (about the only occasion it does so) to create a catalogue of the applications and folders used most frequently by the user. Using it is extremely easy-just launch it and enter the name of the application, file or folder that you are looking for and even before you finish typing, Quicksilver will probably have thrown up the option that you are looking for. We can already hear some Mac users snigger, pointing out that the Mac OS' excellent search tool, Spotlight, does exactly the same thing. What makes Quicksilver special, however, is that it allows you to not just open the application, file or folder that you have found but also execute a whole series of commands involving it.

A commanding performance
A simple example will suffice. Suppose I were searching my Mac for my photographs. I would then open Quicksilver, search for Nimish and then, from the options displayed, would pick the photograph (yes, you can tweak the settings to show you a preview) and click on it to open it. But that's only part of Quicksilver's magic. What if! had actually wanted to copy or delete a particular photograph or to just rename it or move it to another folder? Well, using Quicksilver I can do exactly that and much more, without having to open the photograph. All I need to do is select it from the options shown and then choose from one of the many actions that Quicksilver offers. I can even choose to open a file with a particular program, if need be. Another advantage that Quicksilver has is that it keeps track of the applications and folders you use and when you are doing a search, shows the most used options right up front-very handy indeed.

What's also staggering is the speed at which Quicksilver performs. Although it does not do a system wide launch like Spotlight does, it more often than not delivers the result you want literally in the blink of an eye. Spotlight supporters will point out that their tool is much better for looking for an item whose name you might have forgotten, but if you know what you are looking for, Quicksilver seems a much better option, especially because it is likely to show you what you are looking for by the time you have finished typing the first letter! What's more, you can even add functionalities to it, such as the option to send instant messages, dial phone numbers, search for terms in a dictionary and so on-all without compromising on speed.

And as if that were not enough, you can add a number of functionalities to Quicksilver by downloading a number of plug-ins. These enable you to accomplish a number of tasks without opening specific applications-for instance, you can use the Apple Mail module or the GMail module to send mails and even play around with folders without having to open Apple Mail or go to the GMail website. You can also resize and tweak images, and assign ratings to your iTunes library by using the requisite plug-ins.

And you do not have to go about searching for plug-ins for Quicksilver-you can access them from within the application itself by choosing the 'Plug-ins' option. Yes, it does have its shortcomings. Its searches are not as comprehensive as Spotlight and you have to type what you are looking for really fast-a single pause is considered as the end of the search and the application starts treating every letter you type after that pause as part of a new search. But its phenomenal turn of speed and the fact that it allows you to execute commands with minimum fuss makes Quicksilver a big hit among Mac fans, even after Apple boosted Spotlight conSiderably. Definitely worth a download if you happen to be using a Mac.